1984 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 1984.

"I'll never make the mistake of being seventy (70) again." - Casey Stengel comment made after being told to quit following the 1960 World Series
 

American League Retirements

1984

10 Todd Cruz Baltimore Orioles 3B 29
11 Ron Jackson Baltimore Orioles 3B 32
22 Jim Palmer Baltimore Orioles P 39
41 Orlando Sanchez Baltimore Orioles C 28
29 Ken Singleton Baltimore Orioles DH 37
42 Tom Underwood Baltimore Orioles P 31
30 Rich Gale Boston Red Sox P 31
5 Jeff Newman Boston Red Sox C 36
2 Jerry Remy Boston Red Sox 2B 32
36 Steve Brown California Angels P 28
16 John Curtis California Angels P 37
15 Ron Jackson California Angels 1B 32
48 Curt Kaufman California Angels P 27
31 Frank LaCorte California Angels P 33
42 Rick Steirer California Angels P 28
27 Craig Swan California Angels P 34
19 Greg Luzinski Chicago White Sox DH 34
36 Ron Reed Chicago White Sox P 42
54 Jim Siwy Chicago White Sox P 26
8 Dave Stegman Chicago White Sox OF 31
38 Luis Aponte Cleveland Indians P 31
31 Steve Comer Cleveland Indians P 31
15 Broderick Perkins Cleveland Indians DH 30
12 Kevin Rhomberg Cleveland Indians OF 29
43 Jerry Ujdur Cleveland Indians P 28
17 Glenn Abbott Detroit Tigers P 34
24 Scott Earl Detroit Tigers 2B 24
42 Sid Monge Detroit Tigers P 34
37 Tucker Ashford Kansas City Royals 3B 30
21 Bucky Dent Kansas City Royals SS 33
16 Leon Roberts Kansas City Royals OF 34
49 Orlando Sanchez Kansas City Royals C 28
34 Paul Splittorff Kansas City Royals P 38
46 Jerry Augustine Milwaukee Brewers P 32
46 Andy Beene Milwaukee Brewers P 28
48 Mike Caldwell Milwaukee Brewers P 36
39 Paul Hartzell Milwaukee Brewers P 31
13 Roy Howell Milwaukee Brewers 3B 31
26 Willie Lozado Milwaukee Brewers 3B 26
26 Darrell Brown Minnesota Twins OF 29
2 John Castino Minnesota Twins 3B 30
12 Lenny Faedo Minnesota Twins SS 25
17 Ed Hodge Minnesota Twins P 27
19 Larry Pashnick Minnesota Twins P 29
35 Pat Putnam Minnesota Twins DH 31
30 Mike Walters Minnesota Twins P 27
28 Albert Williams Minnesota Twins P 31
67 Clay Christiansen New York Yankees P 26
14 Lou Piniella New York Yankees OF 41
52 Jeff Bettendorf Oakland Athletics P 24
39 Tom Burgmeier Oakland Athletics P 41
19 Jim Essian Oakland Athletics C 34
11 Garry Hancock Oakland Athletics OF 31
13 Gorman Heimueller Oakland Athletics P 29
38 Jeff Jones Oakland Athletics P 28
8 Joe Morgan Oakland Athletics 2B 41
30 Chuck Rainey Oakland Athletics P 30
33 Mike Torrez Oakland Athletics P 38
9 Mark Wagner Oakland Athletics SS 31
8 Larry Milbourne Seattle Mariners 3B 34
6 Bill Nahorodny Seattle Mariners C 31
23 Pat Putnam Seattle Mariners DH 31
14 Jim Anderson Texas Rangers SS 28
22 Jim Bibby Texas Rangers P 40
10 Kevin Buckley Texas Rangers DH 26
30 Marv Foley Texas Rangers C 31
53 Joey McLaughlin Texas Rangers P 28
2 Mike Richardt Texas Rangers 2B 27
17 Mickey Rivers Texas Rangers DH 36
54 Toby Hernandez Toronto Blue Jays C 26
50 Joey McLaughlin Toronto Blue Jays P 28
1984 American League Retirements



Find out which players made their Major League debut in the American League during the 1984 season as this group of players bid farewell to their field's of dreams.

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.

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.