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 want to hit a routine grounder to second and run all out to first base, then get thrown out by a half step. I want to leave an example to the young guys that that's how you play the game, all out." - George Brett
 

National League Retirements

1989

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

Goose Goslin played for eighteen seasons and averaged one-hundred twenty-seven games played per season. In 1938, during his final at-bat, he twisted his back and was replaced at the plate by a pinch-hitter for the first time in his Major League career.

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).