1982 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 1982.

"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

1982

49 Preston Hanna Atlanta Braves P 28
34 Tom Hausman Atlanta Braves P 30
39 Al Hrabosky Atlanta Braves P 33
7 Bob Porter Atlanta Braves OF 23
28 Larry Whisenton Atlanta Braves OF 26
11 Dan Briggs Chicago Cubs OF 30
9 Larry Cox Chicago Cubs C 35
30 Hector Cruz Chicago Cubs OF 30
37 Ken Kravec Chicago Cubs P 31
32 Dan Larson Chicago Cubs P 28
33 Allen Ripley Chicago Cubs P 30
43 Herman Segelke Chicago Cubs P 25
43 Randy Stein Chicago Cubs P 30
17 Bump Wills Chicago Cubs 2B 30
12 German Barranca Cincinnati Reds 2B 26
40 Joe Edelen Cincinnati Reds P 27
52 George Cappuzzello Houston Astros P 29
44 Gordie Pladson Houston Astros P 26
37 Larry Ray Houston Astros OF 25
8 Mark Belanger Los Angeles Dodgers SS 38
9 Don Crow Los Angeles Dodgers C 24
11 Manny Mota Los Angeles Dodgers PH 45
45 Vicente Romo Los Angeles Dodgers P 40
36 Steve Shirley Los Angeles Dodgers P 26
19 Mike Gates Montreal Expos 2B 26
37 Bill Lee Montreal Expos P 36
5 John Milner Montreal Expos 1B 33
44 Dan Norman Montreal Expos OF 28
3 Rodney Scott Montreal Expos 2B 29
11 Frank Taveras Montreal Expos SS 33
32 Tom Hausman New York Mets P 30
35 Randy Jones New York Mets P 33
2 Phil Mankowski New York Mets 3B 30
37 Stan Bahnsen Philadelphia Phillies P 38
26 Dick Davis Philadelphia Phillies OF 29
28 Sparky Lyle Philadelphia Phillies P 38
25 Willie Montanez Philadelphia Phillies 1B 35
10 Dave Roberts Philadelphia Phillies 3B 32
25 Del Unser Philadelphia Phillies 1B 38
34 Ross Baumgarten Pittsburgh Pirates P 28
28 Dick Davis Pittsburgh Pirates OF 29
23 Tom Griffin Pittsburgh Pirates P 35
23 Grant Jackson Pittsburgh Pirates P 40
34 John Milner Pittsburgh Pirates 1B 33
14 Willie Montanez Pittsburgh Pirates 1B 35
10 Ken Reitz Pittsburgh Pirates 3B 31
15 Enrique Romo Pittsburgh Pirates P 35
11 Jim Smith Pittsburgh Pirates SS 28
44 Eddie Solomon Pittsburgh Pirates P 32
8 Willie Stargell Pittsburgh Pirates 1B 43
46 Reggie Walton Pittsburgh Pirates OF 30
5 Randy Bass San Diego Padres 1B 29
24 Dave Edwards San Diego Padres OF 29
11 Jerry Manuel San Diego Padres 2B 29
9 Steve Swisher San Diego Padres C 31
40 Rick Wise San Diego Padres P 37
23 Jose Barrios San Francisco Giants 1B 25
40 Mark Dempsey San Francisco Giants P 25
14 Reggie Smith San Francisco Giants 1B 38
34 Mark Littell St. Louis Cardinals P 30
46 Andy Rincon St. Louis Cardinals P 24
1982 National League Retirements



Find out which players made their Major League debut in the National League during the 1982 season as this group of players bid farewell to their field's of dreams.

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.

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.