1973 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 1973.

"I'll never make the mistake of being seventy (70) again." - Casey Stengel comment made after being told to quit following the 1960 World Series
 

American League Retirements

1973

11 Bernie Allen New York Yankees 2B 35
42 Hank Allen Chicago White Sox 3B 33
2 Mike Andrews Chicago White Sox DH 30
17 Mike Andrews Oakland Athletics 2B 30
39 Norm Angelini Kansas City Royals P 26
11 Luis Aparicio Boston Red Sox SS 40
26 Dave Baldwin Chicago White Sox P 36
26 Bobby Bolin Boston Red Sox P 35
17 Bobby Brooks California Angels OF 28
25 Johnny Callison New York Yankees OF 35
37 Don Castle Texas Rangers DH 24
16 Billy Conigliaro Oakland Athletics OF 26
29 Casey Cox New York Yankees P 32
21 Ray Culp Boston Red Sox P 32
34 Don Durham Texas Rangers P 25
39 John Felske Milwaukee Brewers C 32
34 Eddie Fisher Chicago White Sox P 37
33 Ted Ford Cleveland Indians OF 27
6 Al Gallagher California Angels 3B 28
40 John Gamble Detroit Tigers PR 26
33 Rob Gardner Milwaukee Brewers P 29
22 Rob Gardner Oakland Athletics P 29
55 Jim Geddes Chicago White Sox P 25
25 Rich Hand California Angels P 25
25 Rich Hand Texas Rangers P 25
22 Rick Henninger Texas Rangers P 26
30 Steve Hovley Kansas City Royals OF 29
33 Frank Howard Detroit Tigers DH 37
45 Gary Ignasiak Detroit Tigers P 24
46 Mike Jackson Cleveland Indians P 28
25 Mike Jackson Kansas City Royals P 28
23 Steve Kealey Chicago White Sox P 27
9 Jerry Kenney Cleveland Indians 2B 28
46 Joe Keough Chicago White Sox PH 28
42 Mike Kilkenny Cleveland Indians P 29
30 Ray Lamb Cleveland Indians P 29
22 Hal Lanier New York Yankees SS 31
24 Allan Lewis Oakland Athletics OF 32
22 Ron Lolich Cleveland Indians OF 27
39 Jim Magnuson New York Yankees P 27
42 Keith Marshall Kansas City Royals OF 22
12 Jerry May Kansas City Royals C 30
40 Jim McGlothlin Chicago White Sox P 30
41 Aurelio Monteagudo California Angels P 30
14 Dan Monzon Minnesota Twins 2B 28
49 Ray Newman Milwaukee Brewers P 28
52 Dennis O'Toole Chicago White Sox P 25
17 Frank Ortenzio Kansas City Royals 1B 23
18 Billy Parker California Angels 2B 32
45 Ron Perranoski California Angels P 38
16 Tom Ragland Cleveland Indians 2B 27
7, 20 Rich Reese Detroit Tigers 1B 32
1 Rich Reese Minnesota Twins 1B 32
43 Gary Ryerson Milwaukee Brewers P 25
10 Celerino Sanchez New York Yankees 3B 30
27 Chris Short Milwaukee Brewers P 36
42 Joe Staton Detroit Tigers 1B 26
11 John Stephenson California Angels C 33
34 Mike Strahler Detroit Tigers P 27
10 Ken Suarez Texas Rangers C 31
14 Ron Swoboda New York Yankees OF 29
14 Carl Taylor Kansas City Royals C 30
10 Jeff Torborg California Angels C 32
33 Carlos Velazquez Milwaukee Brewers P 26
47 Terry Wilshusen California Angels P 25
1973 American League Retirements



Find out which players made their Major League debut in the American League during the 1973 season as this group of players bid farewell to their field's of dreams.

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.

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.