1928 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 1928.

"You are George Brett and all the cheering has stopped. The music is muted, the hour is late, and they will be taking the banners down and emptying your locker any minute now. As the late Jimmy Cannon would say it, 'All your bats are broken.'" - Broadcaster Jim Murray
 

National League Retirements

1928

n/a Ray Foley New York Giants PH 22
n/a Dinny McNamara Boston Braves OF 23
n/a Harlan Pyle Cincinnati Reds P 23
n/a Overton Tremper Brooklyn Robins OF 23
n/a Jack White Cincinnati Reds 2B 23
n/a Jim Beckman Cincinnati Reds P 24
n/a Ray Boggs Boston Braves P 24
n/a Elmer Tutwiler Pittsburgh Pirates P 24
n/a Augie Walsh Philadelphia Phillies P 24
n/a Howie Williamson St. Louis Cardinals PH 24
n/a Charlie Fitzberger Boston Braves PH 25
n/a Homer Blankenship Pittsburgh Pirates P 26
n/a Howard Freigau Boston Braves SS 26
n/a Howard Freigau Brooklyn Robins 3B 26
n/a Art Mills Boston Braves P 26
n/a Jay Partridge Brooklyn Robins 2B 26
n/a Earl Williams Boston Braves C 26
n/a Bill Deitrick Philadelphia Phillies OF 27
n/a Doc Gautreau Boston Braves 2B 27
n/a Mack Hillis Pittsburgh Pirates 2B 27
n/a Ray Jacobs Chicago Cubs PH 27
n/a Carlisle Littlejohn St. Louis Cardinals P 27
n/a Elmer Yoter Chicago Cubs 3B 28
n/a Joe Kelly Chicago Cubs 1B 29
n/a Russ Miller Philadelphia Phillies P 29
n/a Bill Kelly Philadelphia Phillies 1B 30
n/a Art Reinhart St. Louis Cardinals P 30
n/a Specs Toporcer St. Louis Cardinals 1B 30
n/a Marty Walker Philadelphia Phillies P 30
n/a Garland Buckeye New York Giants P 31
n/a Dick Burrus Boston Braves 1B 31
n/a Ed Lennon Philadelphia Phillies P 31
n/a Harvey MacDonald Philadelphia Phillies OF 31
n/a Heinie Sand Philadelphia Phillies SS 31
n/a Pete Scott Pittsburgh Pirates OF 31
n/a Jigger Statz Brooklyn Robins OF 31
n/a Luke Urban Boston Braves C 31
n/a Virgil Barnes Boston Braves P 32
n/a Virgil Barnes New York Giants P 32
n/a Joe Price New York Giants OF 32
n/a Clyde Barnhart Pittsburgh Pirates OF 33
n/a Bonnie Hollingsworth Boston Braves P 33
n/a Art Jahn New York Giants OF 33
n/a Art Jahn Philadelphia Phillies OF 33
n/a Guy Morrison Boston Braves P 33
n/a Emilio Palmero Boston Braves P 33
n/a Charlie Robertson Boston Braves P 33
n/a Bill Burwell Pittsburgh Pirates P 34
n/a Jimmy Cooney Boston Braves SS 34
n/a Jim Joe Edwards Cincinnati Reds P 34
n/a Bill Haeffner New York Giants C 34
n/a Eddie Mulligan Pittsburgh Pirates 3B 34
n/a Jimmy Ring Philadelphia Phillies P 34
n/a Vic Aldridge New York Giants P 35
n/a Les Mann New York Giants OF 36
n/a Wally Pipp Cincinnati Reds 1B 36
n/a Ben Tincup Chicago Cubs P 36
n/a Ty Tyson Brooklyn Robins OF 36
n/a Russ Wrightstone New York Giants 1B 36
n/a Russ Wrightstone Philadelphia Phillies OF 36
n/a Eddie Brown Boston Braves OF 37
n/a Joe Harris Brooklyn Robins OF 38
n/a Joe Harris Pittsburgh Pirates 1B 38
n/a Al Nixon Philadelphia Phillies OF 43
1928 National League Retirements



Find out which players made their Major League debut in the National League during the 1928 season as this group of players bid farewell to their field's of dreams.

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.

On July 28, 1976, Blue Moon Odom pitched the final five innings of his Major League career. He was relieved by Francisco Barrios in the sixth inning and the two White Sox combined to pitch a 2-1 no-hitter versus the Oakland Athletics.