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.

"You are George Brett and all the cheering has stopped. The music is muted, the hour is late, and they will be taking the banners down and emptying your locker any minute now. As the late Jimmy Cannon would say it, 'All your bats are broken.'" - Broadcaster Jim Murray
 

American League Retirements

1976

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

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.

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).