1966 American 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 American League League players who hung up their spikes in 1966.

"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
 

American League Retirements

1966

38 Ed Barnowski Baltimore Orioles P 23
35 Cam Carreon Baltimore Orioles C 29
20 Joe Christopher Boston Red Sox OF 31
37 Guido Grilli Boston Red Sox P 28
2 Eddie Kasko Boston Red Sox SS 34
36 Pete Magrini Boston Red Sox P 24
21 Bob Sadowski Boston Red Sox P 29
40 Rollie Sheldon Boston Red Sox P 30
14 George Smith Boston Red Sox 2B 29
42 Dick Stigman Boston Red Sox P 31
6 Joe Adcock California Angels 1B 39
25 Ed Bailey California Angels PH 36
25 Ramon Lopez California Angels P 34
15 Frank Malzone California Angels 3B 37
28 Albie Pearson California Angels OF 32
23 Ed Sukla California Angels P 24
14 Charlie Vinson California Angels 1B 23
26 Jackie Warner California Angels OF 23
47 Greg Bollo Chicago White Sox P 23
18 Gene Freese Chicago White Sox 3B 33
50 Deacon Jones Chicago White Sox PH 33
14 George Banks Cleveland Indians PH 28
7 Del Crandall Cleveland Indians C 37
29 Tony Curry Cleveland Indians PH 29
30 Paul Dicken Cleveland Indians PH 23
12 Jim Gentile Cleveland Indians 1B 32
22 Tony Martinez Cleveland Indians SS 27
35 Arlo Brunsberg Detroit Tigers C 26
18 Terry Fox Detroit Tigers P 31
32 Don Pepper Detroit Tigers 1B 23
30 Gil Blanco Kansas City Athletics P 21
8 Don Blasingame Kansas City Athletics 2B 35
22 Jim Dickson Kansas City Athletics P 29
31 Jim Duckworth Kansas City Athletics P 28
7 Ernie Fazio Kansas City Athletics 2B 25
24 Guido Grilli Kansas City Athletics P 28
26 Vern Handrahan Kansas City Athletics P 28
31 Jesse Hickman Kansas City Athletics P 28
31 Randy Schwartz Kansas City Athletics 1B 23
15 Rollie Sheldon Kansas City Athletics P 30
19 Bill Pleis Minnesota Twins P 29
45 Jack Cullen New York Yankees P 27
19 Bob Friend New York Yankees P 36
29 Bill Henry New York Yankees P 25
11 Hector Lopez New York Yankees OF 37
1 Bobby Richardson New York Yankees 2B 31
1 Don Blasingame Washington Senators 2B 35
8 Mike Brumley Washington Senators C 28
22 Tom Cheney Washington Senators P 32
35 Pete Craig Washington Senators P 26
3 Joe Cunningham Washington Senators 1B 35
17 Jim Duckworth Washington Senators P 28
7 Ken Hamlin Washington Senators 2B 32
6 Willie Kirkland Washington Senators OF 33
31 Howie Koplitz Washington Senators P 29
22 Dick Phillips Washington Senators 1B 35
1966 American League Retirements



Find out which players made their Major League debut in the American League during the 1966 season as this group of players bid farewell to their field's of dreams.

Did you know that future hall of fame pitcher Walter Johnson ended his Major League career in 1927 with a pinch-hit appearance? During the final game of the season pitcher Tom Zachary, who had just given up Babe Ruth's sixtieth home run of the season, was lifted and Johnson replaced him at the plate.

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.