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

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

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.

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.