1989 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 1989.

"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

1989

27 Miguel Garcia Pittsburgh Pirates P 23
39 Dan Murphy San Diego Padres P 25
50 Gordon Dillard Philadelphia Phillies P 26
51 Jeff Fischer Los Angeles Dodgers P 26
51 Rey Quinones Pittsburgh Pirates SS 26
26 Van Snider Cincinnati Reds OF 26
12 Jeff Wetherby Atlanta Braves OF 26
10 Ed Whited Atlanta Braves 3B 26
15 Floyd Youmans Philadelphia Phillies P 26
38 Scott Little Pittsburgh Pirates OF 27
39 Phil Lombardi New York Mets C 27
34 Alex Madrid Philadelphia Phillies P 27
37 Keith Miller Philadelphia Phillies OF 27
31 Al Pardo Philadelphia Phillies C 27
49 Marty Pevey Montreal Expos C 27
51 Don Schulze San Diego Padres P 27
33 Stu Tate San Francisco Giants P 27
52 Jose Cano Houston Astros P 28
22 Logan Easley Pittsburgh Pirates P 28
33 Steve Stanicek Philadelphia Phillies PH 28
36 Manny Hernandez New York Mets P 29
59 Morris Madden Pittsburgh Pirates P 29
8 John Mizerock Atlanta Braves C 29
58 Roger Samuels Pittsburgh Pirates P 29
41 Mike Smith Pittsburgh Pirates P 29
19 Jim Steels San Francisco Giants 1B 29
18 Jim Adduci Philadelphia Phillies 1B 30
19 Terry Blocker Atlanta Braves OF 30
20 Mike Davis Los Angeles Dodgers OF 30
30 Don Heinkel St. Louis Cardinals P 30
28 Scotti Madison Cincinnati Reds 3B 30
45 Jim Weaver San Francisco Giants OF 30
16 Leon Durham St. Louis Cardinals 1B 32
11 Tim Flannery San Diego Padres 3B 32
35 Mike Griffin Cincinnati Reds P 32
19 Albert Hall Pittsburgh Pirates OF 32
8 Ed Jurak San Francisco Giants SS 32
22 Bob Dernier Philadelphia Phillies OF 33
40 Jose Alvarez Atlanta Braves P 34
20 Bruce Benedict Atlanta Braves C 34
43 Dave Dravecky San Francisco Giants P 34
4 Damaso Garcia Montreal Expos 2B 35
13 Lee Mazzilli New York Mets OF 35
6 Dwayne Murphy Philadelphia Phillies OF 35
45 Charlie Puleo Atlanta Braves P 35
10 Harry Spilman Houston Astros 1B 35
19 Bob Brenly San Francisco Giants C 36
6 Bo Diaz Cincinnati Reds C 37
6 Greg Gross Houston Astros OF 37
12 Craig Reynolds Houston Astros 2B 37
36 Rick Rhoden Houston Astros P 37
14 Alan Ashby Houston Astros C 38
39 Mike Krukow San Francisco Giants P 38
29 Ron Washington Houston Astros 2B 38
12 Joel Youngblood Cincinnati Reds OF 38
35 Chris Speier San Francisco Giants 3B 39
9 Manny Trillo Cincinnati Reds 2B 39
31 Bob Forsch Houston Astros P 40
20 Mike Schmidt Philadelphia Phillies 3B 40
11 Darrell Evans Atlanta Braves 1B 43
43 Kent Tekulve Cincinnati Reds P 43
1989 National League Retirements



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