1957 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 1957.

"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

1957

39 Roy Campanella Brooklyn Dodgers C 36
49 Bob Kennedy Brooklyn Dodgers OF 37
50 Rod Miller Brooklyn Dodgers PH 18
49 Rene Valdes Brooklyn Dodgers P 28
1 Jim Fanning Chicago Cubs C 30
45 Don Kaiser Chicago Cubs P 23
9 Bob Lennon Chicago Cubs OF 29
6, 39 Jack Littrell Chicago Cubs SS 29
39 Ed Mickelson Chicago Cubs 1B 31
29 Tom Poholsky Chicago Cubs P 28
8 Charlie Silvera Chicago Cubs C 33
12 Ed Winceniak Chicago Cubs SS 29
36 Vicente Amor Cincinnati Redlegs P 25
19 Bobby Durnbaugh Cincinnati Redlegs SS 25
19 Bill Kennedy Cincinnati Redlegs P 37
45 Dave Skaugstad Cincinnati Redlegs P 18
12 Dick Cole Milwaukee Braves 2B 32
16 Dave Jolly Milwaukee Braves P 33
25 Nippy Jones Milwaukee Braves 1B 32
19 Red Murff Milwaukee Braves P 37
56 Ray Shearer Milwaukee Braves OF 28
49 Sandy Consuegra New York Giants P 37
38 Jim Davis New York Giants P 33
23 Bobby Hofman New York Giants PH 32
38 Joe Margoneri New York Giants P 28
40 Windy McCall New York Giants P 32
36 Max Surkont New York Giants P 35
9 Wes Westrum New York Giants C 35
16 Frank Baumholtz Philadelphia Phillies PH 39
12 Marv Blaylock Philadelphia Phillies 1B 28
50 Glen Gorbous Philadelphia Phillies PH 27
50 Chuck Harmon Philadelphia Phillies OF 34
8 John Kennedy Philadelphia Phillies 3B 31
26 Ron Northey Philadelphia Phillies PH 38
26 Saul Rogovin Philadelphia Phillies P 34
21 Andy Seminick Philadelphia Phillies C 37
31 Whammy Douglas Pittsburgh Pirates P 23
29 Nellie King Pittsburgh Pirates P 30
37 Bob Kuzava Pittsburgh Pirates P 35
31 Laurin Pepper Pittsburgh Pirates P 27
5 Buddy Pritchard Pittsburgh Pirates SS 22
10 Dick Rand Pittsburgh Pirates C 27
35 Red Swanson Pittsburgh Pirates P 21
36 Joe Trimble Pittsburgh Pirates P 27
22 Tom Alston St. Louis Cardinals 1B 32
30 Walker Cooper St. Louis Cardinals C 43
26 Jim Davis St. Louis Cardinals P 33
24 Chuck Harmon St. Louis Cardinals OF 34
46 Bob Kuzava St. Louis Cardinals P 35
31, 46 Don Lassetter St. Louis Cardinals OF 25
40 Lynn Lovenguth St. Louis Cardinals P 35
43 Lloyd Merritt St. Louis Cardinals P 25
1957 National League Retirements



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