1941 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 1941.

"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

1941

11 Vern Freiburger Cleveland Indians 1B 18
42 Chet Hajduk Chicago White Sox PH 23
- Ronnie Miller Washington Senators P 23
7 Buck Frierson Cleveland Indians OF 24
- Stan Goletz Chicago White Sox PH 24
33 John Leovich Philadelphia Athletics C 24
11 Fred Chapman Philadelphia Athletics SS 25
16 Al Flair Boston Red Sox 1B 25
15 Rankin Johnson Philadelphia Athletics P 25
- Dave Short Chicago White Sox OF 25
2 Benny McCoy Philadelphia Athletics 2B 26
34 Johnny Sturm New York Yankees 1B 26
24 Pat Tobin Philadelphia Athletics P 26
34 Soup Campbell Cleveland Indians OF 27
- Harry Dean Washington Senators P 27
16 Emerson Dickman Boston Red Sox P 27
23 Maury Newlin St. Louis Browns P 27
18 Steve Peek New York Yankees P 27
29 George Washburn New York Yankees P 27
7 Boyd Perry Detroit Tigers SS 28
18 Red Anderson Washington Senators P 29
30 Johnny Babich Philadelphia Athletics P 29
20 Emil Bildilli St. Louis Browns P 29
24 Herb Hash Boston Red Sox P 31
22 Bud Thomas Detroit Tigers P 31
17 Floyd Giebell Detroit Tigers P 32
- Earl Cook Detroit Tigers P 33
6 Odell Hale Boston Red Sox 3B 33
45 Red Howell Cleveland Indians PH 33
23 Beau Bell Cleveland Indians OF 34
21 Cliff Bolton Washington Senators C 35
6 Frank Grube St. Louis Browns C 37
32 Bump Hadley Philadelphia Athletics P 37
1 Buddy Myer Washington Senators 2B 38
10 Lefty Grove Boston Red Sox P 42
1941 American League Retirements



Find out which players made their Major League debut in the American League during the 1941 season as this group of players bid farewell to their field's of dreams.

Stan Musial ended his Major League career on September 29, 1963. His final hit was a single during the sixth inning off Jim Maloney which drove in his last RBI (which was Curt Flood).

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.