1971 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 1971.

"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

1971

19 Tommie Aaron Atlanta Braves 1B 32
43 Rudy Arroyo St. Louis Cardinals P 21
2 Bob Aspromonte New York Mets 3B 33
14 Ernie Banks Chicago Cubs 1B 41
6 Clete Boyer Atlanta Braves 3B 35
11 Ron Brand Montreal Expos SS 32
22 Angel Bravo Cincinnati Reds PH 29
8 Angel Bravo San Diego Padres OF 29
19 Danny Breeden Chicago Cubs C 29
27 Jim Britton Montreal Expos P 28
45 Frank Brosseau Pittsburgh Pirates P 27
34 George Brunet St. Louis Cardinals P 36
14 Jim Bunning Philadelphia Phillies P 40
40 Bob Chlupsa St. Louis Cardinals P 26
17 Ty Cline Cincinnati Reds OF 32
41 Ron Cook Houston Astros P 24
46 Danny Coombs San Diego Padres P 30
3 Tommy Dean San Diego Padres SS 26
5 Frank Estrada New York Mets C 24
22 Al Ferrara Cincinnati Reds OF 32
9 Al Ferrara San Diego Padres OF 32
29 Jay Franklin San Diego Padres P 19
47 Greg Garrett Cincinnati Reds P 25
22 Mudcat Grant Pittsburgh Pirates P 36
35 Skip Guinn Houston Astros P 27
20 Rich Hacker Montreal Expos SS 24
46 Buddy Harris Houston Astros P 23
29 Ron Herbel Atlanta Braves P 34
37 Frank Johnson San Francisco Giants 1B 29
9 Mack Jones Montreal Expos OF 33
42 Dick Kelley San Diego Padres P 32
48 Rimp Lanier Pittsburgh Pirates PH 23
17 Dave McDonald Montreal Expos 1B 29
25 Joe Moeller Los Angeles Dodgers P 29
29 Manny Muniz Philadelphia Phillies P 24
32 Jim Nelson Pittsburgh Pirates P 24
50 Bob O'Brien Los Angeles Dodgers P 23
23 John O'Donoghue Montreal Expos P 32
20 Jose Ortiz Chicago Cubs OF 24
18 Bobby Pfeil Philadelphia Phillies 3B 28
37 Bob Priddy Atlanta Braves P 32
16 Claude Raymond Montreal Expos P 35
29 Howie Reed Montreal Expos P 35
45 Rich Robertson San Francisco Giants P 27
34 Dave Robinson San Diego Padres PH 26
17 Jay Schlueter Houston Astros OF 22
11 Dick Schofield St. Louis Cardinals SS 37
12 Ron Slocum San Diego Padres 3B 26
20 Willie Smith Cincinnati Reds 1B 33
3 Al Spangler Chicago Cubs PH 38
14 Marv Staehle Atlanta Braves 2B 30
37 Stan Swanson Montreal Expos OF 28
38 Ron Tompkins Chicago Cubs P 27
38 Sandy Vance Los Angeles Dodgers P 25
18 Zoilo Versalles Atlanta Braves 3B 32
23 Ray Webster Chicago Cubs 1B 29
13 Ray Webster San Diego Padres PH 29
6 Al Weis New York Mets 2B 34
26 Floyd Wicker San Francisco Giants OF 28
6 Woody Woodward Cincinnati Reds SS 29
31 Larry Yount Houston Astros P 22
1971 National League Retirements



Find out which players made their Major League debut in the National League during the 1971 season as this group of players bid farewell to their field's of dreams.

Did you know that future hall of fame pitcher Walter Johnson ended his Major League career in 1927 with a pinch-hit appearance? During the final game of the season pitcher Tom Zachary, who had just given up Babe Ruth's sixtieth home run of the season, was lifted and Johnson replaced him at the plate.

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).