Baseball Almanac - 1938 American League Retirements

1938 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 1938.

"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
1938

# Name Team Pos Age

48 George Gick Chicago White Sox P 23

5 Gene Hasson Philadelphia Athletics 1B 23

- Charley Suche Cleveland Indians P 23

- Irv Bartling Philadelphia Athletics SS 24

27 Dick Midkiff Boston Red Sox P 24

18 Merv Connors Chicago White Sox 1B 25

9 Tommy Heath St. Louis Browns C 25

15 Lee Rogers Boston Red Sox P 25

7 Stan Sperry Philadelphia Athletics 2B 25

33 Lee Stine New York Yankees P 25

21 Al Williams Philadelphia Athletics P 25

35 Woody Davis Detroit Tigers P 26

6 Gene Ford Chicago White Sox P 26

32 Tommy Irwin Cleveland Indians SS 26

33 Joe Kohlman Washington Senators P 26

28 Jesse Landrum Chicago White Sox 2B 26

12 Ted Olson Boston Red Sox P 26

34 Joe Rogalski Detroit Tigers P 26

35 Lloyd Russell Cleveland Indians PR 26

26, 45 Frank Gabler Chicago White Sox P 27

19 Bill Humphrey Boston Red Sox P 27

22 Ed Linke St. Louis Browns P 27

45 Joe Martin Chicago White Sox PR 27

25, 30 Ace Parker Philadelphia Athletics SS 27

25 Monty Stratton Chicago White Sox P 27

20 Glenn Liebhardt St. Louis Browns P 28

25 Chet Morgan Detroit Tigers OF 28

19 Les Tietje St. Louis Browns P 28

17 George Meyer Chicago White Sox 2B 29

19 Bill Phebus Washington Senators P 29

2 John Kroner Cleveland Indians 2B 30

24 Ivy Andrews New York Yankees P 32

17 Sugar Cain Chicago White Sox P 32

27 Tony Piet Detroit Tigers 3B 32

15 Al Baker Boston Red Sox P 33

10 Paul Easterling Philadelphia Athletics OF 33

6 John Stone Washington Senators OF 33

25 Joe Vance New York Yankees P 33

8 Ethan Allen St. Louis Browns OF 35

30 Mule Haas Philadelphia Athletics OF 35

29 Charlie Berry Philadelphia Athletics C 36

20 Goose Goslin Washington Senators OF 38

11 Bill Harris Boston Red Sox P 38

# Name Team Pos Age

1938 American League Retirements

Find out which players made their Major League debut in the American League during the 1938 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.

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.

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