1950 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 1950.

"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
 

National League Retirements

1950

3 Dale Coogan Pittsburgh Pirates 1B 20
20 Nap Reyes New York Giants 1B 31
37 Ed Stevens Pittsburgh Pirates 1B 26
18 Emil Verban Boston Braves 2B 35
7 Emil Verban Chicago Cubs 2B 35
11 Nanny Fernandez Pittsburgh Pirates 3B 32
22 Walt Linden Boston Braves C 27
10 Earl Turner Pittsburgh Pirates C 28
29 Danny Gardella St. Louis Cardinals PH 31
40 Ed Mierkowicz St. Louis Cardinals PH 27
26 Pete Milne New York Giants PH 26
25 Marv Rackley Cincinnati Reds PH 29
16 Johnny Blatnik Philadelphia Phillies OF 30
35 Johnny Blatnik St. Louis Cardinals OF 30
13 Marv Rickert Pittsburgh Pirates OF 30
39 Roy Weatherly New York Giants OF 36
38 Jay Avrea Cincinnati Reds P 30
11 Jack Banta Brooklyn Dodgers P 25
26 Rex Barney Brooklyn Dodgers P 26
38 Frank Barrett Pittsburgh Pirates P 37
24 Bob Chesnes Pittsburgh Pirates P 30
11 Al Epperly Brooklyn Dodgers P 33
37 Harry Gumbert Pittsburgh Pirates P 41
22 Mickey Haefner Boston Braves P 38
30 Kirby Higbe New York Giants P 36
23 Doyle Lade Chicago Cubs P 30
28 Vic Lombardi Pittsburgh Pirates P 28
35 Mal Mallette Brooklyn Dodgers P 29
39 Fred Martin St. Louis Cardinals P 35
23 Pat McGlothin Brooklyn Dodgers P 30
30 Frank Papish Pittsburgh Pirates P 33
13 Bill Pierro Pittsburgh Pirates P 25
33 Jim Romano Brooklyn Dodgers P 24
26 Normie Roy Boston Braves P 22
96 Bill Voiselle Chicago Cubs P 32
31 Bucky Walters Boston Braves P 42
14 Rudy Rufer New York Giants SS 24
33 Eddie Miller St. Louis Cardinals SS 34
1950 National League Retirements



Find out which players made their Major League debut in the National League during the 1950 season as this group of players bid farewell to their field's of dreams.

Goose Goslin played for eighteen seasons and averaged one-hundred twenty-seven games played per season. In 1938, during his final at-bat, he twisted his back and was replaced at the plate by a pinch-hitter for the first time in his Major League career.

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).