1924 American 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 American League League players who hung up their spikes in 1924.

"You start chasing a ball and your brain immediately commands your body to: Run forward. Bend. Scoop up the ball. Peg it to the infield. Then your body says, 'Who, me?'" - Retirement comment made by Joe DiMaggio
 

American League Retirements

1924

n/a Frank Brower Cleveland Indians 1B 32
n/a Bill Black Chicago White Sox 2B 25
n/a Ralph Miller Washington Senators 2B 29
n/a Del Pratt Detroit Tigers 2B 37
n/a Pat Burke St. Louis Browns 3B 24
n/a Frank Ellerbe St. Louis Browns 3B 29
n/a Frank Ellerbe Cleveland Indians 3B 29
n/a Tommy Taylor Washington Senators 3B 32
n/a Larry Gardner Cleveland Indians 3B 39
n/a Syl Simon St. Louis Browns 3B 27
n/a Joe Burns Chicago White Sox C 25
n/a Charlie Gibson Philadelphia Athletics C 25
n/a Kettle Wirts Chicago White Sox C 27
n/a Joe Green Philadelphia Athletics PH 27
n/a Kenny Hogan Cleveland Indians PH 22
n/a Bill Mizeur St. Louis Browns PH 27
n/a Ed Sherling Philadelphia Athletics PH 27
n/a Amos Strunk Chicago White Sox PH 36
n/a Sumpter Clarke Cleveland Indians OF 27
n/a Joe Connolly Boston Red Sox OF 30
n/a Carl East Washington Senators OF 30
n/a Verdo Elmore St. Louis Browns OF 25
n/a Bert Griffith Washington Senators OF 29
n/a Shags Horan New York Yankees OF 29
n/a Wade Lefler Washington Senators OF 28
n/a Carr Smith Washington Senators OF 24
n/a Paul Strand Philadelphia Athletics OF 31
n/a Amos Strunk Philadelphia Athletics OF 36
n/a Joe Wyatt Cleveland Indians OF 25
n/a Bob Barnes Chicago White Sox P 23
n/a Edgar Barnhart St. Louis Browns P 20
n/a Dennis Burns Philadelphia Athletics P 27
n/a Rufe Clarke Detroit Tigers P 25
n/a Lum Davenport Chicago White Sox P 24
n/a John Dobb Chicago White Sox P 23
n/a Logan Drake Cleveland Indians P 25
n/a George Edmondson Cleveland Indians P 29
n/a Paul Fitzke Cleveland Indians P 24
n/a Bob Hasty Philadelphia Athletics P 29
n/a Les Howe Boston Red Sox P 29
n/a Lefty Jamerson Boston Red Sox P 25
n/a Al Kellett Boston Red Sox P 23
n/a Bub Kuhn Cleveland Indians P 25
n/a Bill Lasley St. Louis Browns P 22
n/a Bob Lawrence Chicago White Sox P 25
n/a Willie Ludolph Detroit Tigers P 25
n/a George Lyons St. Louis Browns P 34
n/a Al Mamaux New York Yankees P 31
n/a Cliff Markle New York Yankees P 31
n/a Joe Martina Washington Senators P 35
n/a Slim McGrew Washington Senators P 25
n/a Bud Messenger Cleveland Indians P 27
n/a Dewey Metivier Cleveland Indians P 27
n/a Guy Morton Cleveland Indians P 31
n/a Rollie Naylor Philadelphia Athletics P 33
n/a William Pierson Philadelphia Athletics P 25
n/a Herman Pillette Detroit Tigers P 29
n/a Webb Schultz Chicago White Sox P 27
n/a Ollie Voigt St. Louis Browns P 26
n/a Frank Wayenberg Cleveland Indians P 26
n/a Clarence Winters Boston Red Sox P 25
n/a John Woods Boston Red Sox P 27
n/a Hoge Workman Boston Red Sox P 25
n/a John Chapman Philadelphia Athletics SS 25
n/a Wally Dashiell Chicago White Sox SS 23
n/a Chick Gagnon Washington Senators SS 27
n/a Frank Naleway Chicago White Sox SS 22
n/a Ray French Chicago White Sox SS 30
n/a Harvey McClellan Chicago White Sox SS 30
1924 American League Retirements



Find out which players made their Major League debut in the American League during the 1924 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.

Hank Aaron ended his Major League career on October 3, 1976, with a sharp single during the sixth inning off Dave Roberts of the Detroit Tigers.