1999 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 1999.

"I'll never make the mistake of being seventy (70) again." - Casey Stengel comment made after being told to quit following the 1960 World Series
 

National League Retirements

1999

3 Dan Carlson Arizona Diamondbacks P 30
59 Edwin Diaz Arizona Diamondbacks 2B 25
51 Howard Battle Atlanta Braves 3B 28
38 Mike Cather Atlanta Braves P 29
50 Derrin Ebert Atlanta Braves P 23
20 Freddy Garcia Atlanta Braves 1B 27
28 John Hudek Atlanta Braves P 33
11 Pascual Matos Atlanta Braves C 25
1 Otis Nixon Atlanta Braves OF 41
31 Bobby Ayala Chicago Cubs P 30
58 Richie Barker Chicago Cubs P 27
4 Jeff Blauser Chicago Cubs 2B 34
19 Curtis Goodwin Chicago Cubs OF 27
33 Brian McNichol Chicago Cubs P 26
53 Kurt Miller Chicago Cubs P 27
27 Scott Sanders Chicago Cubs P 31
31 Brad Woodall Chicago Cubs P 30
57 Rick Greene Cincinnati Reds P 29
26 John Hudek Cincinnati Reds P 33
27 Jeff Barry Colorado Rockies OF 30
23 John Cangelosi Colorado Rockies OF 37
24 Derrick Gibson Colorado Rockies OF 25
27 Mike Kelly Colorado Rockies OF 29
8 Kirt Manwaring Colorado Rockies C 34
56 Brian McRae Colorado Rockies OF 32
2 Chris Petersen Colorado Rockies 2B 29
29, 31 J.R. Phillips Colorado Rockies OF 30
49 Roberto Ramirez Colorado Rockies P 27
22 Pat Watkins Colorado Rockies OF 27
48 Brent Billingsley Florida Marlins P 25
43, 50 Archie Corbin Florida Marlins P 32
20 Brian Edmondson Florida Marlins P 27
45 Amaury Garcia Florida Marlins 2B 25
9 Guillermo Garcia Florida Marlins C 28
26 Tim Hyers Florida Marlins OF 28
47 Rafael Medina Florida Marlins P 25
24 Kirt Ojala Florida Marlins P 31
1, 2 Alex Diaz Houston Astros OF 31
36 Jack Howell Houston Astros 1B 38
47 Jeff McCurry Houston Astros P 30
48, 94 Jacob Brumfield Los Angeles Dodgers OF 35
36, 56 Robinson Checo Los Angeles Dodgers P 28
30 Brent Cookson Los Angeles Dodgers OF 30
45 Jeff Kubenka Los Angeles Dodgers P 25
51 Mel Rojas Los Angeles Dodgers P 33
54 Chance Sanford Los Angeles Dodgers 2B 27
25 Jim Abbott Milwaukee Brewers P 32
51 Carl Dale Milwaukee Brewers P 27
48 Steve Falteisek Milwaukee Brewers P 28
45 Reggie Harris Milwaukee Brewers P 31
31 Bobby Hughes Milwaukee Brewers C 29
14 Dave Nilsson Milwaukee Brewers C 30
43 Jim Pittsley Milwaukee Brewers P 26
38 Eric Plunk Milwaukee Brewers P 36
36 Bobby Ayala Montreal Expos P 30
21 Shayne Bennett Montreal Expos P 28
37 Darron Cox Montreal Expos C 32
31 Manny Martinez Montreal Expos OF 29
51 Mel Rojas Montreal Expos P 33
34 Chris Stowers Montreal Expos OF 25
46 Jermaine Allensworth New York Mets OF 28
56 Brian McRae New York Mets OF 32
37 Joel Bennett Philadelphia Phillies P 30
49 Billy Brewer Philadelphia Phillies P 32
19 Domingo Cedeno Philadelphia Phillies SS 31
15 David Doster Philadelphia Phillies 2B 29
44 Mike Grace Philadelphia Phillies P 29
50 Joe Grahe Philadelphia Phillies P 32
4 Torey Lovullo Philadelphia Phillies 1B 34
33 Chad Ogea Philadelphia Phillies P 29
51 Ken Ryan Philadelphia Phillies P 31
37 Anthony Shumaker Philadelphia Phillies P 27
68 Jim Dougherty Pittsburgh Pirates P 32
14 Freddy Garcia Pittsburgh Pirates OF 27
57 Greg Hansell Pittsburgh Pirates P 29
11 Dale Sveum Pittsburgh Pirates 3B 36
14 George Arias San Diego Padres 3B 28
1 Carlos Garcia San Diego Padres 3B 32
17 Ed Giovanola San Diego Padres 3B 31
32 Roberto Rivera San Diego Padres P 31
39 Bronswell Patrick San Francisco Giants P 29
54 Mike Busby St. Louis Cardinals P 27
48, 62 Rick Heiserman St. Louis Cardinals P 27
29 David Howard St. Louis Cardinals SS 33
57 Curtis King St. Louis Cardinals P 29
51 Willie McGee St. Louis Cardinals OF 41
50 Clint Sodowsky St. Louis Cardinals P 27
1999 National League Retirements



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

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.

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.