1949 National 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 National League League players who hung up their spikes in 1949.

"You are George Brett and all the cheering has stopped. The music is muted, the hour is late, and they will be taking the banners down and emptying your locker any minute now. As the late Jimmy Cannon would say it, 'All your bats are broken.'" - Broadcaster Jim Murray
 

National League Retirements

1949

2 Les Fleming Pittsburgh Pirates 1B 34
17 Elbie Fletcher Boston Braves 1B 34
24 Joe Lafata New York Giants 1B 28
6 Ray Sanders Boston Braves 1B 33
29 Augie Galan New York Giants 1B 38
22 Herman Reich Chicago Cubs 1B 32
12 George Hausmann New York Giants 2B 34
12 Bobby Rhawn New York Giants 2B 31
7 Buddy Blattner Philadelphia Phillies 2B 30
1 Whitey Kurowski St. Louis Cardinals 3B 32
17 Bobby Rhawn Pittsburgh Pirates 3B 31
3 Eddie Bockman Pittsburgh Pirates 3B 29
15 Bill Baker St. Louis Cardinals C 39
3 Herman Franks New York Giants C 36
9 Rube Novotney Chicago Cubs C 25
26 Hal Wagner Philadelphia Phillies C 34
41 Russ Derry St. Louis Cardinals PH 33
36 Jim Kirby Chicago Cubs PH 27
16 Steve Kuczek Boston Braves PH 25
11 Cliff Aberson Chicago Cubs OF 28
19 Clint Conatser Boston Braves OF 28
4 Jeff Heath Boston Braves OF 35
14 Wally Judnich Pittsburgh Pirates OF 33
14 Ed Sauer Boston Braves OF 31
10 Ed Sauer St. Louis Cardinals OF 31
11 Dixie Walker Pittsburgh Pirates OF 39
37 Dewey Adkins Chicago Cubs P 32
13 Red Barrett Boston Braves P 35
17 Johnny Beazley Boston Braves P 32
21 Hank Behrman New York Giants P 28
39 Charlie Bicknell Philadelphia Phillies P 21
10 Tiny Bonham Pittsburgh Pirates P 36
48 Ken Burkhart Cincinnati Reds P 33
25 Hugh Casey Pittsburgh Pirates P 36
34 Mort Cooper Chicago Cubs P 37
32 Walker Cress Cincinnati Reds P 33
17 Jess Dobernic Chicago Cubs P 32
17, 39 Jess Dobernic Cincinnati Reds P 32
18 Glenn Elliott Boston Braves P 30
35 Ralph Hamner Chicago Cubs P 33
29 Emil Kush Chicago Cubs P 33
37 Buddy Lively Cincinnati Reds P 25
30 Ray Poat New York Giants P 32
27, 37 Ray Poat Pittsburgh Pirates P 32
22 Nels Potter Boston Braves P 38
33 Bill Reeder St. Louis Cardinals P 28
21 Elmer Riddle Pittsburgh Pirates P 35
19 Schoolboy Rowe Philadelphia Phillies P 40
30 Rip Sewell Pittsburgh Pirates P 43
26 Clyde Shoun Boston Braves P 38
20 Lefty Sloat Chicago Cubs P 31
48 Andy Tomasic New York Giants P 32
22 Ken Trinkle Philadelphia Phillies P 30
37 Johnny Van Cuyk Brooklyn Dodgers P 28
38 Red Webb New York Giants P 25
39 Ray Yochim St. Louis Cardinals P 27
29, 47 Adrian Zabala New York Giants P 33
19 Jack Cassini Pittsburgh Pirates PR 30
47 Dick Culler New York Giants SS 35
14 Claude Corbitt Cincinnati Reds SS 34
1949 National League Retirements



Find out which players made their Major League debut in the National League during the 1949 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.

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).