1991 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 1991.

"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
 

American League Retirements

1991

22 Kirk Dressendorfer Oakland Athletics P 23
58 Garland Kiser Cleveland Indians P 23
43 Kevin Morton Boston Red Sox P 23
34 Hector Wagner Kansas City Royals P 23
49 Steve Chitren Oakland Athletics P 24
57 Ron Witmeyer Oakland Athletics 1B 24
38 Dana Allison Oakland Athletics P 25
17 Luis de los Santos Detroit Tigers OF 25
59 Chris George Milwaukee Brewers P 25
37 Beau Allred Cleveland Indians OF 26
22 George Canale Milwaukee Brewers 1B 26
39 Stu Cole Kansas City Royals 2B 26
58 Francisco de la Rosa Baltimore Orioles P 26
48 Julio Machado Milwaukee Brewers P 26
6 Ever Magallanes Cleveland Indians SS 26
9 Bobby Moore Kansas City Royals OF 26
54 Jeff Plympton Boston Red Sox P 26
48 John Ramos New York Yankees C 26
18 Tony Scruggs Texas Rangers OF 26
41 Wade Taylor New York Yankees P 26
51 Steve Wapnick Chicago White Sox P 26
27 John Barfield Texas Rangers P 27
41 Jeff Carter Chicago White Sox P 27
40 Mark Davis California Angels OF 27
46 Bruce Egloff Cleveland Indians P 27
36 Brian Holman Seattle Mariners P 27
43 Jim Hunter Milwaukee Brewers P 27
22 Luis Lopez Cleveland Indians C 27
17 Scott Lusader New York Yankees OF 27
7 Alonzo Powell Seattle Mariners OF 27
56 Mike York Cleveland Indians P 27
49 Allan Anderson Minnesota Twins P 28
38 Don August Milwaukee Brewers P 28
44 Joe Bitker Texas Rangers P 28
42 Tom Drees Chicago White Sox P 28
45 Wayne Edwards Chicago White Sox P 28
32 Dan Gakeler Detroit Tigers P 28
42 Eric Nolte Texas Rangers P 28
23 Pat Rice Seattle Mariners P 28
13 Kenny Williams Toronto Blue Jays OF 28
36 Chris Beasley California Angels P 29
42 Mike Dalton Detroit Tigers P 29
38 Jeff Gray Boston Red Sox P 29
23 Luis Medina Cleveland Indians DH 29
18 Jim Olander Milwaukee Brewers OF 29
34 Johnny Paredes Detroit Tigers 2B 29
32 Calvin Schiraldi Texas Rangers P 29
47 Don Wakamatsu Chicago White Sox C 29
14 Fred Manrique Oakland Athletics SS 30
43 Roy Smith Baltimore Orioles P 30
6 Jose Escobar Cleveland Indians SS 31
39 Wes Gardner Kansas City Royals P 31
25 Tracy Jones Seattle Mariners DH 31
19 Dana Kiecker Boston Red Sox P 31
48 Brad Komminsk Oakland Athletics OF 31
13 Carmelo Martinez Kansas City Royals 1B 31
16 Kevin Romine Boston Red Sox OF 31
27 Mark Salas Detroit Tigers C 31
4 Joel Skinner Cleveland Indians C 31
29 Oil Can Boyd Texas Rangers P 32
55 John Cerutti Detroit Tigers P 32
40 Andy Hawkins New York Yankees P 32
41 Andy Hawkins Oakland Athletics P 32
22 Mike Marshall Boston Red Sox 1B 32
41 Mike Marshall California Angels 1B 32
15 Lloyd Moseby Detroit Tigers OF 32
22 Carmen Castillo Minnesota Twins OF 33
46 Dan Petry Boston Red Sox P 33
46 Dan Petry Detroit Tigers P 33
44 Frank Wills Toronto Blue Jays P 33
17 Paul Zuvella Kansas City Royals 3B 33
9 Greg Brock Milwaukee Brewers 1B 34
10 Nick Capra Texas Rangers OF 34
28 Steve Crawford Kansas City Royals P 34
42 Ron Kittle Chicago White Sox 1B 34
25 John Shelby Detroit Tigers OF 34
17 Pat Sheridan New York Yankees OF 34
8 Max Venable California Angels OF 34
9 Tony Bernazard Detroit Tigers 2B 35
2 Vance Law Oakland Athletics 3B 35
38 Andy McGaffigan Kansas City Royals P 35
34 Pascual Perez New York Yankees P 35
26 Terry Puhl Kansas City Royals OF 35
32 Keith Comstock Seattle Mariners P 36
45 Kevin Hickey Baltimore Orioles P 36
30 Eric Show Oakland Athletics P 36
3 Mookie Wilson Toronto Blue Jays OF 36
43 Dan Schatzeder Kansas City Royals P 37
49 Warren Cromartie Kansas City Royals 1B 38
11 Ernie Whitt Baltimore Orioles C 39
24 Dwight Evans Baltimore Orioles OF 40
39 Dave Parker California Angels DH 40
39 Dave Parker Toronto Blue Jays DH 40
30 Ken Griffey Seattle Mariners OF 42
1991 American League Retirements



Find out which players made their Major League debut in the American League during the 1991 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.