1988 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 1988.

"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

1988

13 Juan Eichelberger Atlanta Braves P 35
49 German Jimenez Atlanta Braves P 26
27 Jim Morrison Atlanta Braves 3B 36
31 Ed Olwine Atlanta Braves P 31
15 Gary Roenicke Atlanta Braves OF 34
4 Jerry Royster Atlanta Braves OF 36
12 Paul Runge Atlanta Braves 3B 31
23 Ted Simmons Atlanta Braves 1B 39
42 Bruce Sutter Atlanta Braves P 36
20 Dave Meier Chicago Cubs 3B 29
22 Jerry Mumphrey Chicago Cubs OF 36
18 Angel Salazar Chicago Cubs SS 27
13 Dave Concepcion Cincinnati Reds 2B 40
26 Leo Garcia Cincinnati Reds OF 26
9 Eddie Milner Cincinnati Reds OF 34
35 Pat Pacillo Cincinnati Reds P 25
39 Ron Roenicke Cincinnati Reds OF 32
45 Candy Sierra Cincinnati Reds P 22
36 Mario Soto Cincinnati Reds P 32
47 Joaquin Andujar Houston Astros P 36
50 Rocky Childress Houston Astros P 27
3 Cameron Drew Houston Astros OF 25
18 John Fishel Houston Astros OF 26
31, 41 Jeff Heathcock Houston Astros P 29
5 Steve Henderson Houston Astros OF 36
53 Dave Meads Houston Astros P 25
29 Craig Smajstrla Houston Astros 2B 26
20 Don Sutton Los Angeles Dodgers P 44
50 Tim Barrett Montreal Expos P 28
9 Graig Nettles Montreal Expos 3B 44
11 Wilfredo Tejada Montreal Expos C 26
31 Gene Walter New York Mets P 28
15 Bill Almon Philadelphia Phillies 3B 36
31 Salome Barojas Philadelphia Phillies P 31
31 Jeff Calhoun Philadelphia Phillies P 31
35 Danny Clay Philadelphia Phillies P 27
15 Jackie Gutierrez Philadelphia Phillies SS 28
34 Bill Scherrer Philadelphia Phillies P 31
14 Mike Diaz Pittsburgh Pirates OF 29
55 Dave Hostetler Pittsburgh Pirates 1B 33
3 Ruben Rodriguez Pittsburgh Pirates C 24
36, 51 Dave Rucker Pittsburgh Pirates P 31
47 Randy Byers San Diego Padres OF 24
53 Candy Sierra San Diego Padres P 22
33 Ron Davis San Francisco Giants P 33
54 Angel Escobar San Francisco Giants SS 24
20 Phil Garner San Francisco Giants 3B 40
26 Jessie Reid San Francisco Giants PH 26
19 Lary Sorensen San Francisco Giants P 33
30 Rusty Tillman San Francisco Giants OF 28
33 Mark Wasinger San Francisco Giants 3B 27
61, 47 Gibson Alba St. Louis Cardinals P 29
41 Scott Arnold St. Louis Cardinals P 26
47 Mike Fitzgerald St. Louis Cardinals 1B 25
5 Bob Horner St. Louis Cardinals 1B 31
36 Steve Peters St. Louis Cardinals P 26
21 Duane Walker St. Louis Cardinals OF 32
1988 National League Retirements



Find out which players made their Major League debut in the National League during the 1988 season as this group of players bid farewell to their field's of dreams.

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.

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.