1968 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 1968.

"I want to hit a routine grounder to second and run all out to first base, then get thrown out by a half step. I want to leave an example to the young guys that that's how you play the game, all out." - George Brett
 

American League Retirements

1968

37 Steve Bailey Cleveland Indians P 27
25 Dennis Bennett California Angels P 29
11 Warren Bogle Oakland Athletics P 22
6 Buddy Booker Chicago White Sox C 27
14 Billy Bryan Washington Senators C 30
15 Wayne Causey California Angels 2B 32
9 Wayne Causey Chicago White Sox 2B 32
31 Pete Cimino California Angels P 26
29 Rocky Colavito New York Yankees OF 35
1, 59 Chico Fernandez Baltimore Orioles SS 30
44 Tommy Gramly Cleveland Indians P 24
30 Lenny Green Detroit Tigers OF 36
17 Bill Harrelson California Angels P 23
21 Bill Haywood Washington Senators P 32
37 Bob Heffner California Angels P 30
16 Bruce Howard Baltimore Orioles P 26
18 Bruce Howard Washington Senators P 26
18 Elston Howard Boston Red Sox C 40
10 Dick Howser New York Yankees 2B 33
38 Ron Keller Minnesota Twins P 25
2 Dick Kenworthy Chicago White Sox 3B 28
46 Hal Kurtz Cleveland Indians P 25
18 Rene Lachemann Oakland Athletics C 24
34, 47 Bobby Locke California Angels P 35
25 Bruce Look Minnesota Twins C 25
7 Mickey Mantle New York Yankees 1B 37
22 Gene Martin Washington Senators OF 22
7 Eddie Mathews Detroit Tigers 1B 37
48 Orlando McFarlane California Angels C 30
40 Bill Monbouquette New York Yankees P 32
15 Russ Nixon Boston Red Sox C 34
32 Tony Pierce Oakland Athletics P 23
11 Floyd Robinson Boston Red Sox OF 33
15 Floyd Robinson Oakland Athletics OF 33
38 Billy Rohr Cleveland Indians P 23
19 Minnie Rojas California Angels P 35
19 Gerry Schoen Washington Senators P 22
31 Larry Sherry California Angels P 33
4 Norm Siebern Boston Red Sox 1B 35
42 Buzz Stephen Minnesota Twins P 24
40 Darrell Sutherland Cleveland Indians P 27
54 Thad Tillotson New York Yankees P 28
12 Bobby Trevino California Angels OF 23
16 Fred Valentine Baltimore Orioles OF 34
34 Fred Valentine Washington Senators OF 34
39 Jon Warden Detroit Tigers P 22
35 Jim Weaver California Angels P 30
22 Jerry Zimmerman Minnesota Twins C 34
1968 American League Retirements



Find out which players made their Major League debut in the American League during the 1968 season as this group of players bid farewell to their field's of dreams.

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.

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).