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

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

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.

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.