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.

"I want to hit a routine grounder to second and run all out to first base, then get thrown out by a half step. I want to leave an example to the young guys that that's how you play the game, all out." - George Brett
 

American League Retirements

1974

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

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).

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.