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.

"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

2001

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

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.

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.