1921 National League Retirements

The baseball torch is passed from season to season and in some cases, from game to game. In 1911, Cy Young pitched his final Major League game, lost 1-0, and ended the final season of his career with a losing record of 7-9 and an ERA of 3.77. Young's opponent that particular day was a first-year pitcher named Grover Alexander who received the win, added to his league leading shutout total, and went on to begin his career with a winning record of 28-13 and an ERA of 2.57.

Bob Gibson, who was easily one of the most intense competitors of all time, gave up a grand slam to the last Major League hitter he faced, Pete LaCock of the Chicago Cubs. Fifteen years passed and when the two faced off during an old-timer's game, Gibson hit LaCock on his back with a fastball.

Babe Ruth summed it up when he responded to a question about retirement by saying, "A ballplayer should quit when it starts to feel as if all the baselines run uphill." Baseball Almanac is pleased to present a comprehensive list of National League League players who hung up their spikes in 1921.

"I want to hit a routine grounder to second and run all out to first base, then get thrown out by a half step. I want to leave an example to the young guys that that's how you play the game, all out." - George Brett
 

National League Retirements

1921

n/a Eddie Eayrs Boston Braves P 31
n/a Al Pierotti Boston Braves P 26
n/a John Sullivan Boston Braves PH 32
n/a Ira Townsend Boston Braves P 28
n/a Leo Townsend Boston Braves P 31
n/a Sweetbreads Bailey Brooklyn Robins P 27
n/a Eddie Eayrs Brooklyn Robins OF 31
n/a Pete Kilduff Brooklyn Robins 2B 29
n/a Ed Konetchy Brooklyn Robins 1B 36
n/a George Mohart Brooklyn Robins P 30
n/a Jack Sheehan Brooklyn Robins 2B 29
n/a Sweetbreads Bailey Chicago Cubs P 27
n/a Tom Daly Chicago Cubs C 30
n/a Charlie Deal Chicago Cubs 3B 30
n/a Carter Elliott Chicago Cubs SS 28
n/a Ollie Hanson Chicago Cubs P 26
n/a Bill Killefer Chicago Cubs C 34
n/a Elmer Ponder Chicago Cubs P 28
n/a John Sullivan Chicago Cubs OF 32
n/a Red Thomas Chicago Cubs OF 24
n/a Babe Twombly Chicago Cubs OF 26
n/a Lefty Tyler Chicago Cubs P 32
n/a Hippo Vaughn Chicago Cubs P 34
n/a Hooks Warner Chicago Cubs 3B 28
n/a Lefty York Chicago Cubs P 29
n/a Lynn Brenton Cincinnati Reds P 32
n/a Lefty Clarke Cincinnati Reds P 26
n/a Fritz Coumbe Cincinnati Reds P 32
n/a Hod Eller Cincinnati Reds P 27
n/a Bob Geary Cincinnati Reds P 31
n/a Buddy Napier Cincinnati Reds P 32
n/a Dode Paskert Cincinnati Reds OF 40
n/a Clint Rogge Cincinnati Reds P 32
n/a Charlie See Cincinnati Reds OF 25
n/a Bud Heine New York Giants 2B 21
n/a Wally Kopf New York Giants 3B 22
n/a Jim Mahady New York Giants 2B 21
n/a John Monroe New York Giants 2B 23
n/a Pat Patterson New York Giants 3B 25
n/a Pol Perritt New York Giants P 30
n/a Slim Sallee New York Giants P 37
n/a Walter Zink New York Giants P 23
n/a Jimmie Keenan Philadelphia Phillies P 24
n/a Ed Konetchy Philadelphia Phillies 1B 36
n/a Dots Miller Philadelphia Phillies 3B 35
n/a John Monroe Philadelphia Phillies 2B 23
n/a Don Rader Philadelphia Phillies SS 28
n/a Mack Wheat Philadelphia Phillies C 28
n/a Kaiser Wilhelm Philadelphia Phillies P 48
n/a Lyle Bigbee Pittsburgh Pirates P 28
n/a Tony Brottem Pittsburgh Pirates C 31
n/a Bill Hughes Pittsburgh Pirates P 25
n/a Phil Morrison Pittsburgh Pirates P 27
n/a Elmer Ponder Pittsburgh Pirates P 28
n/a Drew Rader Pittsburgh Pirates P 21
n/a Mike Wilson Pittsburgh Pirates C 25
n/a Pickles Dillhoefer St. Louis Cardinals C 28
n/a Reuben Ewing St. Louis Cardinals SS 22
n/a George Gilham St. Louis Cardinals PH 22
n/a Herb Hunter St. Louis Cardinals 1B 26
n/a Walt Irwin St. Louis Cardinals PH 24
n/a Howie Jones St. Louis Cardinals OF 25
n/a Mike Kircher St. Louis Cardinals P 24
n/a Lew McCarty St. Louis Cardinals PH 33
1921 National League Retirements



Find out which players made their Major League debut in the National League during the 1921 season as this group of players bid farewell to their field's of dreams.

Did you know that future hall of fame pitcher Walter Johnson ended his Major League career in 1927 with a pinch-hit appearance? During the final game of the season pitcher Tom Zachary, who had just given up Babe Ruth's sixtieth home run of the season, was lifted and Johnson replaced him at the plate.

On September 28, 1960, broadcaster Curt Gowdy uttered, "It's got a chance. It's got a chance. And it's gone!" Those words were used to describe the final at-bat of slugger Ted Williams.