1933 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 1933.

"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
 

American League Retirements

1933

15 Dale Alexander Boston Red Sox 1B 31
13 Bob Fothergill Boston Red Sox OF 36
6 Bernie Friberg Boston Red Sox 2B 34
14 Curt Fullerton Boston Red Sox P 35
8 Johnny Gooch Boston Red Sox C 36
5 Johnny Hodapp Boston Red Sox 2B 28
4 Smead Jolley Boston Red Sox OF 32
21 Jud McLaughlin Boston Red Sox P 22
2 Greg Mulleavy Boston Red Sox PR 28
12 Tom Oliver Boston Red Sox OF 31
14 Marv Olson Boston Red Sox 2B 27
17 Ed Durham Chicago White Sox P 26
18 Red Faber Chicago White Sox P 45
1 Lew Fonseca Chicago White Sox 1B 35
8 Liz Funk Chicago White Sox OF 29
24 Paul Gregory Chicago White Sox P 25
24 Hal Haid Chicago White Sox P 36
- Mem Lovett Chicago White Sox PH 21
38 Jake Miller Chicago White Sox P 36
35 George Murray Chicago White Sox P 35
12 Hal Rhyne Chicago White Sox 2B 35
17 John Stoneham Chicago White Sox OF 25
34 Earl Webb Chicago White Sox OF 36
7 Harley Boss Cleveland Indians 1B 25
21 Howard Craghead Cleveland Indians P 26
29 Johnny Oulliber Cleveland Indians OF 23
27 Mike Powers Cleveland Indians OF 28
8 Bots Nekola Detroit Tigers P 27
5 Billy Rhiel Detroit Tigers OF 33
4 Earl Webb Detroit Tigers OF 36
16 Wilcy Moore New York Yankees P 37
21 Joe Sewell New York Yankees 3B 35
24 Ed Cihocki Philadelphia Athletics SS 27
14 Gowell Claset Philadelphia Athletics P 26
21 Hank McDonald Philadelphia Athletics P 23
- Emil Roy Philadelphia Athletics P 27
- Joe Zapustas Philadelphia Athletics OF 26
- Garland Braxton St. Louis Browns P 33
25 Jack Crouch St. Louis Browns C 30
15 Sam Gray St. Louis Browns P 36
26 Ted Gullic St. Louis Browns OF 27
1 Jim Levey St. Louis Browns SS 27
30 Hank McDonald St. Louis Browns P 23
22 Rollie Stiles St. Louis Browns P 27
24 Lin Storti St. Louis Browns 3B 27
27 Nick Altrock Washington Senators PH 57
26 John Campbell Washington Senators P 26
19 Ed Chapman Washington Senators P 28
1933 American League Retirements



Find out which players made their Major League debut in the American League during the 1933 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.