1937 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 1937.

"You start chasing a ball and your brain immediately commands your body to: Run forward. Bend. Scoop up the ball. Peg it to the infield. Then your body says, 'Who, me?'" - Retirement comment made by Joe DiMaggio
 

American League Retirements

1937

27 Harry Davis St. Louis Browns 1B 30
2 Jim Bottomley St. Louis Browns 1B 38
- Jerry Lynn Washington Senators 2B 22
15 Nig Lipscomb St. Louis Browns 2B 27
24 John Mihalic Washington Senators 2B 26
24 Ski Melillo Boston Red Sox 2B 38
4 Rogers Hornsby St. Louis Browns 2B 42
- Flea Clifton Detroit Tigers 3B 29
10 Joe Becker Cleveland Indians C 29
20 Milt Gray Washington Senators C 24
8 Shanty Hogan Washington Senators C 32
28 Ben Huffman St. Louis Browns C 23
26, 88 Alex Sabo Washington Senators C 28
3 Mickey Cochrane Detroit Tigers C 35
- Bill Sodd Cleveland Indians PH 23
2 Hugh Alexander Cleveland Indians OF 20
37 Tom Cafego St. Louis Browns OF 26
15 Jesse Hill Philadelphia Athletics OF 31
25 Jesse Hill Washington Senators OF 31
92 Doyt Morris Philadelphia Athletics OF 21
23 Jack Rothrock Philadelphia Athletics OF 33
26, 41 Fred Archer Philadelphia Athletics P 28
25 Ed Baecht St. Louis Browns P 31
14 Sheriff Blake St. Louis Browns P 38
47 Italo Chelini Chicago White Sox P 23
14 Syd Cohen Washington Senators P 32
18 Herman Fink Philadelphia Athletics P 26
29 Carl Fischer Cleveland Indians P 32
16 Carl Fischer Washington Senators P 32
19, 35 Joe Gonzales Boston Red Sox P 23
21 Clyde Hatter Detroit Tigers P 29
61 Bill Kalfass Philadelphia Athletics P 22
12, 22 Lou Koupal St. Louis Browns P 39
23, 28, 34 Frank Makosky New York Yankees P 28
21 Pat Malone New York Yankees P 35
25 Bill Miller St. Louis Browns P 28
18 Vic Sorrell Detroit Tigers P 37
14 Bill Strickland St. Louis Browns P 30
32 Tommy Thomas Boston Red Sox P 38
25 Tommy Thomas St. Louis Browns P 38
24 George Turbeville Philadelphia Athletics P 23
15 Rube Walberg Boston Red Sox P 41
32 Stew Bowers Boston Red Sox PR 23
21, 25 Bob Daughters Boston Red Sox PR 23
- Frank Trechock Washington Senators SS 22
1937 American League Retirements



Find out which players made their Major League debut in the American League during the 1937 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.