1952 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 1952.

"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
 

National League Retirements

1952

16 Bob Chipman Boston Braves P 34
40, 44 Buzz Clarkson Boston Braves SS 38
10 Jack Cusick Boston Braves SS 24
7 Jack Daniels Boston Braves OF 25
12 Roy Hartsfield Boston Braves 2B 27
30 Dick Hoover Boston Braves P 27
6 Billy Reed Boston Braves 2B 30
22 Bert Thiel Boston Braves P 27
29 Tommy Holmes Brooklyn Dodgers OF 36
19 Joe Landrum Brooklyn Dodgers P 24
44 Steve Lembo Brooklyn Dodgers C 26
15 Johnny Rutherford Brooklyn Dodgers P 28
25 Chris Van Cuyk Brooklyn Dodgers P 26
43 Leon Brinkopf Chicago Cubs SS 26
26 Monk Dubiel Chicago Cubs P 35
30, 37 Vern Fear Chicago Cubs P 28
41 Bud Hardin Chicago Cubs SS 30
19, 53 Joe Hatten Chicago Cubs P 36
53 Cal Howe Chicago Cubs P 28
19 Dick Manville Chicago Cubs P 27
25 Johnny Pramesa Chicago Cubs C 27
30 Willie Ramsdell Chicago Cubs P 37
45 Phil Haugstad Cincinnati Reds P 29
25, 40 Niles Jordan Cincinnati Reds P 27
10 Eddie Kazak Cincinnati Reds 3B 32
9 Joe Rossi Cincinnati Reds C 32
26 Hal Gregg New York Giants P 31
33 Clint Hartung New York Giants OF 30
8 Bill Howerton New York Giants OF 31
26 Dick Wakefield New York Giants PH 32
3 Putsy Caballero Philadelphia Phillies SS 25
27 Ken Heintzelman Philadelphia Phillies P 37
41 Lou Possehl Philadelphia Phillies P 27
5 Dick Young Philadelphia Phillies 2B 24
5 Tony Bartirome Pittsburgh Pirates 1B 21
12 Johnny Berardino Pittsburgh Pirates 2B 36
24 Don Carlsen Pittsburgh Pirates P 26
29 Jim Dunn Pittsburgh Pirates P 22
15 Erv Dusak Pittsburgh Pirates OF 32
19 Harry Fisher Pittsburgh Pirates P 27
8 Bill Howerton Pittsburgh Pirates OF 31
30 Joe Muir Pittsburgh Pirates P 30
21 Ron Necciai Pittsburgh Pirates P 20
36 Mel Queen Pittsburgh Pirates P 35
14 Sonny Senerchia Pittsburgh Pirates 3B 22
27 Jim Suchecki Pittsburgh Pirates P 26
34 Ed Wolfe Pittsburgh Pirates P 24
38 Herb Gorman St. Louis Cardinals PH 28
41 Fred Hahn St. Louis Cardinals P 24
40 Neal Hertweck St. Louis Cardinals 1B 21
3 Eddie Kazak St. Louis Cardinals 3B 32
23 Larry Miggins St. Louis Cardinals OF 27
1952 National League Retirements



Find out which players made their Major League debut in the National League during the 1952 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.