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 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
 

National League Retirements

1962

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

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.

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.