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

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

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.

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.