1957 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 1957.

"I want to hit a routine grounder to second and run all out to first base, then get thrown out by a half step. I want to leave an example to the young guys that that's how you play the game, all out." - George Brett
 

American League Retirements

1957

18 Jim Derrington Chicago White Sox P 18
12 Dave Hill Kansas City Athletics P 20
8 Kenny Kuhn Cleveland Indians 2B 21
37 Tex Nelson Baltimore Orioles OF 21
10 Tom Patton Baltimore Orioles C 22
15 Harry Taylor Kansas City Athletics P 22
18 Chuck Daniel Detroit Tigers P 24
17 Bob Powell Chicago White Sox PR 24
19, 29 Jerry Schoonmaker Washington Senators OF 24
34 Jim Heise Washington Senators P 25
28 Gene Host Kansas City Athletics P 25
8 Jim Pyburn Baltimore Orioles OF 25
34 Hal Raether Kansas City Athletics P 25
34, 42 Evelio Hernandez Washington Senators P 26
12 Tom Yewcic Detroit Tigers C 26
34 Joe Caffie Cleveland Indians OF 27
32 Don Minnick Washington Senators P 27
30 Karl Olson Detroit Tigers OF 27
3 Karl Olson Washington Senators OF 27
34 Stan Pitula Cleveland Indians P 27
31, 41 Lyle Luttrell Washington Senators SS 28
29 Rudy Minarcin Boston Red Sox P 28
4, 32 Dick Tettelbach Washington Senators OF 28
22 Al Aber Detroit Tigers P 30
16 Al Aber Kansas City Athletics P 30
26, 40 Bob Chakales Boston Red Sox P 30
16 Bob Chakales Washington Senators P 30
1 Jack Dittmer Detroit Tigers 3B 30
21 Art Houtteman Baltimore Orioles P 30
11 Art Houtteman Cleveland Indians P 30
42 Carl Powis Baltimore Orioles OF 30
19, 40 Jim Brideweser Baltimore Orioles SS 31
12 Mel Clark Detroit Tigers OF 31
21 Ed Blake Kansas City Athletics P 32
19 Jack Crimian Detroit Tigers P 32
24 Gene Mauch Boston Red Sox 2B 32
11 Harry Byrd Detroit Tigers P 33
42 Jerry Coleman New York Yankees 2B 33
8 Buddy Peterson Baltimore Orioles SS 33
35 Bob Usher Cleveland Indians OF 33
21 Bob Usher Washington Senators OF 33
26 Joe Black Washington Senators P 34
31 Paul LaPalme Chicago White Sox P 34
30 Bob Alexander Cleveland Indians P 35
15 Joe Collins New York Yankees 1B 35
32 Jim Hughes Chicago White Sox P 35
3 George Kell Baltimore Orioles 3B 35
9 Jack Phillips Detroit Tigers PH 36
21 Sandy Consuegra Baltimore Orioles P 37
16 Bob Kennedy Chicago White Sox PH 37
37 Eddie Robinson Baltimore Orioles PH 37
6 Eddie Robinson Cleveland Indians 1B 37
11 Eddie Robinson Detroit Tigers 1B 37
23 Tommy Byrne New York Yankees P 38
18 Steve Gromek Detroit Tigers P 38
32 Ron Northey Chicago White Sox PH 38
29 Pete Wojey Detroit Tigers P 38
24 Dizzy Trout Baltimore Orioles P 42
27 Ellis Kinder Chicago White Sox P 43
1957 American League Retirements



Find out which players made their Major League debut in the American League during the 1957 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.