1954 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 1954.

"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
 

American League Retirements

1954

14, 48 Lou Limmer Philadelphia Athletics 1B 30
6 Bill Glynn Cleveland Indians 1B 29
4, 38 Chuck Kress Detroit Tigers 1B 33
1 Chico Garcia Baltimore Orioles 2B 30
11 Johnny Pesky Washington Senators 2B 36
28 Roy Dietzel Washington Senators 2B 24
27 Bobby Brown New York Yankees 3B 30
33 Joe Kirrene Chicago White Sox 3B 23
6 Cass Michaels Chicago White Sox 3B 29
14, 50 Al Lakeman Detroit Tigers C 36
9 Ray Murray Baltimore Orioles C 37
11 Mickey Owen Boston Red Sox C 39
10 Joe Tipton Washington Senators C 33
33 Del Wilber Boston Red Sox C 36
9 Luke Easter Cleveland Indians PH 39
32 Ralph Houk New York Yankees PH 35
39 Guy Morton Boston Red Sox PH 24
37 Don Nicholas Chicago White Sox PH 24
7 Johnny Pesky Detroit Tigers PH 36
19 Dick Kokos Baltimore Orioles OF 27
21, 30 Don Lund Detroit Tigers OF 32
21 Bud Stewart Chicago White Sox OF 38
15 Clyde Vollmer Washington Senators OF 33
32 Don Lenhardt Boston Red Sox OF 32
14 Don Lenhardt Baltimore Orioles OF 32
24 Vern Bickford Baltimore Orioles P 34
34 Mike Blyzka Baltimore Orioles P 26
15 Joe Dobson Boston Red Sox P 38
21, 37 Howie Fox Baltimore Orioles P 34
38 Jay Heard Baltimore Orioles P 35
24 Tom Herrin Boston Red Sox P 25
22 Dave Hoskins Cleveland Indians P 29
20 Sid Hudson Boston Red Sox P 40
22 Connie Marrero Washington Senators P 44
17 Bill Oster Philadelphia Athletics P 22
22 Allie Reynolds New York Yankees P 38
49 Dutch Romberger Philadelphia Athletics P 28
49 Dick Rozek Philadelphia Athletics P 28
24 Carl Scheib Philadelphia Athletics P 28
36 Al Sima Chicago White Sox P 33
26 Al Sima Philadelphia Athletics P 33
35 Dick Strahs Chicago White Sox P 31
26 Marlin Stuart Baltimore Orioles P 36
27 Marlin Stuart New York Yankees P 36
17 Bill Upton Philadelphia Athletics P 25
21, 30 Dick Weik Detroit Tigers P 27
14 Bill Werle Boston Red Sox P 34
56 Bob Cain Chicago White Sox PR 30
2 Connie Berry Baltimore Orioles SS 33
50 George Bullard Detroit Tigers SS 26
28 Mel Hoderlein Washington Senators SS 31
1954 American League Retirements



Find out which players made their Major League debut in the American League during the 1954 season as this group of players bid farewell to their field's of dreams.

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.

Did you know that future hall of fame pitcher Walter Johnson ended his Major League career in 1927 with a pinch-hit appearance? During the final game of the season pitcher Tom Zachary, who had just given up Babe Ruth's sixtieth home run of the season, was lifted and Johnson replaced him at the plate.