1974 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 1974.

"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
 

American League Retirements

1974

27 Roger Miller Milwaukee Brewers P 20
34 Bill Moran Chicago White Sox P 24
40 Ron Cash Detroit Tigers 1B 25
43 Jim Deidel New York Yankees C 25
16 Danny Fife Minnesota Twins P 25
9 Mike Reinbach Baltimore Orioles OF 25
43 Reggie Sanders Detroit Tigers 1B 25
48 Bob Didier Boston Red Sox C 26
13, 47 Bruce Ellingsen Cleveland Indians P 26
38 Terry Hughes Boston Red Sox 3B 26
39 Bill Parsons Oakland Athletics P 26
14 Dwain Anderson Cleveland Indians 2B 27
40 Jerry Bell Milwaukee Brewers P 27
42 Lance Clemons Boston Red Sox P 27
38 Bill Gilbreth California Angels P 27
20 Leon Hooten Oakland Athletics P 27
28 Don Newhauser Boston Red Sox P 27
37 Chuck Seelbach Detroit Tigers P 27
14 Bill Slayback Detroit Tigers P 27
15 Frank Baker Baltimore Orioles SS 28
10 Pat Bourque Minnesota Twins 1B 28
38 Pat Bourque Oakland Athletics 1B 28
47 John Cumberland California Angels P 28
4 Remy Hermoso Cleveland Indians 2B 28
31 Barry Raziano California Angels P 28
42 Ken Wright New York Yankees P 28
41 Steve Arlin Cleveland Indians P 29
18, 16 Ossie Blanco Cleveland Indians 1B 29
48 Chuck Goggin Boston Red Sox 2B 29
11 Chuck Brinkman Chicago White Sox C 30
42 Johnny Jeter Cleveland Indians OF 30
17 Dennis Paepke Kansas City Royals C 30
36 Jim Ray Detroit Tigers P 30
13 Dick Woodson Minnesota Twins P 30
29 Dick Woodson New York Yankees P 30
15 Bobby Floyd Kansas City Royals 2B 31
39 Dick Selma California Angels P 31
35 Dick Selma Milwaukee Brewers P 31
26 Bill Stoneman California Angels P 31
19 Ken Tatum Chicago White Sox P 31
17 Luke Walker Detroit Tigers P 31
24 John Donaldson Oakland Athletics 2B 32
5 Mike Epstein California Angels 1B 32
48 Rick Reichardt Kansas City Royals PH 32
9 Paul Schaal California Angels 3B 32
10 Paul Schaal Kansas City Royals 3B 32
9 Richie Scheinblum California Angels OF 32
5 Richie Scheinblum Kansas City Royals DH 32
9 Ike Brown Detroit Tigers 3B 33
43 Jim Ray Hart New York Yankees DH 33
41 Duke Sims New York Yankees C 33
2 Duke Sims Texas Rangers C 33
30 Mel Stottlemyre New York Yankees P 33
20 Horace Clarke New York Yankees 2B 34
1 Dick Green Oakland Athletics 2B 34
12 John Kennedy Boston Red Sox 2B 34
21 Curt Motton Baltimore Orioles OF 34
18 Larry Brown Texas Rangers 3B 35
10 Ron Santo Chicago White Sox DH 35
31, 39 Tom Timmermann Cleveland Indians P 35
30 Orlando Cepeda Kansas City Royals DH 37
55 Bob Veale Boston Red Sox P 39
14 Felipe Alou Milwaukee Brewers OF 40
25 Norm Cash Detroit Tigers 1B 40
6 Al Kaline Detroit Tigers DH 40
1974 American League Retirements



Find out which players made their Major League debut in the American League during the 1974 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.

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.