1932 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 1932.

"I'll never make the mistake of being seventy (70) again." - Casey Stengel comment made after being told to quit following the 1960 World Series
 

National League Retirements

1932

22 Casper Asbjornson Cincinnati Reds C 23
28 Art McLarney New York Giants SS 24
49 Vince Barton Chicago Cubs OF 25
19 Harry Taylor Chicago Cubs 1B 25
29 Bob Adams Philadelphia Phillies P 26
24 Doc Marshall New York Giants SS 26
5 Art Shires Boston Braves 1B 26
31 Dick Terwilliger St. Louis Cardinals P 26
30 Johnny Tobin New York Giants PH 26
- Bruce Caldwell Brooklyn Dodgers 1B 27
17 Bruce Cunningham Boston Braves P 27
26 Howdy Groskloss Pittsburgh Pirates SS 27
n/a Joel Hunt St. Louis Cardinals OF 27
24 Art Jones Brooklyn Dodgers P 27
6 Bill Akers Boston Braves 3B 28
14 Dave Barbee Pittsburgh Pirates OF 28
n/a Ray Cunningham St. Louis Cardinals 3B 28
24 Ed Pipgras Brooklyn Dodgers P 28
30 Biff Wysong Cincinnati Reds P 28
22 Marv Gudat Chicago Cubs OF 29
7 Mickey Heath Cincinnati Reds 1B 29
n/a Bud Teachout St. Louis Cardinals P 29
20 Stew Bolen Philadelphia Phillies P 30
25 Russ Scarritt Philadelphia Phillies OF 30
- Doug Taitt Philadelphia Phillies PH 30
48 Erv Brame Pittsburgh Pirates P 31
24 Wattie Holm St. Louis Cardinals OF 31
9 Jimmie Reese St. Louis Cardinals 2B 31
2 Wally Gilbert Cincinnati Reds 3B 32
21 Hub Pruett Boston Braves P 32
17 Sam Gibson New York Giants P 33
20 Hal Elliott Philadelphia Phillies P 34
21 Cliff Heathcote Cincinnati Reds PH 35
15 Cliff Heathcote Philadelphia Phillies 1B 35
23 George Knothe Philadelphia Phillies 2B 35
22 Freddy Leach Boston Braves OF 35
18 Chet Nichols Philadelphia Phillies P 35
20 Jack Ogden Cincinnati Reds P 35
56 Lance Richbourg Chicago Cubs OF 35
7 Ray Blades St. Louis Cardinals OF 36
- Ike Boone Brooklyn Dodgers OF 36
23 Johnny Schulte Boston Braves C 36
- Bill Sherdel Boston Braves P 36
n/a Bill Sherdel St. Louis Cardinals P 36
14 George Kelly Brooklyn Dodgers 1B 37
19 Jakie May Chicago Cubs P 37
28 Rube Bressler Philadelphia Phillies OF 38
24 Rube Bressler St. Louis Cardinals OF 38
22 Harry Heilmann Cincinnati Reds 1B 38
15 Mike Gonzalez St. Louis Cardinals C 42
25 Clarence Mitchell New York Giants P 42
1932 National League Retirements



Find out which players made their Major League debut in the National League during the 1932 season as this group of players bid farewell to their field's of dreams.

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.

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.