1974 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 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
 

National League Retirements

1974

33 Jack Aker Atlanta Braves P 34
5 Paul Casanova Atlanta Braves C 33
39 John Fuller Atlanta Braves OF 25
16 Sonny Jackson Atlanta Braves OF 30
36 Lew Krausse Atlanta Braves P 32
42 Norm Miller Atlanta Braves OF 29
18 Ivan Murrell Atlanta Braves OF 30
23 Carmen Fanzone Chicago Cubs 3B 33
40 Herb Hutson Chicago Cubs P 25
49 Jim Kremmel Chicago Cubs P 26
19 Gonzalo Marquez Chicago Cubs 1B 29
35 Mike Paul Chicago Cubs P 30
8 Rick Stelmaszek Chicago Cubs C 26
20 Chris Ward Chicago Cubs OF 26
44 Dick Baney Cincinnati Reds P 28
16 Phil Gagliano Cincinnati Reds 2B 33
6 Hal King Cincinnati Reds C 31
23 Andy Kosco Cincinnati Reds 3B 33
47 Mike McQueen Cincinnati Reds P 24
16 Ray Busse Houston Astros 3B 26
20 Dave Campbell Houston Astros 2B 33
24 Ramon de los Santos Houston Astros P 26
7 Johnny Edwards Houston Astros C 36
11 Denis Menke Houston Astros 1B 34
45 Mike Nagy Houston Astros P 27
40 Don Wilson Houston Astros P 30
16 Gail Hopkins Los Angeles Dodgers C 32
40 Rex Hudson Los Angeles Dodgers P 21
41 Greg Shanahan Los Angeles Dodgers P 27
8 Boots Day Montreal Expos OF 27
55 Terry Enyart Montreal Expos P 24
48 Bob Gebhard Montreal Expos P 32
33 Ron Hunt Montreal Expos 3B 34
21 Ernie McAnally Montreal Expos P 28
43 Ron Woods Montreal Expos OF 32
22 Jack Aker New York Mets P 34
19 Jim Gosger New York Mets OF 32
30 Bob Miller New York Mets P 36
6 Rich Puig New York Mets 2B 22
16 Dave Schneck New York Mets OF 25
35 Randy Sterling New York Mets P 24
39 John Strohmayer New York Mets P 28
9 George Theodore New York Mets 1B 28
35 George Culver Philadelphia Phillies P 31
45 Ron Diorio Philadelphia Phillies P 28
47 Jesus Hernaiz Philadelphia Phillies P 30
31 Frank Linzy Philadelphia Phillies P 34
45 Pete Richert Philadelphia Phillies P 35
48 Erskine Thomason Philadelphia Phillies P 26
27 Dave Augustine Pittsburgh Pirates OF 25
28 Steve Blass Pittsburgh Pirates P 33
45 Chuck Brinkman Pittsburgh Pirates C 30
56 Juan Jimenez Pittsburgh Pirates P 26
12 John Morlan Pittsburgh Pirates P 27
32 Daryl Patterson Pittsburgh Pirates P 31
49 Juan Pizarro Pittsburgh Pirates P 38
5 Mike Ryan Pittsburgh Pirates C 33
32 Jim Sadowski Pittsburgh Pirates P 23
32 Matty Alou San Diego Padres OF 36
22 Steve Arlin San Diego Padres P 29
26 Bob Barton San Diego Padres C 33
10 Chris Cannizzaro San Diego Padres C 37
7 Horace Clarke San Diego Padres 2B 34
40 Mike Corkins San Diego Padres P 29
46 Ralph Garcia San Diego Padres P 26
23 Rod Gaspar San Diego Padres OF 29
38 Rusty Gerhardt San Diego Padres P 24
22 Mike Johnson San Diego Padres P 24
36 Jim McAndrew San Diego Padres P 31
6 Rich Morales San Diego Padres SS 31
29 Lowell Palmer San Diego Padres P 27
47 Rich Troedson San Diego Padres P 25
23 Bernie Williams San Diego Padres OF 26
43 Steve Barber San Francisco Giants P 37
18 Damaso Blanco San Francisco Giants PH 33
30 John Boccabella San Francisco Giants C 33
19 Jim Howarth San Francisco Giants OF 28
47 Don McMahon San Francisco Giants P 45
43 John Morris San Francisco Giants P 33
20 Glenn Redmon San Francisco Giants 2B 27
41 Don Rose San Francisco Giants P 28
24 Danny Godby St. Louis Cardinals OF 28
24 Jim Hickman St. Louis Cardinals 1B 38
32 Ron Hunt St. Louis Cardinals 2B 34
15 Barry Lersch St. Louis Cardinals P 30
34 Pete Richert St. Louis Cardinals P 35
19 Richie Scheinblum St. Louis Cardinals PH 32
1974 National League Retirements



Find out which players made their Major League debut in the National League during the 1974 season as this group of players bid farewell to their field's of dreams.

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.

Goose Goslin played for eighteen seasons and averaged one-hundred twenty-seven games played per season. In 1938, during his final at-bat, he twisted his back and was replaced at the plate by a pinch-hitter for the first time in his Major League career.