1953 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 1953.

"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

1953

16 Bob Addis Chicago Cubs OF 28
39 Bob Addis Pittsburgh Pirates PH 28
38 Ferrell Anderson St. Louis Cardinals C 36
24, 32 Bill Antonello Brooklyn Dodgers OF 27
5, 8 Frank Baldwin Cincinnati Redlegs C 25
19 Vern Benson St. Louis Cardinals PH 29
17 Carlos Bernier Pittsburgh Pirates OF 27
25 Dick Bokelmann St. Louis Cardinals P 27
12 Tommy Brown Chicago Cubs SS 26
14 Paul Burris Milwaukee Braves C 30
28 Cliff Chambers St. Louis Cardinals P 32
22 Mike Clark St. Louis Cardinals P 32
26 Bill Connelly New York Giants P 28
16 Brandy Davis Pittsburgh Pirates OF 26
10 Grant Dunlap St. Louis Cardinals OF 30
34 Eddie Erautt Cincinnati Redlegs P 29
32, 25 Eddie Erautt St. Louis Cardinals P 29
41 Jack Faszholz St. Louis Cardinals P 27
17 Les Fusselman St. Louis Cardinals C 33
17 Tookie Gilbert New York Giants 1B 25
3 Tommy Glaviano Philadelphia Phillies 3B 30
36 Bob Hall Pittsburgh Pirates P 30
20 Andy Hansen Philadelphia Phillies P 29
22 Gene Hermanski Chicago Cubs OF 34
7 Gene Hermanski Pittsburgh Pirates OF 34
42 Frank Hiller New York Giants P 33
22 Virgil Jester Milwaukee Braves P 26
1 Billy Johnson St. Louis Cardinals 3B 35
26 Sheldon Jones Chicago Cubs P 32
32 Monte Kennedy New York Giants P 32
37 Clyde King Cincinnati Redlegs P 30
37 Clem Koshorek Pittsburgh Pirates PH 28
37 Max Lanier New York Giants P 38
20 Dutch Leonard Chicago Cubs P 45
20 George Lerchen Cincinnati Redlegs OF 31
7 Jack Lohrke Philadelphia Phillies 2B 30
25 Bill MacDonald Pittsburgh Pirates P 25
35 Woody Main Pittsburgh Pirates P 32
15 Fred Marolewski St. Louis Cardinals 1B 25
20 Bob Marquis Cincinnati Redlegs OF 29
48 Barney Martin Cincinnati Redlegs P 31
48 Carmen Mauro Brooklyn Dodgers OF 27
15 Jackie Mayo Philadelphia Phillies OF 28
46 Glenn Mickens Brooklyn Dodgers P 23
26 Bill Moisan Chicago Cubs P 28
14 Pete Naton Pittsburgh Pirates C 22
46 Ernie Nevel Cincinnati Redlegs P 35
12 Bill Nicholson Philadelphia Phillies OF 39
8 Ray Noble New York Giants C 35
33, 27 Kent Peterson Philadelphia Phillies P 28
20 Paul Pettit Pittsburgh Pirates P 22
20 Eddie Phillips St. Louis Cardinals PR 23
5 Bob Ramazzotti Chicago Cubs 2B 37
18 Bill Rigney New York Giants 3B 36
6 Mike Sandlock Pittsburgh Pirates C 38
14 Paul Schramka Chicago Cubs OF 26
30 Duke Simpson Chicago Cubs P 26
15 Dick Sisler St. Louis Cardinals 1B 33
3 Virgil Stallcup St. Louis Cardinals PH 32
12 Eddie Stanky St. Louis Cardinals 2B 38
34 Paul Stuffel Philadelphia Phillies P 27
27 Joe Szekely Cincinnati Redlegs OF 29
37 Dick Teed Brooklyn Dodgers PH 28
18 Bob Thorpe Milwaukee Braves OF 27
23 Jim Waugh Pittsburgh Pirates P 20
43 Eddie Yuhas St. Louis Cardinals P 29
1953 National League Retirements



Find out which players made their Major League debut in the National League during the 1953 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).

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.