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.

"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

1964

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

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 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.