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.

"I'll never make the mistake of being seventy (70) again." - Casey Stengel comment made after being told to quit following the 1960 World Series
 

National League Retirements

1975

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

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.