1978 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 1978.

"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
 

National League Retirements

1978

10 Rob Belloir Atlanta Braves SS 30
56 Jim Bouton Atlanta Braves P 40
32 Dave Campbell Atlanta Braves P 27
39 Mike Davey Atlanta Braves P 26
43 Cito Gaston Atlanta Braves OF 35
19 Rod Gilbreath Atlanta Braves 3B 26
31 Max Leon Atlanta Braves P 29
12 Jerry Maddox Atlanta Braves 3B 25
9 Pat Rockett Atlanta Braves SS 24
12 Hank Small Atlanta Braves 1B 25
34 Duane Theiss Atlanta Braves P 25
23 Mike Gordon Chicago Cubs C 25
31 Davey Johnson Chicago Cubs 3B 36
29 Mike Sember Chicago Cubs 3B 26
37 Manny Seoane Chicago Cubs P 23
50 Dan Dumoulin Cincinnati Reds P 25
17 Mike Grace Cincinnati Reds 3B 22
8 Ed Herrmann Houston Astros C 32
26 Wilbur Howard Houston Astros OF 30
19 Jim Obradovich Houston Astros 1B 29
30 Gene Pentz Houston Astros P 25
31 Dan Warthen Houston Astros P 26
44 Oscar Zamora Houston Astros P 34
29 Mike Garman Los Angeles Dodgers P 29
3 Enzo Hernandez Los Angeles Dodgers SS 30
52 Myron White Los Angeles Dodgers OF 21
39 Jerry Fry Montreal Expos C 23
29 Mike Garman Montreal Expos P 29
11 Wayne Garrett Montreal Expos 3B 31
34 Ed Herrmann Montreal Expos C 32
47 Randy Miller Montreal Expos P 26
18 Gerry Pirtle Montreal Expos P 31
9 Bob Reece Montreal Expos C 28
26 Mike Bruhert New York Mets P 27
47 Mardie Cornejo New York Mets P 27
45 Butch Metzger New York Mets P 27
44 Bob Myrick New York Mets P 26
43 Paul Siebert New York Mets P 25
26 Kerry Dineen Philadelphia Phillies OF 26
15 Davey Johnson Philadelphia Phillies 2B 36
35 Horacio Pina Philadelphia Phillies P 34
46 Steve Brye Pittsburgh Pirates OF 30
48 Clay Carroll Pittsburgh Pirates P 38
29 Jim Fregosi Pittsburgh Pirates 3B 37
44 Cito Gaston Pittsburgh Pirates OF 35
49 Dave May Pittsburgh Pirates PH 35
14 Jim Beswick San Diego Padres OF 21
27 Tony Castillo San Diego Padres C 21
10 Mike Champion San Diego Padres 2B 24
27 Mark Wiley San Diego Padres P 31
34, 42 Terry Cornutt San Francisco Giants P 26
35 Art Gardner San Francisco Giants PH 26
34 Tom Heintzelman San Francisco Giants 2B 32
36 Skip James San Francisco Giants 1B 29
49 Charlie Williams San Francisco Giants P 31
21 Bob Coluccio St. Louis Cardinals OF 27
11 Wayne Garrett St. Louis Cardinals 3B 31
21 Gary Sutherland St. Louis Cardinals 2B 34
1978 National League Retirements



Find out which players made their Major League debut in the National League during the 1978 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.

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.