2001 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 2001.

"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
 

American League Retirements

2001

45 Leslie Brea Baltimore Orioles P 23
63 Paxton Crawford Boston Red Sox P 24
33 Steve Green Anaheim Angels P 24
59 Ryan Kohlmeier Baltimore Orioles P 24
55 Tony Cogan Kansas City Royals P 25
60 Brett Jodie New York Yankees P 25
49, 71 Pedro Santana Detroit Tigers 2B 25
40 John Barnes Minnesota Twins OF 26
13 Michael Coleman New York Yankees OF 26
50 Mike Judd Tampa Bay Devil Rays P 26
58 Mike Judd Texas Rangers P 26
43 Christian Parker New York Yankees P 26
52 Brian Rose Tampa Bay Devil Rays P 26
43 Chris Wakeland Detroit Tigers OF 26
51 Jeff Wallace Tampa Bay Devil Rays P 26
43 Carlos Castillo Boston Red Sox P 27
53 Mike Duvall Minnesota Twins P 27
39 Jose Fernandez Anaheim Angels 1B 27
36 Kris Foster Baltimore Orioles P 27
38 Ryan Glynn Texas Rangers P 27
23 Mario Valdez Oakland Athletics OF 27
61 Ken Vining Chicago White Sox P 27
57 Cliff Brumbaugh Texas Rangers OF 28
55 Todd Erdos Boston Red Sox P 28
52 James Lofton Boston Red Sox SS 28
16 Felix Martinez Tampa Bay Devil Rays SS 28
26 Rob Ryan Oakland Athletics OF 28
10 Anthony Sanders Seattle Mariners OF 28
22 Brian Simmons Toronto Blue Jays OF 28
44 J.D. Smart Texas Rangers P 28
16 Bo Porter Texas Rangers OF 29
59 Jeff Zimmerman Texas Rangers P 29
41 Chris Holt Detroit Tigers P 30
30 Robin Jennings Oakland Athletics OF 30
9 Jason Maxwell Minnesota Twins SS 30
46 Allen McDill Boston Red Sox P 30
36 Mike Hubbard Texas Rangers C 31
35 Tim Crabtree Texas Rangers P 32
39 Bryce Florie Boston Red Sox P 32
52 John Frascatore Toronto Blue Jays P 32
1 Mark Lewis Cleveland Indians 3B 32
48 Robert Perez New York Yankees OF 32
48 Ariel Prieto Tampa Bay Devil Rays P 32
9 Chad Curtis Texas Rangers OF 33
56 Kevin Foster Texas Rangers P 33
50 Pete Schourek Boston Red Sox P 33
4 Scott Sheldon Texas Rangers 3B 33
16 Eddie Taubensee Cleveland Indians C 33
66 Mark Dalesandro Chicago White Sox C 34
3 Mike Lansing Boston Red Sox SS 34
47 Chuck McElroy Baltimore Orioles P 34
37 Rusty Meacham Tampa Bay Devil Rays P 34
36 Scott Radinsky Cleveland Indians P 34
34 Pat Rapp Anaheim Angels P 34
2 F.P. Santangelo Oakland Athletics 2B 34
10 Ed Sprague Seattle Mariners 1B 34
18 Scott Brosius New York Yankees 3B 35
3 Jeff Frye Toronto Blue Jays 2B 35
75 Alan Mills Baltimore Orioles P 35
24 Willie Blair Detroit Tigers P 36
31 Gil Heredia Oakland Athletics P 36
44 Ken Hill Tampa Bay Devil Rays P 36
5 John Jaha Oakland Athletics DH 36
39 Joe Oliver Boston Red Sox C 36
14 Joe Oliver New York Yankees C 36
46 Mark Petkovsek Texas Rangers P 36
19 Jay Buhner Seattle Mariners OF 37
31 Jose Canseco Chicago White Sox DH 37
15 Craig Grebeck Boston Red Sox SS 37
31 Glenallen Hill Anaheim Angels DH 37
19 Dante Bichette Boston Red Sox OF 38
45 Jeff Brantley Texas Rangers P 38
19 Doug Henry Kansas City Royals P 38
28 Stan Javier Seattle Mariners OF 38
17 Bret Saberhagen Boston Red Sox P 38
11, 41 Ken Caminiti Texas Rangers 3B 39
37 Norm Charlton Seattle Mariners P 39
1 Tony Fernandez Toronto Blue Jays DH 39
5 Wally Joyner Anaheim Angels 1B 39
21 Paul O'Neill New York Yankees OF 39
8 Cal Ripken, Jr. Baltimore Orioles 3B 41
3 Harold Baines Chicago White Sox DH 43
2001 American League Retirements



Find out which players made their Major League debut in the American League during the 2001 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.

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.