1985 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 1985.

"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
 

National League Retirements

1985

26, 43 Gary Rajsich San Francisco Giants 1B 31
41 Scot Thompson San Francisco Giants 1B 30
18 Richie Hebner Chicago Cubs 1B 38
19 Mike Jorgensen St. Louis Cardinals 1B 37
7 Art Howe St. Louis Cardinals 1B 39
14 John Wockenfuss Philadelphia Phillies 1B 37
24 Scot Thompson Montreal Expos 1B 30
11 Kelvin Chapman New York Mets 2B 29
23 Doug Flynn Montreal Expos 2B 35
23 German Rivera Houston Astros 3B 25
7 Kurt Bevacqua San Diego Padres 3B 39
21 Bob Bailor Los Angeles Dodgers 3B 34
18 Mike O'Berry Montreal Expos C 32
14 Ned Yost Montreal Expos C 30
6 Steve Nicosia Montreal Expos C 30
12 Jay Johnstone Los Angeles Dodgers PH 40
18 Duane Kuiper San Francisco Giants PH 35
39 Edwin Rodriguez San Diego Padres PH 25
26 Steve Braun St. Louis Cardinals OF 38
20 Bobby Brown San Diego Padres OF 32
4 Al Bumbry San Diego Padres OF 39
28 Gerry Davis San Diego Padres OF 27
18 Miguel Dilone Montreal Expos OF 31
17 Miguel Dilone San Diego Padres OF 31
27 Roy Johnson Montreal Expos OF 26
28 Sixto Lezcano Pittsburgh Pirates OF 32
17 Scott Loucks Pittsburgh Pirates OF 29
0 Al Oliver Los Angeles Dodgers OF 39
57 Stu Pederson Los Angeles Dodgers OF 26
10 Rusty Staub New York Mets OF 42
25 Gary Woods Chicago Cubs OF 31
32 Johnny Abrego Chicago Cubs P 23
47 Derek Botelho Chicago Cubs P 29
46 Tom Brennan Los Angeles Dodgers P 33
41 Warren Brusstar Chicago Cubs P 34
37 Rick Camp Atlanta Braves P 33
37 Bobby Castillo Los Angeles Dodgers P 31
49 Steve Engel Chicago Cubs P 24
49 Ed Glynn Montreal Expos P 32
47 Rick Grapenthin Montreal Expos P 28
32 Larry Gura Chicago Cubs P 38
44, 41 Andy Hassler St. Louis Cardinals P 34
24 Jerry Koosman Philadelphia Phillies P 43
34 Bobby Moore San Francisco Giants P 27
52 Reggie Patterson Chicago Cubs P 27
45 Steve Rogers Montreal Expos P 36
23 Dave Schuler Atlanta Braves P 32
33 Dave Shipanoff Philadelphia Phillies P 26
42 John Stuper Cincinnati Reds P 29
56 Rich Surhoff Philadelphia Phillies P 23
43 Colin Ward San Francisco Giants P 25
38 Pat Zachry Philadelphia Phillies P 34
1 Larry Bowa Chicago Cubs SS 40
17 Jerry Dybzinski Pittsburgh Pirates SS 30
10 Tim Foli Pittsburgh Pirates SS 35
12 Mario Ramirez San Diego Padres SS 28
19 Ron Gardenhire New York Mets SS 28
18 Derrel Thomas Philadelphia Phillies SS 35
2 Larry Bowa New York Mets SS 40
48 Mike Ramsey Los Angeles Dodgers SS 32
18 Kiko Garcia Philadelphia Phillies SS 32
1 Ricky Adams San Francisco Giants SS 27
1985 National League Retirements



Find out which players made their Major League debut in the National League during the 1985 season as this group of players bid farewell to their field's of dreams.

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).

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.