1989 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 1989.

"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

1989

34 Kevin Batiste Toronto Blue Jays OF 23
41 Clint Zavaras Seattle Mariners P 23
24 Marcus Lawton New York Yankees OF 24
10 Rob Richie Detroit Tigers OF 24
33 Alex Sanchez Toronto Blue Jays P 24
1 Tommy Hinzo Cleveland Indians 2B 25
38 Shawn Holman Detroit Tigers P 25
45 Kevin Mmahat New York Yankees P 25
27 Joe Skalski Cleveland Indians P 25
24 Denny Gonzalez Cleveland Indians 3B 26
66 Mark Higgins Cleveland Indians 1B 26
76 Tom Magrann Cleveland Indians C 26
35 Bill McGuire Seattle Mariners C 26
35, 43 Francisco Melendez Baltimore Orioles 1B 26
28 Jeff Peterek Milwaukee Brewers P 26
51 Rey Quinones Seattle Mariners SS 26
30 Larry Arndt Oakland Athletics 1B 27
8 Brian Brady California Angels OF 27
34 Bobby Davidson New York Yankees P 27
11 La Vel Freeman Milwaukee Brewers DH 27
34 Don Schulze New York Yankees P 27
3 Dick Scott Oakland Athletics SS 27
19, 20 Dana Williams Boston Red Sox OF 27
11, 27 Billy Beane Oakland Athletics OF 28
35 Jeff Bittiger Chicago White Sox P 28
14 Mickey Brantley Seattle Mariners OF 28
35 Chris Brown Detroit Tigers 3B 28
3 Juan Castillo Milwaukee Brewers 2B 28
46 German Gonzalez Minnesota Twins P 28
38 Dave Hengel Cleveland Indians OF 28
49 Tom McCarthy Chicago White Sox P 28
23 Joey Meyer Milwaukee Brewers DH 28
18 Ramon Pena Detroit Tigers P 28
20 Vic Rodriguez Minnesota Twins 3B 28
28 Jim Traber Baltimore Orioles 1B 28
41 Randy Bockus Detroit Tigers P 29
45 Bob Buchanan Kansas City Royals P 29
31 Pete Dalena Cleveland Indians DH 29
37 Steve Davis Cleveland Indians P 29
29 Bruce Fields Seattle Mariners OF 29
64 Steve Kiefer New York Yankees 3B 29
17 Al Pedrique Detroit Tigers 3B 29
27 Lee Tunnell Minnesota Twins P 29
54 Jim Wilson Seattle Mariners DH 29
34 Ed Wojna Cleveland Indians P 29
42 Dave Beard Detroit Tigers P 30
33 Bob Brower New York Yankees OF 30
48 Bryan Clutterbuck Milwaukee Brewers P 30
43 Jeff Datz Detroit Tigers C 30
27, 54 Jack Hardy Chicago White Sox P 30
22 Brad Havens Cleveland Indians P 30
55 Brad Havens Detroit Tigers P 30
36 Ray Krawczyk Milwaukee Brewers P 30
37 Julio Solano Seattle Mariners P 30
43 Mike Trujillo Detroit Tigers P 30
3 Brad Wellman Kansas City Royals 2B 30
17 Matt Winters Kansas City Royals OF 30
44 Mike Young Cleveland Indians DH 30
23 Luis Aguayo Cleveland Indians 3B 31
38, 22 Keith Atherton Cleveland Indians P 31
52 Luis DeLeon Seattle Mariners P 31
9 Glenn Hoffman California Angels SS 31
27 Charles Hudson Detroit Tigers P 31
15 Tim Laudner Minnesota Twins C 31
33 Scott Nielsen New York Yankees P 31
36 Steve Shields Minnesota Twins P 31
54 Paul Wilmet Texas Rangers P 31
15 Neil Allen Cleveland Indians P 32
38 De Wayne Buice Toronto Blue Jays P 32
46 Bill Dawley Oakland Athletics P 32
17 Glenn Hubbard Oakland Athletics 2B 32
33 Pat Keedy Cleveland Indians OF 32
16 Dave Palmer Detroit Tigers P 32
53 Brian Snyder Oakland Athletics P 32
34 Steve Trout Seattle Mariners P 32
36 Frank Williams Detroit Tigers P 32
25 Dave Engle Milwaukee Brewers 1B 33
23 Chris Bando Oakland Athletics C 34
18 Shane Rawley Minnesota Twins P 34
21 Willie Hernandez Detroit Tigers P 35
13 Lee Mazzilli Toronto Blue Jays DH 35
41 Mike Smithson Boston Red Sox P 35
46 Bob Stanley Boston Red Sox P 35
20 Tony Armas California Angels OF 36
9 Bob Brenly Toronto Blue Jays DH 36
6 Keith Moreland Baltimore Orioles DH 36
10 Keith Moreland Detroit Tigers DH 36
14 Jim Rice Boston Red Sox DH 37
36 Tim Stoddard Cleveland Indians P 37
25 Buddy Bell Texas Rangers DH 38
15 Jerry Hairston Chicago White Sox DH 38
19 Doyle Alexander Detroit Tigers P 39
10 Jim Sundberg Texas Rangers C 39
25 Tommy John New York Yankees P 47
1989 American League Retirements



Find out which players made their Major League debut in the American League during the 1989 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.

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.