1958 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 1958.

"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

1958

28 Stover McIlwain Chicago White Sox P 19
19 Jack Feller Detroit Tigers C 22
31 Chuck Lindstrom Chicago White Sox C 22
35 Jim Small Kansas City Athletics OF 22
3 Hal Trosky Chicago White Sox P 22
43 Charlie Beamon Baltimore Orioles P 24
31, 36 Tom Qualters Chicago White Sox P 24
15 Duane Wilson Boston Red Sox P 24
27 Joe Albanese Washington Senators P 25
14, 15 Carl Duser Kansas City Athletics P 26
6, 30 Walt Craddock Kansas City Athletics P 27
11 Mike Baxes Kansas City Athletics 2B 28
23 Milt Bolling Detroit Tigers SS 28
8 Foster Castleman Baltimore Orioles SS 28
16 Glenn Cox Kansas City Athletics P 28
29 Rod Graber Cleveland Indians OF 28
4 Milt Graff Kansas City Athletics 2B 28
27 Bob Hazle Detroit Tigers OF 28
40 Chuck Oertel Baltimore Orioles OF 28
21 Bob Wiesler Washington Senators P 28
24 Wally Burnette Kansas City Athletics P 29
16 Larry Raines Cleveland Indians 2B 29
34 Jerry Snyder Washington Senators 2B 29
29 Bill Taylor Detroit Tigers OF 29
7 Billy Hunter Cleveland Indians SS 30
1 Billy Hunter Kansas City Athletics SS 30
3, 35 Dave Melton Kansas City Athletics OF 30
21 Willard Nixon Boston Red Sox P 30
27 Joe Presko Detroit Tigers P 30
20 Bert Hamric Baltimore Orioles PH 31
37 Bob Kelly Cleveland Indians P 31
36 Jim McDonald Chicago White Sox P 32
6 Eddie Miksis Baltimore Orioles SS 32
19 Lou Sleater Baltimore Orioles P 32
19 Lou Sleater Detroit Tigers P 32
20 Herm Wehmeier Detroit Tigers P 32
7 Fred Hatfield Cleveland Indians 3B 34
12 Les Moss Chicago White Sox PH 34
12 Tim Thompson Detroit Tigers C 35
36 Connie Johnson Baltimore Orioles P 36
30 Jim Wilson Chicago White Sox P 37
16 Ted Beard Chicago White Sox OF 38
15 Bob Keegan Chicago White Sox P 38
21 Bob Lemon Cleveland Indians P 38
28 Dixie Howell Chicago White Sox P 39
21 Sal Maglie New York Yankees P 42
23 Virgil Trucks Kansas City Athletics P 42
21 Virgil Trucks New York Yankees P 42
1958 American League Retirements



Find out which players made their Major League debut in the American League during the 1958 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.

On July 28, 1976, Blue Moon Odom pitched the final five innings of his Major League career. He was relieved by Francisco Barrios in the sixth inning and the two White Sox combined to pitch a 2-1 no-hitter versus the Oakland Athletics.