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.

"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
 

American League Retirements

1958

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

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).

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.