1975 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 1975.

"You start chasing a ball and your brain immediately commands your body to: Run forward. Bend. Scoop up the ball. Peg it to the infield. Then your body says, 'Who, me?'" - Retirement comment made by Joe DiMaggio
 

National League Retirements

1975

25 Gary Gentry Atlanta Braves P 29
7 Frank Tepedino Atlanta Braves PH 28
33 Mike Thompson Atlanta Braves P 26
22 Ron Dunn Chicago Cubs 3B 26
21 Gene Hiser Chicago Cubs OF 27
36 Bob Locker Chicago Cubs P 38
37 Willie Prall Chicago Cubs P 26
39 Eddie Watt Chicago Cubs P 35
51 Tom Carroll Cincinnati Reds P 23
20 Rafael Batista Houston Astros PH 28
20 Jesus de la Rosa Houston Astros PH 22
16 Charlie Manuel Los Angeles Dodgers PH 32
46 Juan Marichal Los Angeles Dodgers P 38
12, 71 Paul Powell Los Angeles Dodgers C 28
41 Dave Sells Los Angeles Dodgers P 29
23 Hal Breeden Montreal Expos 1B 31
25 Don DeMola Montreal Expos P 23
26, 20 Dave McNally Montreal Expos P 33
22 Bob Gallagher New York Mets OF 27
2 Brock Pemberton New York Mets PH 22
40 George Stone New York Mets P 29
48 Randy Tate New York Mets P 23
29, 31 Cy Acosta Philadelphia Phillies P 29
18, 5 Ron Clark Philadelphia Phillies PH 33
44 Larry Fritz Philadelphia Phillies PH 27
25 Don Hahn Philadelphia Phillies OF 27
35 Tom Hilgendorf Philadelphia Phillies P 34
28 Mike Rogodzinski Philadelphia Phillies OF 28
48 Sam McDowell Pittsburgh Pirates P 33
29, 48 Jim Minshall Pittsburgh Pirates P 28
24 Paul Popovich Pittsburgh Pirates 2B 35
18 Glenn Beckert San Diego Padres 3B 35
6 Don Hahn San Diego Padres OF 27
10 Dave Hilton San Diego Padres 3B 25
18 Steve Huntz San Diego Padres 3B 30
24 Joe McIntosh San Diego Padres P 24
17 Jerry Moses San Diego Padres C 29
13 Dick Sharon San Diego Padres OF 26
40 Sonny Siebert San Diego Padres P 39
40 Tom Bradley San Francisco Giants P 29
32 Jake Brown San Francisco Giants OF 28
16 Dick Billings St. Louis Cardinals PH 33
5 Ed Brinkman St. Louis Cardinals SS 34
32 Ron Bryant St. Louis Cardinals P 28
24 Danny Cater St. Louis Cardinals 1B 36
45 Bob Gibson St. Louis Cardinals P 40
29 Don Hahn St. Louis Cardinals OF 27
40 Ryan Kurosaki St. Louis Cardinals P 23
35 Greg Terlecky St. Louis Cardinals P 24
1975 National League Retirements



Find out which players made their Major League debut in the National League during the 1975 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).

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.