1994 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 1994.

"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

1994

19 Jim Bowie Oakland Athletics 1B 30
14 Kent Hrbek Minnesota Twins 1B 35
9 Skeeter Barnes Detroit Tigers 1B 38
16 Troy Neel Oakland Athletics 1B 29
6 Steve Sax Oakland Athletics 2B 35
37 Francisco Matos Oakland Athletics 2B 25
3 Harold Reynolds California Angels 2B 34
9 Junior Noboa Oakland Athletics 2B 30
28 Greg Litton Boston Red Sox 2B 30
11 Chuck Jackson Texas Rangers 3B 32
27 Stan Royer Boston Red Sox 3B 27
42 Jeff Schaefer Oakland Athletics 3B 35
45 Chris Howard Seattle Mariners C 29
43 Bob Melvin New York Yankees C 33
0 Junior Ortiz Texas Rangers C 35
16 Derek Parks Minnesota Twins C 26
41 Jeff Tackett Baltimore Orioles C 29
49 Bob Melvin Chicago White Sox C 33
42 Rick Wrona Milwaukee Brewers C 31
31 Jerry Willard Seattle Mariners C 35
22 Eric Wedge Boston Red Sox DH 27
30 Hubie Brooks Kansas City Royals DH 38
39 Lonnie Smith Baltimore Orioles DH 39
13 Butch Davis Texas Rangers OF 36
23 Tom Brunansky Boston Red Sox OF 34
1 Brian Turang Seattle Mariners OF 27
43 Bob Zupcic Chicago White Sox OF 28
26 Daryl Boston New York Yankees OF 32
49 Junior Felix Detroit Tigers OF 27
22 Bo Jackson California Angels OF 32
8 Oddibe McDowell Texas Rangers OF 32
28 Bob Zupcic Boston Red Sox OF 28
34 Dann Howitt Chicago White Sox OF 31
44 Dan Pasqua Chicago White Sox OF 33
5 Gary Redus Texas Rangers OF 38
18 Tom Brunansky Milwaukee Brewers OF 34
47 Greg Blosser Boston Red Sox OF 23
42 Dave Henderson Kansas City Royals OF 36
34 Quinn Mack Seattle Mariners OF 29
77 Jack Armstrong Texas Rangers P 30
52 Brian Barnes Cleveland Indians P 28
21 Tom Bolton Baltimore Orioles P 33
39 Duff Brumley Texas Rangers P 24
48 Storm Davis Detroit Tigers P 33
53 Jose DeJesus Kansas City Royals P 30
41 John Dopson California Angels P 31
24 Steve Dreyer Texas Rangers P 25
41 Steve Farr Boston Red Sox P 38
26 Steve Farr Cleveland Indians P 38
46 Gar Finnvold Boston Red Sox P 27
54 Keith Garagozzo Minnesota Twins P 25
26 George Glinatsis Seattle Mariners P 25
54 Goose Gossage Seattle Mariners P 43
36 Bill Gullickson Detroit Tigers P 36
55 Joe Hesketh Boston Red Sox P 36
37 Greg Hibbard Seattle Mariners P 30
49 Teddy Higuera Milwaukee Brewers P 36
41 Milt Hill Seattle Mariners P 29
52 Jay Howell Texas Rangers P 39
47 Bruce Hurst Texas Rangers P 37
25 James Hurst Texas Rangers P 27
47 Miguel Jimenez Oakland Athletics P 25
27 Kurt Knudsen Detroit Tigers P 28
36 Tim Leary Texas Rangers P 36
21 Craig Lefferts California Angels P 37
18 Scott Lewis California Angels P 29
19 Jose Melendez Boston Red Sox P 29
47 Brett Merriman Minnesota Twins P 28
47 Jack Morris Cleveland Indians P 40
52 Edwin Nunez Oakland Athletics P 32
19 Bob Ojeda New York Yankees P 37
47 Ken Patterson California Angels P 30
54 Jeff Reardon New York Yankees P 39
36 Bill Sampen California Angels P 32
36 Jeff Schwarz California Angels P 31
49 Jeff Schwarz Chicago White Sox P 31
35 Dan Smith Texas Rangers P 26
51 Roger Smithberg Oakland Athletics P 29
37 Randy St. Claire Toronto Blue Jays P 34
10 Phil Stidham Detroit Tigers P 26
44 Russ Swan Cleveland Indians P 31
31 Bobby Thigpen Seattle Mariners P 31
34 Matt Turner Cleveland Indians P 28
35 Bob Welch Oakland Athletics P 38
46 Bill Wertz Cleveland Indians P 28
32 Mark Williamson Baltimore Orioles P 35
1994 American League Retirements



Find out which players made their Major League debut in the American League during the 1994 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.