1999 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 1999.

"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
 

American League Retirements

1999

56 Steve Lomasney Boston Red Sox C 22
57 Juan Pena Boston Red Sox P 22
56 Cleatus Davidson Minnesota Twins 2B 23
34 Jason Dellaero Chicago White Sox SS 23
55 Liu Rodriguez Chicago White Sox 2B 23
61 Jin Ho Cho Boston Red Sox P 24
51 Pat Daneker Chicago White Sox P 24
57 Aaron Scheffer Seattle Mariners P 24
28 Ken Cloude Seattle Mariners P 25
46 Luis Garcia Detroit Tigers SS 25
52 Beiker Graterol Detroit Tigers P 25
37 Corey Lee Texas Rangers P 25
12 Shane Monahan Seattle Mariners OF 25
49 Dan Perkins Minnesota Twins P 25
23 Benj Sampson Minnesota Twins P 25
46 Jordan Zimmerman Seattle Mariners P 25
41 Danny Clyburn Tampa Bay Devil Rays OF 26
34 Jim Pittsley Kansas City Royals P 26
51 Rob Radlosky Minnesota Twins P 26
31 Tony Saunders Tampa Bay Devil Rays P 26
29 Bob Wolcott Boston Red Sox P 26
44 Brian Barber Kansas City Royals P 27
10 Rich Butler Tampa Bay Devil Rays OF 27
26 Rafael Carmona Seattle Mariners P 27
23 Tommy Davis Baltimore Orioles C 27
17 Curtis Goodwin Toronto Blue Jays OF 27
4 Giomar Guevara Seattle Mariners SS 27
2 Jed Hansen Kansas City Royals 2B 27
24 Willis Otanez Baltimore Orioles 3B 27
21 Willis Otanez Toronto Blue Jays 3B 27
57 Gary Rath Minnesota Twins P 27
31 Melvin Bunch Seattle Mariners P 28
39 Creighton Gubanich Boston Red Sox C 28
4 Bret Hemphill Anaheim Angels C 28
58 Tim Kubinski Oakland Athletics P 28
40 Eric Ludwick Toronto Blue Jays P 28
46 Mike Romano Toronto Blue Jays P 28
62 Marino Santana Boston Red Sox P 28
41 Steve Sinclair Seattle Mariners P 28
46 Steve Sinclair Toronto Blue Jays P 28
34 Derek Wallace Kansas City Royals P 28
13 Mike Figga Baltimore Orioles C 29
13 Mike Figga New York Yankees C 29
50 Chad Fonville Boston Red Sox 2B 29
28 Eddie Gaillard Tampa Bay Devil Rays P 29
57 Jeff Juden New York Yankees P 29
33 Matt Luke Anaheim Angels OF 29
34 Marc Pisciotta Kansas City Royals P 29
52 Todd Rizzo Chicago White Sox P 29
58 Will Brunson Detroit Tigers P 30
20 Rob Butler Toronto Blue Jays OF 30
5 Brent Gates Minnesota Twins 3B 30
31 Dan Naulty New York Yankees P 30
26 Domingo Cedeno Seattle Mariners SS 31
27 Butch Henry Seattle Mariners P 31
18 Reggie Jefferson Boston Red Sox DH 31
29 Derrick May Baltimore Orioles OF 31
46 Steve Mintz Anaheim Angels P 31
51 Alvin Morman Kansas City Royals P 31
55 Doug Johns Baltimore Orioles P 32
7 Pat Kelly Toronto Blue Jays 2B 32
20 Patrick Lennon Toronto Blue Jays OF 32
56 Brian McRae Toronto Blue Jays DH 32
44 Mike Oquist Oakland Athletics P 32
15 Jon Shave Texas Rangers SS 32
4 Dave Silvestri Anaheim Angels 3B 32
37 Paul Wagner Cleveland Indians P 32
43 John Hudek Toronto Blue Jays P 33
38, 3 Norberto Martin Toronto Blue Jays 2B 33
51 Mel Rojas Detroit Tigers P 33
16 Mike Simms Texas Rangers 1B 33
12 Tim Spehr Kansas City Royals C 33
2 Rafael Bournigal Seattle Mariners SS 34
37 Steve Decker Anaheim Angels C 34
8 Scott Leius Kansas City Royals 1B 34
72 Jack McDowell Anaheim Angels P 34
6 Steve Scarsone Kansas City Royals SS 34
44 Paul Sorrento Tampa Bay Devil Rays OF 34
12 Reggie Williams Anaheim Angels OF 34
4, 16 Mike Blowers Seattle Mariners 1B 35
2 Jacob Brumfield Toronto Blue Jays OF 35
47 Rich DeLucia Cleveland Indians P 35
7 Jeff King Kansas City Royals 1B 35
39 Terry Mathews Kansas City Royals P 35
15 Mike Macfarlane Oakland Athletics C 36
22 Darrin Jackson Chicago White Sox OF 37
31 Mark Portugal Boston Red Sox P 37
27 Jim Corsi Baltimore Orioles P 38
41 Jim Corsi Boston Red Sox P 38
21 Jeff Montgomery Kansas City Royals P 38
36 Terry Steinbach Minnesota Twins C 38
39 Darryl Strawberry New York Yankees DH 38
45 Paul Assenmacher Cleveland Indians P 39
22 Mark Langston Cleveland Indians P 39
45 Chili Davis New York Yankees DH 40
12 Wade Boggs Tampa Bay Devil Rays 3B 41
6 Tony Phillips Oakland Athletics 2B 41
49 Tom Candiotti Cleveland Indians P 42
49 Tom Candiotti Oakland Athletics P 42
27 Tony Fossas New York Yankees P 42
1999 American League Retirements



Find out which players made their Major League debut in the American League during the 1999 season as this group of players bid farewell to their field's of dreams.

On September 28, 1960, broadcaster Curt Gowdy uttered, "It's got a chance. It's got a chance. And it's gone!" Those words were used to describe the final at-bat of slugger Ted Williams.

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).