1934 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 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
 

National League Retirements

1934

18 Jumbo Elliott Boston Braves P 34
24 Dick Gyselman Boston Braves 3B 27
23 Dan McGee Boston Braves SS 23
28 Marty McManus Boston Braves 2B 35
26 Clarence Pickrel Boston Braves P 24
7 Red Worthington Boston Braves OF 29
15 Ownie Carroll Brooklyn Dodgers P 32
20 Glenn Chapman Brooklyn Dodgers OF 29
1 Johnny Frederick Brooklyn Dodgers OF 33
- Bert Hogg Brooklyn Dodgers 3B 22
26 Ray Lucas Brooklyn Dodgers P 26
21 Phil Page Brooklyn Dodgers P 29
23 Charlie Perkins Brooklyn Dodgers P 29
21 Harry Smythe Brooklyn Dodgers P 30
4 Hack Wilson Brooklyn Dodgers OF 35
41 Don Hurst Chicago Cubs 1B 29
5 Riggs Stephenson Chicago Cubs OF 37
11 Bennie Tate Chicago Cubs C 33
14 Charlie Wiedemeyer Chicago Cubs P 21
4 Sparky Adams Cincinnati Reds 3B 40
- Junie Barnes Cincinnati Reds P 23
12 Linc Blakely Cincinnati Reds OF 23
- Sherman Edwards Cincinnati Reds P 25
5 Jake Flowers Cincinnati Reds PH 33
21 Ray Kolp Cincinnati Reds P 40
25 Clyde Manion Cincinnati Reds C 38
31 Bill Marshall Cincinnati Reds 2B 24
22 Harry McCurdy Cincinnati Reds 1B 35
- Beryl Richmond Cincinnati Reds P 27
23 Tony Robello Cincinnati Reds PH 22
7 Wes Schulmerich Cincinnati Reds OF 33
22 Joe Shaute Cincinnati Reds P 35
12 Jimmy Shevlin Cincinnati Reds 1B 25
11 Ivey Shiver Cincinnati Reds OF 29
19 Whitey Wistert Cincinnati Reds P 23
15 Hi Bell New York Giants P 37
22 George Grantham New York Giants 1B 35
16 Lefty O'Doul New York Giants OF 38
26 Homer Peel New York Giants OF 32
24 Fresco Thompson New York Giants PH 32
23 Bud Clancy Philadelphia Phillies 1B 34
41 George Darrow Philadelphia Phillies P 31
43 Jumbo Elliott Philadelphia Phillies P 34
34 Fred Frink Philadelphia Phillies OF 23
44 Reggie Grabowski Philadelphia Phillies P 27
32 Harvey Hendrick Philadelphia Phillies OF 37
23 Andy High Philadelphia Phillies 3B 37
46 Ed Holley Philadelphia Phillies P 35
24 Don Hurst Philadelphia Phillies 1B 29
25 Irv Jeffries Philadelphia Phillies 2B 29
49 Cy Malis Philadelphia Phillies P 28
48 Cy Moore Philadelphia Phillies P 30
34 Art Ruble Philadelphia Phillies OF 32
35 Wes Schulmerich Philadelphia Phillies OF 33
34 Hack Wilson Philadelphia Phillies OF 35
37, 23 Burleigh Grimes Pittsburgh Pirates P 41
- Ed Holley Pittsburgh Pirates P 35
50 Lloyd Johnson Pittsburgh Pirates P 24
41 Heinie Meine Pittsburgh Pirates P 39
14 Wally Roettger Pittsburgh Pirates OF 32
- Steamboat Struss Pittsburgh Pirates P 26
35 Pat Veltman Pittsburgh Pirates C 29
11 Pat Crawford St. Louis Cardinals 3B 33
20 Burleigh Grimes St. Louis Cardinals P 41
27 Francis Healy St. Louis Cardinals C 24
27 Clarence Heise St. Louis Cardinals P 27
28 Jim Mooney St. Louis Cardinals P 28
31 Red Worthington St. Louis Cardinals PH 29
1934 National League Retirements



Find out which players made their Major League debut in the National League during the 1934 season as this group of players bid farewell to their field's of dreams.

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.

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.