Baseball Almanac - 1976 National League Retirements

1976 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 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

National League Retirements
1976

# Name Team Pos Age

38 Al Autry Atlanta Braves P 25

49 Carl Morton Atlanta Braves P 33

32 Pete Varney Atlanta Braves C 28

39 Ken Crosby Chicago Cubs P 29

31 Tom Dettore Chicago Cubs P 29

47 Ken Frailing Chicago Cubs P 29

22 Wayne Tyrone Chicago Cubs OF 26

44 Pat Darcy Cincinnati Reds P 27

37 Mike Cosgrove Houston Astros P 26

42 Larry Hardy Houston Astros P 29

29 Al Javier Houston Astros OF 23

44 Jose Sosa Houston Astros P 24

9 Leron Lee Los Angeles Dodgers OF 29

41 Jim Lyttle Los Angeles Dodgers OF 31

55 Sergio Robles Los Angeles Dodgers C 31

2 Ellie Rodriguez Los Angeles Dodgers C 31

24 Nate Colbert Montreal Expos OF 31

10 Jim Cox Montreal Expos 2B 27

47 Wayne Granger Montreal Expos P 33

56 Joe Keener Montreal Expos P 24

31 Clay Kirby Montreal Expos P 28

33 Chip Lang Montreal Expos P 24

20 Jim Lyttle Montreal Expos OF 31

21 Fred Scherman Montreal Expos P 32

21 Chuck Taylor Montreal Expos P 35

21 Billy Baldwin New York Mets OF 25

23 Leon Brown New York Mets OF 27

22 Jay Kleven New York Mets C 27

33 Ken Sanders New York Mets P 35

12 Tony Taylor Philadelphia Phillies 2B 41

38 Bob Moose Pittsburgh Pirates P 29

43 Mike Dupree San Diego Padres P 24

21 Alan Foster San Diego Padres P 30

27 Bill Greif San Diego Padres P 27

8 Ted Kubiak San Diego Padres 3B 35

34 Ken Reynolds San Diego Padres P 30

15 Chris Arnold San Francisco Giants 2B 29

29 Bruce Miller San Francisco Giants 2B 30

28 Charlie Chant St. Louis Cardinals OF 25

16 Doug Clarey St. Louis Cardinals 2B 23

34 Danny Frisella St. Louis Cardinals P 31

38 Bill Greif St. Louis Cardinals P 27

3 Lee Richard St. Louis Cardinals 2B 28

48 Steve Waterbury St. Louis Cardinals P 25

# Name Team Pos Age

1976 National League Retirements

Find out which players made their Major League debut in the National League during the 1976 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.

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