1970 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 1970.

"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
 

American League Retirements

1970

23 Mike Derrick Boston Red Sox OF 27
17, 26 Ray Jarvis Boston Red Sox P 25
36 Dick Mills Boston Red Sox P 26
27 Ed Phillips Boston Red Sox P 26
36 Jose Santiago Boston Red Sox P 30
4 Tom Satriano Boston Red Sox C 30
20 Lee Stange Boston Red Sox P 34
35 Gary Wagner Boston Red Sox P 30
28 Randy Brown California Angels C 26
26, 48 Terry Cox California Angels P 22
5 Jim Hicks California Angels PH 31
1, 42 Ray Oyler California Angels SS 32
68 Harvey Shank California Angels P 24
8 Jarvis Tatum California Angels OF 24
39 Wally Wolf California Angels P 29
30 Gerry Arrigo Chicago White Sox P 29
15 Bob Christian Chicago White Sox OF 25
44 Jerry Crider Chicago White Sox P 29
8 John Matias Chicago White Sox OF 26
48 Richie Moloney Chicago White Sox P 20
19 Barry Moore Chicago White Sox P 28
24 Danny Murphy Chicago White Sox P 28
47 Gene Rounsaville Chicago White Sox P 26
27 Don Secrist Chicago White Sox P 27
23 Tommie Sisk Chicago White Sox P 29
45 Lee Stange Chicago White Sox P 34
13 Vern Fuller Cleveland Indians 2B 27
11 Tony Horton Cleveland Indians 1B 26
29 Lou Klimchock Cleveland Indians 1B 31
31 Barry Moore Cleveland Indians P 28
25 Russ Nagelson Cleveland Indians OF 26
42 Jim Rittwage Cleveland Indians P 26
10 Rich Rollins Cleveland Indians 3B 33
36 Norm McRae Detroit Tigers P 23
31 Russ Nagelson Detroit Tigers OF 26
20 Bob Reed Detroit Tigers P 26
27 Jerry Robertson Detroit Tigers P 27
46 Dennis Saunders Detroit Tigers P 22
42 Ken Szotkiewicz Detroit Tigers SS 24
16 Earl Wilson Detroit Tigers P 36
14 Jerry Adair Kansas City Royals 2B 34
1 Luis Alcaraz Kansas City Royals 2B 29
17 Dave Morehead Kansas City Royals P 28
32 Don O'Riley Kansas City Royals P 26
7 Billy Sorrell Kansas City Royals 3B 30
6, 12 George Spriggs Kansas City Royals OF 34
31 Hawk Taylor Kansas City Royals C 32
10 Max Alvis Milwaukee Brewers 3B 33
32 Gene Brabender Milwaukee Brewers P 29
31 Bruce Brubaker Milwaukee Brewers P 29
9 Tito Francona Milwaukee Brewers 1B 37
34 Greg Goossen Milwaukee Brewers 1B 25
47 Bob Humphreys Milwaukee Brewers P 35
49 George Lauzerique Milwaukee Brewers P 23
38 Bob Meyer Milwaukee Brewers P 31
41 Ray Peters Milwaukee Brewers P 24
9 Rich Rollins Milwaukee Brewers 3B 33
7 Russ Snyder Milwaukee Brewers OF 36
4 Bob Allison Minnesota Twins OF 36
19 Herman Hill Minnesota Twins OF 25
27 Minnie Mendoza Minnesota Twins 3B 37
40 Cotton Nash Minnesota Twins 1B 28
7 Frank Quilici Minnesota Twins 2B 32
49 Loyd Colson New York Yankees P 23
52 Joe Verbanic New York Yankees P 28
25 Pete Ward New York Yankees 1B 33
36 Tito Francona Oakland Athletics 1B 37
32 Bob Johnson Oakland Athletics 3B 35
35 Darrell Osteen Oakland Athletics P 28
45 Roberto Rodriguez Oakland Athletics P 30
46 Fred Talbot Oakland Athletics P 29
31 Jose Tartabull Oakland Athletics OF 32
16 Dooley Womack Oakland Athletics P 31
19 Cisco Carlos Washington Senators P 30
24 Greg Goossen Washington Senators OF 25
23 Bob Humphreys Washington Senators P 35
5 Dick Nen Washington Senators 1B 31
17 Pedro Ramos Washington Senators P 36
13 Johnny Roseboro Washington Senators C 38
18 Dick Such Washington Senators P 26
1970 American League Retirements



Find out which players made their Major League debut in the American League during the 1970 season as this group of players bid farewell to their field's of dreams.

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.

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).