1960 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 1960.

"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

1960

39 Ray Boone Boston Red Sox 1B 37
25 Kent Hadley New York Yankees 1B 26
5 Gail Harris Detroit Tigers 1B 29
5 Ron Jackson Boston Red Sox 1B 27
48 Jim McManus Kansas City Athletics 1B 24
1 Wayne Terwilliger Kansas City Athletics 2B 35
31 Ray Webster Boston Red Sox 2B 23
22 Casey Wise Detroit Tigers 2B 28
5 Steve Demeter Cleveland Indians 3B 26
4 Ray Jablonski Kansas City Athletics 3B 34
12 Gil McDougald New York Yankees 3B 33
11 Lou Berberet Detroit Tigers C 31
12 Danny Kravitz Kansas City Athletics C 30
47 Billy Shantz New York Yankees C 33
27 Red Wilson Cleveland Indians C 32
10 Red Wilson Detroit Tigers C 32
23 Em Lindbeck Detroit Tigers PH 26
36 Sandy Amoros Detroit Tigers OF 31
6 Jim Delsing Kansas City Athletics OF 35
3 Johnny Groth Detroit Tigers OF 34
15 Jim Pisoni New York Yankees OF 31
20 Johnny Powers Baltimore Orioles OF 31
8 Johnny Powers Cleveland Indians OF 31
35 Bobby Thomson Baltimore Orioles OF 37
9 Ted Williams Boston Red Sox OF 42
25 Bobby Thomson Boston Red Sox OF 37
27 Ray Blemker Kansas City Athletics P 23
32, 16 Johnny Briggs Cleveland Indians P 27
27 Johnny Briggs Kansas City Athletics P 27
28 Nelson Chittum Boston Red Sox P 28
35 Rip Coleman Baltimore Orioles P 29
15 Bob Davis Kansas City Athletics P 27
23 Jack Harshman Cleveland Indians P 33
32, 34 Leo Kiely Kansas City Athletics P 31
18 Fred Kipp New York Yankees P 29
26 Johnny Kucks Kansas City Athletics P 27
30 Bob Mabe Baltimore Orioles P 31
25 Don Newcombe Cleveland Indians P 34
24 Arnie Portocarrero Baltimore Orioles P 29
29 Bob Rush Chicago White Sox P 35
31 George Spencer Detroit Tigers P 34
29 Hal Stowe New York Yankees P 23
20, 31 Jake Striker Chicago White Sox P 27
25 Carl Thomas Cleveland Indians P 29
37 Bob Trowbridge Kansas City Athletics P 30
4 George Strickland Cleveland Indians SS 35
1960 American League Retirements



Find out which players made their Major League debut in the American League during the 1960 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.

Did you know that future hall of fame pitcher Walter Johnson ended his Major League career in 1927 with a pinch-hit appearance? During the final game of the season pitcher Tom Zachary, who had just given up Babe Ruth's sixtieth home run of the season, was lifted and Johnson replaced him at the plate.