1986 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 1986.

"You start chasing a ball and your brain immediately commands your body to: Run forward. Bend. Scoop up the ball. Peg it to the infield. Then your body says, 'Who, me?'" - Retirement comment made by Joe DiMaggio
 

American League Retirements

1986

11 Dave Stapleton Boston Red Sox 1B 33
14 Bruce Bochte Oakland Athletics 1B 36
11 Toby Harrah Texas Rangers 2B 38
36 Rondin Johnson Kansas City Royals 2B 28
26 Bryan Little New York Yankees 2B 27
42 Jack Perconte Chicago White Sox 2B 32
30 Ricky Jones Baltimore Orioles 2B 28
12 Julio Cruz Chicago White Sox 2B 32
23 Bryan Little Chicago White Sox 2B 27
4 Bobby Grich California Angels 2B 38
15 Dan Rohn Cleveland Indians 2B 31
22 Fran Mullins Cleveland Indians 2B 30
11 Wayne Gross Oakland Athletics 3B 35
38 Leo Hernandez New York Yankees 3B 27
25 Tom Dodd Baltimore Orioles 3B 28
4 Greg Pryor Kansas City Royals 3B 37
58 Juan Espino New York Yankees C 31
54 Jeff Hearron Toronto Blue Jays C 25
7 Marc Hill Chicago White Sox C 35
7 Steve Yeager Seattle Mariners C 38
13 Buck Martinez Toronto Blue Jays C 38
21 Andre David Minnesota Twins DH 29
20 Gorman Thomas Seattle Mariners DH 36
11 Al Woods Minnesota Twins DH 33
44 Cliff Johnson Toronto Blue Jays DH 39
26 Dave Kingman Oakland Athletics DH 38
20 Gorman Thomas Milwaukee Brewers DH 36
47 Rod Craig Chicago White Sox OF 29
55 La Schelle Tarver Boston Red Sox OF 28
26 George Wright Texas Rangers OF 28
31 Rick Peters Oakland Athletics OF 31
35 Lynn Jones Kansas City Royals OF 34
16 Al Cowens Seattle Mariners OF 35
15 George Foster Chicago White Sox OF 38
7 Rudy Law Kansas City Royals OF 30
6 Bob Jones Texas Rangers OF 37
37 Mike Stenhouse Boston Red Sox OF 29
9 Barry Bonnell Seattle Mariners OF 33
17 Mike Brewer Kansas City Royals OF 27
16 Ricky Nelson Seattle Mariners OF 28
24 Ben Oglivie Milwaukee Brewers OF 38
21 Ron Shepherd Toronto Blue Jays OF 26
15 Dwight Taylor Kansas City Royals OF 27
12 Dusty Baker Oakland Athletics OF 37
54 Fernando Arroyo Oakland Athletics P 35
45 Jim Beattie Seattle Mariners P 32
63 T.R. Bryden California Angels P 28
17 Dennis Burtt Minnesota Twins P 29
38 John Butcher Cleveland Indians P 30
32 John Butcher Minnesota Twins P 30
48 Ray Chadwick California Angels P 24
47 Jaime Cocanower Milwaukee Brewers P 30
59 Tom Dozier Oakland Athletics P 25
38 Todd Fischer California Angels P 26
37 Ray Fontenot Minnesota Twins P 29
43 Ken Forsch California Angels P 40
51 Terry Forster California Angels P 35
50 Alan Hargesheimer Kansas City Royals P 32
23 Roy Lee Jackson Minnesota Twins P 33
46 Jim Kern Cleveland Indians P 38
46 Pete Ladd Seattle Mariners P 30
22 Rick Langford Oakland Athletics P 35
35 Bill Latham Minnesota Twins P 26
22 Dennis Leonard Kansas City Royals P 36
48 Tim Lollar Boston Red Sox P 31
42 Mickey Mahler Texas Rangers P 34
40 Mickey Mahler Toronto Blue Jays P 34
26 John Montefusco New York Yankees P 37
35 Bill Mooneyham Oakland Athletics P 26
33 Bryan Oelkers Cleveland Indians P 26
27 John Pacella Detroit Tigers P 30
33 Frank Pastore Minnesota Twins P 29
47 Alfonso Pulido New York Yankees P 30
34 Jose Roman Cleveland Indians P 24
10 Ron Romanick California Angels P 26
30 Dave Rozema Texas Rangers P 30
43 Vern Ruhle California Angels P 36
41 Tom Seaver Boston Red Sox P 42
41 Tom Seaver Chicago White Sox P 42
41 Jim Slaton California Angels P 36
20 Jim Slaton Detroit Tigers P 36
32 Bill Swaggerty Baltimore Orioles P 30
50 Pete Vuckovich Milwaukee Brewers P 34
34 Milt Wilcox Seattle Mariners P 37
24 Ricky Wright Texas Rangers P 28
1986 American League Retirements



Find out which players made their Major League debut in the American League during the 1986 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).

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.