1965 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 1965.

"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

1965

48 Frank Baumann Chicago Cubs P 32
29 Harry Bright Chicago Cubs PH 36
15 Leo Burke Chicago Cubs C 32
24 Ellis Burton Chicago Cubs OF 29
40 Jack Warner Chicago Cubs P 25
10 Steve Boros Cincinnati Reds 3B 29
44 Jim Duffalo Cincinnati Reds P 30
26 Charlie James Cincinnati Reds OF 28
2 Nellie Fox Houston Astros 3B 38
9 John Hoffman Houston Astros C 22
34 Gordon Jones Houston Astros P 36
34 Ken MacKenzie Houston Astros P 32
25 Jim Mahoney Houston Astros SS 32
27 Gene Ratliff Houston Astros PH 20
7 Gus Triandos Houston Astros C 35
16 Mike White Houston Astros 3B 27
31 Don LeJohn Los Angeles Dodgers 3B 32
9 Wally Moon Los Angeles Dodgers OF 36
25 Dick Smith Los Angeles Dodgers OF 27
17 Hector Valle Los Angeles Dodgers C 25
18 Johnny Blanchard Milwaukee Braves OF 33
42 Don Dillard Milwaukee Braves OF 29
8 Yogi Berra New York Mets C 41
41, 42 Jim Bethke New York Mets P 19
6 Bobby Klaus New York Mets 2B 28
17 Frank Lary New York Mets P 36
21 Bob Moorhead New York Mets P 28
34, 36 Dennis Musgraves New York Mets P 22
27 Tom Parsons New York Mets P 26
21 Warren Spahn New York Mets P 45
28 Carl Willey New York Mets P 34
29 Bobby Del Greco Philadelphia Phillies OF 33
30 Ryne Duren Philadelphia Phillies P 37
47, 23 Morrie Steevens Philadelphia Phillies P 25
9 Gus Triandos Philadelphia Phillies C 35
31 Tom Butters Pittsburgh Pirates P 28
2 Hal Smith Pittsburgh Pirates C 34
45 Jim Duffalo San Francisco Giants P 30
38 Dick Estelle San Francisco Giants P 24
37 Masanori Murakami San Francisco Giants P 22
21 Warren Spahn San Francisco Giants P 45
36 Earl Francis St. Louis Cardinals P 30
33 Barney Schultz St. Louis Cardinals P 39
1965 National League Retirements



Find out which players made their Major League debut in the National League during the 1965 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.