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.

"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
 

National League Retirements

1989

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

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.

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.