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.

"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
 

National League Retirements

1957

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

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.

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.