1970 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 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
 

National League Retirements

1970

33 Mel Behney Cincinnati Reds P 23
36 Fred Cambria Pittsburgh Pirates P 23
32, 34 Jim Dunegan Chicago Cubs P 23
41 Miguel Puente San Francisco Giants P 23
24 Jim Kennedy St. Louis Cardinals SS 24
27 Rick Kester Atlanta Braves P 24
25 Scott Reid Philadelphia Phillies OF 24
24 Mike Wegener Montreal Expos P 24
39 Jim Williams San Diego Padres OF 24
41 Mike Davison San Francisco Giants P 25
49 Jim Johnson San Francisco Giants P 25
16 Van Kelly San Diego Padres 3B 25
26 Keith Lampard Houston Astros OF 25
29 Lou Marone Pittsburgh Pirates P 25
38 Roe Skidmore Chicago Cubs PH 25
7 Mike Compton Philadelphia Phillies C 26
17 Bill Dillman Montreal Expos P 26
43 Billy McCool St. Louis Cardinals P 26
31 Gary Moore Los Angeles Dodgers OF 26
22 Rich Nye Montreal Expos P 26
22 Rich Nye St. Louis Cardinals P 26
5 Jose Arcia San Diego Padres SS 27
21 Frank Bertaina St. Louis Cardinals P 27
36 Dick Colpaert Pittsburgh Pirates P 27
20 Leon McFadden Houston Astros PR 27
42 John Noriega Cincinnati Reds P 27
27 Sam Parrilla Philadelphia Phillies OF 27
45 Jerry Stephenson Los Angeles Dodgers P 27
31 Bob Taylor San Francisco Giants OF 27
22 Ron Willis San Diego Padres P 27
10 Jim Campbell St. Louis Cardinals PH 28
32 Jim Cosman Chicago Cubs P 28
31 Jack DiLauro Houston Astros P 28
15 Jose Martinez Pittsburgh Pirates 3B 28
25 Jerry Nyman San Diego Padres P 28
37 Steve Whitaker San Francisco Giants OF 28
6 Don Bryant Houston Astros C 29
38 Jose Herrera Montreal Expos PH 29
28 Carroll Sembera Montreal Expos P 29
21 Joe Sparma Montreal Expos P 29
32 Fred Wenz Philadelphia Phillies P 29
29 Bart Zeller St. Louis Cardinals C 29
19 Del Bates Philadelphia Phillies C 30
6, 10 George Kopacz Pittsburgh Pirates 1B 30
11 Joe Nossek St. Louis Cardinals PH 30
43 Roberto Rodriguez Chicago Cubs P 30
31 Roberto Rodriguez San Diego Padres P 30
47 Bill Faul San Francisco Giants P 31
14 Len Gabrielson Los Angeles Dodgers OF 31
18 Rick Joseph Philadelphia Phillies OF 31
18 Mike Shannon St. Louis Cardinals 3B 31
29 Aubrey Gatewood Atlanta Braves P 32
17 Jay Ward Cincinnati Reds 3B 32
19 Jimmie Hall Atlanta Braves OF 33
23 Jimmie Hall Chicago Cubs OF 33
31 Al McBean Los Angeles Dodgers P 33
36 Al McBean Pittsburgh Pirates P 33
39 Ray Washburn Cincinnati Reds P 33
23 Fred Whitfield Montreal Expos 1B 33
27 Jack Baldschun San Diego Padres P 34
34 Bo Belinsky Cincinnati Reds P 34
5 Doc Edwards Philadelphia Phillies C 34
19 Gary Geiger Houston Astros OF 34
10 Bob Tillman Atlanta Braves C 34
45 Don Cardwell Atlanta Braves P 35
27 Don Cardwell New York Mets P 35
36 Julio Navarro Atlanta Braves P 35
5 Dave Ricketts Pittsburgh Pirates C 35
40 Earl Wilson San Diego Padres P 36
12 Jim Davenport San Francisco Giants 3B 37
30 Ken Johnson Montreal Expos P 37
43 Dan Osinski Houston Astros P 37
27 Ron Kline Atlanta Braves P 39
34 Hank Aguirre Chicago Cubs P 40
1970 National League Retirements



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

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).

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.