Baseball Almanac - 1941 American League Retirements

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

# Name Team Pos Age

18 Red Anderson Washington Senators P 29

30 Johnny Babich Philadelphia Athletics P 29

23 Beau Bell Cleveland Indians OF 34

20 Emil Bildilli St. Louis Browns P 29

21 Cliff Bolton Washington Senators C 35

34 Soup Campbell Cleveland Indians OF 27

11 Fred Chapman Philadelphia Athletics SS 25

- Earl Cook Detroit Tigers P 33

- Harry Dean Washington Senators P 27

16 Emerson Dickman Boston Red Sox P 27

16 Al Flair Boston Red Sox 1B 25

11 Vern Freiburger Cleveland Indians 1B 18

7 Buck Frierson Cleveland Indians OF 24

17 Floyd Giebell Detroit Tigers P 32

- Stan Goletz Chicago White Sox PH 24

10 Lefty Grove Boston Red Sox P 42

6 Frank Grube St. Louis Browns C 37

32 Bump Hadley Philadelphia Athletics P 37

42 Chet Hajduk Chicago White Sox PH 23

6 Odell Hale Boston Red Sox 3B 33

24 Herb Hash Boston Red Sox P 31

45 Red Howell Cleveland Indians PH 33

15 Rankin Johnson Philadelphia Athletics P 25

33 John Leovich Philadelphia Athletics C 24

2 Benny McCoy Philadelphia Athletics 2B 26

- Ronnie Miller Washington Senators P 23

1 Buddy Myer Washington Senators 2B 38

23 Maury Newlin St. Louis Browns P 27

18 Steve Peek New York Yankees P 27

7 Boyd Perry Detroit Tigers SS 28

- Dave Short Chicago White Sox OF 25

34 Johnny Sturm New York Yankees 1B 26

22 Bud Thomas Detroit Tigers P 31

24 Pat Tobin Philadelphia Athletics P 26

29 George Washburn New York Yankees P 27

# Name Team Pos Age

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.

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.

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.

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