1976 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 1976.

"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

1976

25 Dave Duncan Baltimore Orioles C 31
12 Tommy Harper Baltimore Orioles DH 36
30 Deron Johnson Boston Red Sox 1B 38
50 Andy Merchant Boston Red Sox C 26
6 Rico Petrocelli Boston Red Sox 3B 33
17 Orlando Alvarez California Angels OF 25
21 Jim Brewer California Angels P 39
12 Tommy Davis California Angels DH 38
10 Adrian Garrett California Angels C 34
5 Mike Miley California Angels SS 24
44 Mike Overy California Angels P 26
22 Buddy Bradford Chicago White Sox OF 32
15 Rich Coggins Chicago White Sox OF 26
29 George Enright Chicago White Sox C 23
14 Cleon Jones Chicago White Sox OF 34
41 Larry Monroe Chicago White Sox P 20
13 Blue Moon Odom Chicago White Sox P 32
8 Pete Varney Chicago White Sox C 28
14 Hugh Yancy Chicago White Sox 2B 27
12 Ed Crosby Cleveland Indians 3B 28
28 Doug Howard Cleveland Indians 1B 29
40 Harry Parker Cleveland Indians P 29
16 Fritz Peterson Cleveland Indians P 35
33 Eric Raich Cleveland Indians P 25
20 Frank Robinson Cleveland Indians DH 41
11 Bill Freehan Detroit Tigers C 35
33 Alex Johnson Detroit Tigers OF 34
34 Marvin Lane Detroit Tigers OF 27
46, 49 Jerry Cram Kansas City Royals P 29
10 Tommy Davis Kansas City Royals DH 38
35 Roger Nelson Kansas City Royals P 32
28 Ken Sanders Kansas City Royals P 35
44 Hank Aaron Milwaukee Brewers DH 43
43 Rick Austin Milwaukee Brewers P 30
39 Bill Champion Milwaukee Brewers P 29
42 Danny Frisella Milwaukee Brewers P 31
17 Bob Hansen Milwaukee Brewers DH 29
11 Jimmy Rosario Milwaukee Brewers OF 32
26 Bill Sharp Milwaukee Brewers OF 27
29 Ed Sprague Milwaukee Brewers P 31
20 Vic Albury Minnesota Twins P 30
18 Eddie Bane Minnesota Twins P 25
6 Tony Oliva Minnesota Twins DH 38
5 Danny Thompson Minnesota Twins SS 30
26 Rich Coggins New York Yankees OF 26
26 Cesar Tovar New York Yankees DH 36
43 Jim York New York Yankees P 29
32 Chris Batton Oakland Athletics P 22
17 Dick Bosman Oakland Athletics P 33
23 Nate Colbert Oakland Athletics DH 31
38 Jim Holt Oakland Athletics DH 33
1 Don Hopkins Oakland Athletics PR 25
8 Angel Mangual Oakland Athletics OF 30
13 Tommy Sandt Oakland Athletics SS 26
2, 3 Cesar Tovar Oakland Athletics OF 36
28 Billy Williams Oakland Athletics DH 38
35 Steve Barr Texas Rangers P 25
30 Dave Moates Texas Rangers OF 29
5 Ken Pape Texas Rangers SS 25
19 Fritz Peterson Texas Rangers P 35
4 Danny Thompson Texas Rangers 3B 30
1976 American League Retirements



Find out which players made their Major League debut in the American League during the 1976 season as this group of players bid farewell to their field's of dreams.

Did you know that future hall of fame pitcher Walter Johnson ended his Major League career in 1927 with a pinch-hit appearance? During the final game of the season pitcher Tom Zachary, who had just given up Babe Ruth's sixtieth home run of the season, was lifted and Johnson replaced him at the plate.

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.