1975 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 1975.

"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

1975

40 Lloyd Allen Chicago White Sox P 26
18 Bob Allietta California Angels C 24
11 Kim Andrew Boston Red Sox 2B 22
9 John Balaz California Angels OF 25
47 Fred Beene Cleveland Indians P 33
1 Ken Berry Cleveland Indians OF 35
33 Tommy Bianco Milwaukee Brewers 3B 23
24 Rick Bladt New York Yankees OF 29
47 Steve Blateric California Angels P 32
12 Johnny Briggs Milwaukee Brewers OF 32
2, 22 Johnny Briggs Minnesota Twins 1B 32
20 Ed Brinkman New York Yankees SS 34
3 Ed Brinkman Texas Rangers 3B 34
28 Ike Brookens Detroit Tigers P 27
26 Gates Brown Detroit Tigers PH 37
19 Leo Cardenas Texas Rangers 3B 37
25 Tony Conigliaro Boston Red Sox DH 31
23 Ray Corbin Minnesota Twins P 27
20 Lafayette Currence Milwaukee Brewers P 24
29 Chuck Dobson California Angels P 32
5 John Doherty California Angels 1B 24
10 Tom Egan California Angels C 29
8 Rob Ellis Milwaukee Brewers OF 25
39 Jim Gideon Texas Rangers P 22
32 Bill Gogolewski Chicago White Sox P 28
8 Billy Grabarkewitz Oakland Athletics 2B 30
49 Bill Hands Texas Rangers P 36
46 Chuck Hockenbery California Angels P 25
41 Charlie Hudson California Angels P 26
5 Buddy Hunter Boston Red Sox 2B 28
32 Jim Hutto Baltimore Orioles C 28
42 Art James Detroit Tigers OF 23
16 Tom Kelly Minnesota Twins 1B 25
3 Harmon Killebrew Kansas City Royals DH 39
2 John Knox Detroit Tigers 2B 27
10 Gene Lamont Detroit Tigers C 29
35 Dick Lange California Angels P 27
20 Eddie Leon New York Yankees SS 29
8 Jack Lind Milwaukee Brewers SS 29
12 Winston Llenas California Angels 2B 32
2 Joe Lovitto Texas Rangers OF 25
13 Tom Lundstedt Minnesota Twins C 27
37 Tom Makowski Detroit Tigers P 25
12 Gary Martz Kansas City Royals OF 25
41 Dal Maxvill Oakland Athletics SS 37
3 Dick McAuliffe Boston Red Sox 3B 36
14 Tommy McCraw Cleveland Indians 1B 35
41 Lindy McDaniel Kansas City Royals P 40
16 Jim Merritt Texas Rangers P 32
16 Gene Michael Detroit Tigers SS 37
17 Bobby Mitchell Milwaukee Brewers OF 32
11 Jerry Moses Chicago White Sox 1B 29
16 Morris Nettles California Angels OF 24
2 Jim Northrup Baltimore Orioles OF 36
42 Bob Oliver New York Yankees 1B 33
46 Ozzie Osborn Chicago White Sox P 29
49 Pat Osburn Milwaukee Brewers P 27
41 Claude Osteen Chicago White Sox P 36
44 Joe Pactwa California Angels P 27
28 Orlando Pena California Angels P 42
31 Jim Perry Cleveland Indians P 40
36 Jim Perry Oakland Athletics P 40
27 Jack Pierce Detroit Tigers 1B 26
28 Vada Pinson Kansas City Royals OF 37
26 Skip Pitlock Chicago White Sox P 28
23 Gaylen Pitts Oakland Athletics 3B 29
26 Mike Poepping Minnesota Twins OF 25
44 Luis Quintana California Angels P 24
34 Bob Reynolds Baltimore Orioles P 29
40 Bob Reynolds Cleveland Indians P 29
34 Bob Reynolds Detroit Tigers P 29
25 Tom Robson Texas Rangers 1B 30
7 Charlie Sands Oakland Athletics DH 28
29 Dave Sells California Angels P 29
35 Sonny Siebert Oakland Athletics P 39
44 Jim Strickland Cleveland Indians P 29
9 Bill Sudakis California Angels DH 30
4 Bill Sudakis Cleveland Indians 1B 30
34 Cecil Upshaw Chicago White Sox P 33
3 Herb Washington Oakland Athletics PR 24
13 Walt Williams New York Yankees OF 32
25, 38 Clyde Wright Texas Rangers P 35
1975 American League Retirements



Find out which players made their Major League debut in the American League during the 1975 season as this group of players bid farewell to their field's of dreams.

On September 28, 1960, broadcaster Curt Gowdy uttered, "It's got a chance. It's got a chance. And it's gone!" Those words were used to describe the final at-bat of slugger Ted Williams.

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.