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

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

Goose Goslin played for eighteen seasons and averaged one-hundred twenty-seven games played per season. In 1938, during his final at-bat, he twisted his back and was replaced at the plate by a pinch-hitter for the first time in his Major League career.

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.