1973 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 1973.

"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

1973

5 Jim Beauchamp New York Mets 1B 34
7 Joe Pepitone Atlanta Braves 1B 33
8 Joe Pepitone Chicago Cubs 1B 33
14 Dick Dietz Atlanta Braves 1B 32
18 Bobby Fenwick St. Louis Cardinals 2B 27
5 Don Mason San Diego Padres 2B 29
9 Bernie Allen Montreal Expos 2B 35
10 Al Gallagher San Francisco Giants 3B 28
16 Jose Pagan Philadelphia Phillies 3B 39
39 Coco Laboy Montreal Expos 3B 34
11 Jimmy Stewart Houston Astros 3B 34
28 Pat Corrales San Diego Padres C 33
25 Larry Howard Atlanta Braves C 28
10 Larry Howard Houston Astros C 28
20 Jerry May New York Mets C 30
11 Jerry McNertney Pittsburgh Pirates C 37
9 Otis Thornton Houston Astros C 28
18 Freddie Velazquez Atlanta Braves C 36
1 Lute Barnes New York Mets PH 27
4 Jim Campanis Pittsburgh Pirates PH 30
28 Jim Fairey Los Angeles Dodgers PH 29
6 Greg Harts New York Mets PH 24
20 Tommie Agee Houston Astros OF 31
47 Tommie Agee St. Louis Cardinals OF 31
17 Curtis Brown Montreal Expos OF 28
20, 45 Oscar Brown Atlanta Braves OF 28
24 Cleo James Chicago Cubs OF 33
8 Dave Marshall San Diego Padres OF 31
17 Jorge Roque Montreal Expos OF 24
29 Larry Stahl Cincinnati Reds OF 32
5 Clyde Mashore Montreal Expos OF 29
25 Joe Hague Cincinnati Reds OF 30
24 Willie Mays New York Mets OF 43
37 John Andrews St. Louis Cardinals P 25
30 Bucky Brandon Philadelphia Phillies P 33
35 Craig Caskey Montreal Expos P 24
30 Dave Cheadle Atlanta Braves P 22
43 Al Closter Atlanta Braves P 30
48 Eddie Fisher St. Louis Cardinals P 37
58 Jim Foor Pittsburgh Pirates P 25
56 Wenty Ford Atlanta Braves P 27
40 Jimmy Freeman Atlanta Braves P 22
42 Joe Gilbert Montreal Expos P 22
48 Fred Gladding Houston Astros P 37
34 Phil Hennigan New York Mets P 28
29 Greg Heydeman Los Angeles Dodgers P 22
34 Pat Jarvis Montreal Expos P 33
36 Tom Kelley Atlanta Braves P 30
44 John Lamb Pittsburgh Pirates P 27
31 Jim McGlothlin Cincinnati Reds P 30
39 Jim McKee Pittsburgh Pirates P 27
31 Gary Neibauer Atlanta Braves P 29
22 Jim Panther Atlanta Braves P 29
32 Milt Pappas Chicago Cubs P 35
34 Al Santorini St. Louis Cardinals P 26
42 Frank Snook San Diego Padres P 25
24 Scipio Spinks St. Louis Cardinals P 26
37 Bill Wilson Philadelphia Phillies P 31
32 Chris Zachary Pittsburgh Pirates P 30
42 Tony La Russa Chicago Cubs PR 29
2 Jackie Hernandez Pittsburgh Pirates SS 33
19 Brian Ostrosser New York Mets SS 24
14 Gene Alley Pittsburgh Pirates SS 33
1973 National League Retirements



Find out which players made their Major League debut in the National League during the 1973 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).