1990 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 1990.

"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

1990

46 Jay Aldrich Baltimore Orioles P 30
37 Danny Boone Baltimore Orioles P 37
1 Phil Bradley Baltimore Orioles OF 32
28 Marty Brown Baltimore Orioles 2B 28
51 Brian Holton Baltimore Orioles P 31
24 John Mitchell Baltimore Orioles P 25
21 Donell Nixon Baltimore Orioles OF 29
23 Joe Price Baltimore Orioles P 34
41 Mike Smith Baltimore Orioles P 27
46 Dorn Taylor Baltimore Orioles P 32
50 Jay Tibbs Baltimore Orioles P 29
35 Greg Walker Baltimore Orioles DH 31
22 Bill Buckner Boston Red Sox 1B 41
31 Eric Hetzel Boston Red Sox P 27
5 Randy Kutcher Boston Red Sox OF 31
10 Rick Lancellotti Boston Red Sox 1B 34
38 John Leister Boston Red Sox P 30
42 Jim Pankovits Boston Red Sox 2B 35
3, 45 Jerry Reed Boston Red Sox P 35
13 Billy Jo Robidoux Boston Red Sox 1B 27
54 Mike Rochford Boston Red Sox P 28
28 Jeff Stone Boston Red Sox DH 30
7 Kent Anderson California Angels SS 27
36, 46 Mark Clear California Angels P 35
10 Pete Coachman California Angels 3B 29
36 Sherman Corbett California Angels P 28
38 Greg Minton California Angels P 39
3 Johnny Ray California Angels 2B 34
37 Jeff Richardson California Angels P 27
23 Bill Schroeder California Angels C 32
18 Claudell Washington California Angels OF 36
8 Phil Bradley Chicago White Sox OF 32
52 Jerry Kutzler Chicago White Sox P 26
21 Matt Stark Chicago White Sox DH 26
29 Greg Walker Chicago White Sox 1B 31
34 Kevin Bearse Cleveland Indians P 25
10 Tom Brookens Cleveland Indians 3B 37
38 CeciIio Guante Cleveland Indians P 31
17 Keith Hernandez Cleveland Indians 1B 37
42 Al Nipper Cleveland Indians P 32
44 Ken Phelps Cleveland Indians 1B 36
2 Rafael Santana Cleveland Indians SS 33
50 Colby Ward Cleveland Indians P 27
16 Brian DuBois Detroit Tigers P 24
43 Matt Kinzer Detroit Tigers P 27
34 Chet Lemon Detroit Tigers OF 36
20 Urbano Lugo Detroit Tigers P 28
37 Randy Nosek Detroit Tigers P 24
12 Ed Romero Detroit Tigers 3B 33
46 Mike Schwabe Detroit Tigers P 26
32 Gary Ward Detroit Tigers OF 37
8 Bob Boone Kansas City Royals C 43
57 Jim Campbell Kansas City Royals P 25
34 Chris Codiroli Kansas City Royals P 33
37 Richard Dotson Kansas City Royals P 32
54 Luis Encarnacion Kansas City Royals P 27
35 Pete Filson Kansas City Royals P 32
2 Steve Jeltz Kansas City Royals 2B 32
34 Larry McWilliams Kansas City Royals P 37
29 Rey Palacios Kansas City Royals C 28
31 Israel Sanchez Kansas City Royals P 27
40 Daryl Smith Kansas City Royals P 30
52 Mel Stottlemyre Kansas City Royals P 27
20 Frank White Kansas City Royals 2B 40
34 Billy Bates Milwaukee Brewers 2B 27
2 Edgar Diaz Milwaukee Brewers SS 27
35 Narciso Elvira Milwaukee Brewers P 23
30 Terry Francona Milwaukee Brewers 1B 32
27 Paul Mirabella Milwaukee Brewers P 37
30 Bob Sebra Milwaukee Brewers P 29
21 Doug Baker Minnesota Twins 2B 30
54 Tim Drummond Minnesota Twins P 26
5 Jim Dwyer Minnesota Twins DH 41
20 Jack Savage Minnesota Twins P 27
41 Rich Yett Minnesota Twins P 28
59 Steve Adkins New York Yankees P 26
2 Wayne Tolleson New York Yankees SS 35
17 Claudell Washington New York Yankees OF 36
48 Steve Howard Oakland Athletics OF 27
17 Mike Norris Oakland Athletics P 36
44 Ken Phelps Oakland Athletics DH 36
45 Bryan Clark Seattle Mariners P 34
37 Gary Eave Seattle Mariners P 27
29 Brian Giles Seattle Mariners SS 31
00 Jeffrey Leonard Seattle Mariners OF 35
42 Vance Lovelace Seattle Mariners P 27
53 Scott Medvin Seattle Mariners P 29
31 Jerry Reed Seattle Mariners P 35
18 Kevin Belcher Texas Rangers OF 23
32 Thad Bosley Texas Rangers OF 34
44 John Hoover Texas Rangers P 28
51 Ramon Manon Texas Rangers P 23
50 Gary Mielke Texas Rangers P 28
32 Steve Cummings Toronto Blue Jays P 26
59 Carlos Diaz Toronto Blue Jays C 26
26 Jim Eppard Toronto Blue Jays PH 31
46 Tom Gilles Toronto Blue Jays P 28
18 Tom Lawless Toronto Blue Jays 3B 34
38 Rick Luecken Toronto Blue Jays P 30
26 Ozzie Virgil Toronto Blue Jays C 34
1990 American League Retirements



Find out which players made their Major League debut in the American League during the 1990 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.