1934 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 1934.

"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

1934

22 Reese Diggs Washington Senators P 19
36 Mark Mauldin Chicago White Sox 3B 20
14 Joe Mulligan Boston Red Sox P 21
47 Milt Bocek Chicago White Sox OF 22
19 Ed Lagger Philadelphia Athletics P 22
34 Charlie Uhlir Chicago White Sox OF 22
19 Icehouse Wilson Detroit Tigers PH 22
- Dutch Fehring Chicago White Sox C 23
- Marc Filley Washington Senators P 23
15 Mort Flohr Philadelphia Athletics P 23
10 Jerry McQuaig Philadelphia Athletics OF 23
16 Roy Vaughn Philadelphia Athletics P 23
- George Caithamer Chicago White Sox C 24
17 Harry Kinzy Chicago White Sox P 24
19 Steve Larkin Detroit Tigers P 24
- Bill Perrin Cleveland Indians P 24
12 Joe Chamberlain Chicago White Sox SS 25
24, 33 Charlie Devens New York Yankees P 25
8 Red Kellett Boston Red Sox SS 25
16 Bob Kline Philadelphia Athletics P 25
20 Bob Kline Washington Senators P 25
- Spike Merena Boston Red Sox P 25
36 Frenchy Uhalt Chicago White Sox OF 25
19 Hugo Klaerner Chicago White Sox P 26
20 Floyd Newkirk New York Yankees P 26
29 Orville Armbrust Washington Senators P 27
14 Bob Boken Chicago White Sox 2B 27
25 Bob Boken Washington Senators 3B 27
14 Earl Clark St. Louis Browns OF 27
20 Bill McAfee St. Louis Browns P 27
21 Freddie Muller Boston Red Sox 2B 27
22 Gus Dugas Washington Senators OF 28
22, 48 Phil Gallivan Chicago White Sox P 28
15 Tim McKeithan Philadelphia Athletics P 28
8 Johnny Pasek Chicago White Sox C 29
24, 28 John Pomorski Chicago White Sox P 29
- Art Scharein St. Louis Browns PH 29
10 Allen Benson Washington Senators P 30
9 Gordie Hinkle Boston Red Sox C 30
20 Harry Smythe New York Yankees P 30
19, 22 Pete Susko Washington Senators 1B 30
35 Dutch Holland Cleveland Indians OF 31
30 John Milligan Washington Senators P 31
3 Ed Morgan Boston Red Sox 1B 31
9 Evar Swanson Chicago White Sox OF 32
23 Dick Porter Boston Red Sox OF 33
2 Dick Porter Cleveland Indians OF 33
24 Dave Harris Washington Senators OF 34
19 Ed Wells St. Louis Browns P 34
15 Sarge Connally Cleveland Indians P 36
23 John Kerr Washington Senators 3B 36
26 Eddie Moore Cleveland Indians 2B 36
23 Milt Gaston Chicago White Sox P 39
31 Cy Perkins Detroit Tigers PH 39
49 Muddy Ruel Chicago White Sox C 39
20 Burleigh Grimes New York Yankees P 41
25 Joe Judge Boston Red Sox 1B 41
26 Alex McColl Washington Senators P 41
17 Herb Pennock Boston Red Sox P 41
29 Sam Rice Cleveland Indians OF 45
27 Grover Hartley St. Louis Browns C 46
26 Charley O'Leary St. Louis Browns PH 59
1934 American League Retirements



Find out which players made their Major League debut in the American League during the 1934 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.

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.