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.

"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
 

American League Retirements

1984

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

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.