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.

"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
 

American League Retirements

1933

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

Goose Goslin played for eighteen seasons and averaged one-hundred twenty-seven games played per season. In 1938, during his final at-bat, he twisted his back and was replaced at the plate by a pinch-hitter for the first time in his Major League career.

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.