1981 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 1981.

"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

1981

30 Brian Asselstine Atlanta Braves OF 28
34 Larry Bradford Atlanta Braves P 32
9 Luis Gomez Atlanta Braves SS 30
28 Mike Lum Atlanta Braves OF 36
29 Rick Matula Atlanta Braves P 28
25 Bobby Bonds Chicago Cubs OF 36
35 Doug Capilla Chicago Cubs P 30
49 Rawly Eastwick Chicago Cubs P 31
16 Bill Hayes Chicago Cubs C 24
47 Gene Krug Chicago Cubs PH 27
30 Carlos Lezcano Chicago Cubs OF 26
33 Mike Lum Chicago Cubs OF 36
17 Joe Strain Chicago Cubs 2B 28
23 Jim Tracy Chicago Cubs OF 26
18 Mike Tyson Chicago Cubs 2B 32
53 Scott Brown Cincinnati Reds P 25
37 Geoff Combe Cincinnati Reds P 26
19 Neil Fiala Cincinnati Reds PH 25
28 Sam Mejias Cincinnati Reds OF 30
27 Billy Smith Houston Astros P 27
41 Bobby Sprowl Houston Astros P 26
36 Pepe Frias Los Angeles Dodgers SS 33
9 Jerry Grote Los Angeles Dodgers C 39
1 Gary Weiss Los Angeles Dodgers SS 26
51 Rick Engle Montreal Expos P 25
14 Tom Hutton Montreal Expos 1B 36
24 Bob Pate Montreal Expos OF 28
47 Steve Ratzer Montreal Expos P 28
56 Pat Rooney Montreal Expos OF 24
3 Mike Cubbage New York Mets 3B 31
28 Mike Marshall New York Mets P 39
49 Dyar Miller New York Mets P 36
34 Dave Roberts New York Mets P 37
15 Ramon Aviles Philadelphia Phillies 2B 30
35 Nino Espinosa Philadelphia Phillies P 28
17 Don McCormack Philadelphia Phillies C 26
18 John Vukovich Philadelphia Phillies 3B 34
35 Gary Alexander Pittsburgh Pirates 1B 29
36 Matt Alexander Pittsburgh Pirates OF 35
12 Doe Boyland Pittsburgh Pirates PH 27
46 Mark Lee Pittsburgh Pirates P 28
41 Fred Kuhaulua San Diego Padres P 29
50 John Littlefield San Diego Padres P 28
7 Craig Stimac San Diego Padres PH 27
38 John Urrea San Diego Padres P 27
36 Billy North San Francisco Giants OF 34
28 Mike Rowland San Francisco Giants P 29
3 Mike Sadek San Francisco Giants C 36
21 Billy Smith San Francisco Giants SS 28
6 Rennie Stennett San Francisco Giants 2B 31
51 Neil Fiala St. Louis Cardinals PH 25
35 Silvio Martinez St. Louis Cardinals P 26
40 Jim Otten St. Louis Cardinals P 30
38 Bob Sykes St. Louis Cardinals P 27
1981 National League Retirements



Find out which players made their Major League debut in the National League during the 1981 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).