1969 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 1969.

"You start chasing a ball and your brain immediately commands your body to: Run forward. Bend. Scoop up the ball. Peg it to the infield. Then your body says, 'Who, me?'" - Retirement comment made by Joe DiMaggio
 

National League Retirements

1969

45 Ken Boyer Los Angeles Dodgers 1B 39
12 Bill Davis San Diego Padres 1B 27
10 Gene Stone Philadelphia Phillies 1B 26
7 Bill White St. Louis Cardinals 1B 36
35 Chip Coulter St. Louis Cardinals 2B 24
15 Nate Oliver Chicago Cubs 2B 29
2 John Sipin San Diego Padres 2B 23
17 Julio Gotay Houston Astros 2B 30
5 Ed Charles New York Mets 3B 37
17 Bobby Etheridge San Francisco Giants 3B 27
6 Randy Bobb Chicago Cubs C 22
32 John Harrell San Francisco Giants C 22
19 Bill Heath Chicago Cubs C 31
39 Walt Hriniak Atlanta Braves C 27
25 Walt Hriniak San Diego Padres C 27
10 Gary Kolb Pittsburgh Pirates C 30
24 Chris Krug San Diego Padres C 30
12 Gene Oliver Chicago Cubs C 35
7 Vic Roznovsky Philadelphia Phillies C 31
2 Dave Watkins Philadelphia Phillies C 26
43 Johnny Hairston Chicago Cubs C 25
26 Mike de la Hoz Cincinnati Reds PH 31
23 Manny Jimenez Chicago Cubs PH 31
23 Leroy Reams Philadelphia Phillies PH 26
19 Charley Smith Chicago Cubs PH 32
3 Ozzie Virgil San Francisco Giants PH 38
23 Rich Barry Philadelphia Phillies OF 29
19 Don Bosch Montreal Expos OF 27
3 Ron Davis Pittsburgh Pirates OF 28
23 Don Lock Philadelphia Phillies OF 33
38 Leon Wagner San Francisco Giants OF 36
29 Don Young Chicago Cubs OF 24
43 John Miller Los Angeles Dodgers OF 26
21 John Boozer Philadelphia Phillies P 31
45 Alec Distaso Chicago Cubs P 21
53 Don Drysdale Los Angeles Dodgers P 33
33 Jim Ellis St. Louis Cardinals P 25
31 Leon Everitt San Diego Padres P 23
14 Roy Face Montreal Expos P 42
32 Turk Farrell Philadelphia Phillies P 36
43 Jack Fisher Cincinnati Reds P 31
39 Bob Garibaldi San Francisco Giants P 28
41 Bill Henry Houston Astros P 42
22 Garry Hill Atlanta Braves P 23
38 Jesse Hudson New York Mets P 21
44 Al Jackson Cincinnati Reds P 34
38 Al Jackson New York Mets P 34
30 Jeff James Philadelphia Phillies P 28
29 Jack Jenkins Los Angeles Dodgers P 27
22 Leo Marentette Montreal Expos P 29
23 Larry Maxie Atlanta Braves P 29
47 Mel Nelson St. Louis Cardinals P 34
38 Don Nottebart Chicago Cubs P 34
28 Luis Peraza Philadelphia Phillies P 27
45 Johnny Podres San Diego Padres P 37
35 John Purdin Los Angeles Dodgers P 27
22, 17 Dick Radatz Montreal Expos P 33
25 Al Raffo Philadelphia Phillies P 28
42 Dennis Ribant Cincinnati Reds P 28
47 Dennis Ribant St. Louis Cardinals P 28
31, 33 Les Rohr New York Mets P 24
41 Dan Schneider Houston Astros P 27
46 Steve Shea Montreal Expos P 27
42 Bill Short Cincinnati Reds P 32
43 Charlie Vaughan Atlanta Braves P 22
47 Bob Watkins Houston Astros P 22
35 Frankie Libran San Diego Padres SS 22
1969 National League Retirements



Find out which players made their Major League debut in the National League during the 1969 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.

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.