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 want to hit a routine grounder to second and run all out to first base, then get thrown out by a half step. I want to leave an example to the young guys that that's how you play the game, all out." - George Brett
 

American League Retirements

1934

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

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.

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.