1964 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 1964.

"I'll never make the mistake of being seventy (70) again." - Casey Stengel comment made after being told to quit following the 1960 World Series
 

National League Retirements

1964

42 Freddie Burdette Chicago Cubs P 28
36 Don Elston Chicago Cubs P 36
38 John Flavin Chicago Cubs P 23
28 Lee Gregory Chicago Cubs P 26
40 Glen Hobbie Chicago Cubs P 29
39 Jake Jaeckel Chicago Cubs P 23
20, 28 Billy Ott Chicago Cubs OF 24
30 Wayne Schurr Chicago Cubs P 27
38 Dick Scott Chicago Cubs P 32
45 Bobby Shantz Chicago Cubs P 39
41 Sterling Slaughter Chicago Cubs P 23
39 Paul Toth Chicago Cubs P 29
34 Chet Nichols Cincinnati Reds P 34
9 Hal Smith Cincinnati Reds C 34
5 Johnny Temple Cincinnati Reds PH 37
45 Don Bradey Houston Colt .45s P 30
38 Hal Brown Houston Colt .45s P 40
17 Steve Hertz Houston Colt .45s 3B 20
3 Pete Runnels Houston Colt .45s 1B 37
26 Johnny Weekly Houston Colt .45s OF 27
47 Larry Yellen Houston Colt .45s P 22
7 Lee Walls Los Angeles Dodgers OF 32
20 Gus Bell Milwaukee Braves PH 36
42 Ethan Blackaby Milwaukee Braves OF 24
38 John Braun Milwaukee Braves P 25
32 Cecil Butler Milwaukee Braves P 27
45, 53 Jack Smith Milwaukee Braves P 29
47 Bill Southworth Milwaukee Braves 3B 19
20 Craig Anderson New York Mets P 26
38 Ed Bauta New York Mets P 30
6 Larry Burright New York Mets 2B 27
39 Steve Dillon New York Mets P 22
4 Wayne Graham New York Mets 3B 29
3 Tim Harkness New York Mets 1B 27
47 Jay Hook New York Mets P 28
38 Willard Hunter New York Mets P 31
10 Rod Kanehl New York Mets 2B 31
21, 45 Ron Locke New York Mets P 23
40 Al Moran New York Mets SS 26
7 Amado Samuel New York Mets SS 26
47 Tom Sturdivant New York Mets P 35
43 Bill Wakefield New York Mets P 24
59 Dave Bennett Philadelphia Phillies P 19
12 Don Hoak Philadelphia Phillies PH 37
26 Cal McLish Philadelphia Phillies P 39
35 Bobby Shantz Philadelphia Phillies P 39
36 Frank Bork Pittsburgh Pirates P 24
29 Fred Green Pittsburgh Pirates P 31
4 Rex Johnston Pittsburgh Pirates OF 27
2 Dave Wissman Pittsburgh Pirates OF 24
19 Billy Pierce San Francisco Giants P 38
18 John Pregenzer San Francisco Giants P 32
28 Duke Snider San Francisco Giants OF 38
43 Dave Bakenhaster St. Louis Cardinals P 20
30 Harry Fanok St. Louis Cardinals P 25
40 Glen Hobbie St. Louis Cardinals P 29
10 Jeoff Long St. Louis Cardinals OF 23
10 Joe Morgan St. Louis Cardinals PH 34
34 Bobby Shantz St. Louis Cardinals P 39
1964 National League Retirements



Find out which players made their Major League debut in the National League during the 1964 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.

Hank Aaron ended his Major League career on October 3, 1976, with a sharp single during the sixth inning off Dave Roberts of the Detroit Tigers.