1962 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 1962.

"You start chasing a ball and your brain immediately commands your body to: Run forward. Bend. Scoop up the ball. Peg it to the infield. Then your body says, 'Who, me?'" - Retirement comment made by Joe DiMaggio
 

National League Retirements

1962

30, 33 George Gerberman Chicago Cubs P 21
50 Ed Keegan Philadelphia Phillies P 23
40 Harvey Branch St. Louis Cardinals P 24
11 Rogelio Alvarez Cincinnati Reds 1B 25
39 Tony Balsamo Chicago Cubs P 25
48, 47 Don Prince Chicago Cubs P 25
2, 7 Elio Chacon New York Mets SS 26
31, 45 Dave Gerard Chicago Cubs P 26
6 Rick Herrscher New York Mets 1B 26
22, 20 Jim McAnany Chicago Cubs PH 26
15 Jim McKnight Chicago Cubs 3B 26
11 Moe Morhardt Chicago Cubs PH 26
17 Jacke Davis Philadelphia Phillies OF 27
29 John DeMerit New York Mets OF 27
27 Larry Foss New York Mets P 27
39 Bob Miller Cincinnati Reds P 27
36 Bob Miller New York Mets P 27
43 Howie Nunn Cincinnati Reds P 27
19 Daryl Robertson Chicago Cubs SS 27
14 Carl Boles San Francisco Giants OF 28
15 Billy Consolo Philadelphia Phillies 3B 28
12 Sammy Drake New York Mets 2B 28
36 Sherman Jones New York Mets P 28
47 Bill Smith Philadelphia Phillies P 28
18 Don Buddin Houston Colt .45s SS 29
35 Ray Daviault New York Mets P 29
19 Elder White Chicago Cubs SS 29
39 John Anderson Houston Colt .45s P 30
35 John Anderson St. Louis Cardinals P 30
3, 11 Ed Bouchee New York Mets 1B 30
44 Harry Chiti New York Mets C 30
31 Mel Roach Philadelphia Phillies 3B 30
21 Andy Carey Los Angeles Dodgers 3B 31
19 Bobby Malkmus Philadelphia Phillies SS 31
40 Dave Sisler Cincinnati Reds P 31
20, 24 Don Taussig Houston Colt .45s OF 31
36 George Witt Houston Colt .45s P 31
39 Mike Krsnich Milwaukee Braves OF 32
6 Jim Marshall New York Mets 1B 32
14 Jim Marshall Pittsburgh Pirates 1B 32
26 Vinegar Bend Mizell New York Mets P 32
30 Vinegar Bend Mizell Pittsburgh Pirates P 32
31 Al Cicotte Houston Colt .45s P 33
14 Don Ferrarese Philadelphia Phillies P 33
36 Don Ferrarese St. Louis Cardinals P 33
5 Joe Pignatano New York Mets C 33
2 Joe Pignatano San Francisco Giants C 33
27 Pidge Browne Houston Colt .45s 1B 34
17 Dick Gernert Houston Colt .45s 1B 34
5 Darrell Johnson Cincinnati Reds C 34
46 Al Lary Chicago Cubs P 34
26 Herb Moford New York Mets P 34
9 Sammy White Philadelphia Phillies C 34
22 Al Heist Houston Colt .45s OF 35
38 Dave Hillman Cincinnati Reds P 35
27, 34 Dave Hillman New York Mets P 35
1 Richie Ashburn New York Mets OF 36
4 Jim Busby Houston Colt .45s OF 36
12 Joe Ginsberg New York Mets C 36
41 Clem Labine New York Mets P 36
20 Bob Nieman San Francisco Giants OF 36
52 El Tappe Chicago Cubs C 36
16 Billy Goodman Houston Colt .45s 2B 37
17 Bob Cerv Houston Colt .45s OF 38
23 Jim Pendleton Houston Colt .45s OF 39
11 Gene Woodling New York Mets OF 40
1962 National League Retirements



Find out which players made their Major League debut in the National League during the 1962 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.

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.