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'll never make the mistake of being seventy (70) again." - Casey Stengel comment made after being told to quit following the 1960 World Series
 

American League Retirements

1938

18 Merv Connors Chicago White Sox 1B 25
5 Gene Hasson Philadelphia Athletics 1B 23
28 Jesse Landrum Chicago White Sox 2B 26
17 George Meyer Chicago White Sox 2B 29
7 Stan Sperry Philadelphia Athletics 2B 25
2 John Kroner Cleveland Indians 2B 30
27 Tony Piet Detroit Tigers 3B 32
29 Charlie Berry Philadelphia Athletics C 36
9 Tommy Heath St. Louis Browns C 25
8 Ethan Allen St. Louis Browns OF 35
10 Paul Easterling Philadelphia Athletics OF 33
20 Goose Goslin Washington Senators OF 38
25 Chet Morgan Detroit Tigers OF 28
6 John Stone Washington Senators OF 33
30 Mule Haas Philadelphia Athletics OF 35
24 Ivy Andrews New York Yankees P 32
15 Al Baker Boston Red Sox P 33
17 Sugar Cain Chicago White Sox P 32
35 Woody Davis Detroit Tigers P 26
6 Gene Ford Chicago White Sox P 26
26, 45 Frank Gabler Chicago White Sox P 27
48 George Gick Chicago White Sox P 23
11 Bill Harris Boston Red Sox P 38
19 Bill Humphrey Boston Red Sox P 27
33 Joe Kohlman Washington Senators P 26
20 Glenn Liebhardt St. Louis Browns P 28
22 Ed Linke St. Louis Browns P 27
27 Dick Midkiff Boston Red Sox P 24
12 Ted Olson Boston Red Sox P 26
19 Bill Phebus Washington Senators P 29
34 Joe Rogalski Detroit Tigers P 26
15 Lee Rogers Boston Red Sox P 25
33 Lee Stine New York Yankees P 25
25 Monty Stratton Chicago White Sox P 27
- Charley Suche Cleveland Indians P 23
19 Les Tietje St. Louis Browns P 28
25 Joe Vance New York Yankees P 33
21 Al Williams Philadelphia Athletics P 25
45 Joe Martin Chicago White Sox PR 27
35 Lloyd Russell Cleveland Indians PR 26
32 Tommy Irwin Cleveland Indians SS 26
25, 30 Ace Parker Philadelphia Athletics SS 27
- Irv Bartling Philadelphia Athletics SS 24
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.