2001 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 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
 

National League Retirements

2001

40 Cory Aldridge Atlanta Braves OF 22
59 Junior Herndon San Diego Padres P 23
45, 66 Wilfredo Rodriguez Houston Astros P 23
39 Wascar Serrano San Diego Padres P 23
59 Tony McKnight Houston Astros P 24
45 Tony McKnight Pittsburgh Pirates P 24
35 Will Ohman Chicago Cubs P 24
60 Chris Piersoll Cincinnati Reds P 24
49, 64 Scott Sobkowiak Atlanta Braves P 24
49 Benito Baez Florida Marlins P 25
59 Lance Davis Cincinnati Reds P 25
27 Alex Hernandez Pittsburgh Pirates OF 25
65 Chad Hutchinson St. Louis Cardinals P 25
58 Brett Jodie San Diego Padres P 25
9 Elvis Pena Milwaukee Brewers 2B 25
23 Luis Saturria St. Louis Cardinals OF 25
46 Todd Belitz Colorado Rockies P 26
50 Matt Blank Montreal Expos P 26
26 Mike Darr San Diego Padres OF 26
23 Joe Davenport Colorado Rockies P 26
47 Horacio Estrada Colorado Rockies P 26
31 Mike Johnson Montreal Expos P 26
56 Troy Mattes Montreal Expos P 26
28 Bill Ortega St. Louis Cardinals PH 26
1 Santiago Perez San Diego Padres OF 26
26 Kyle Peterson Milwaukee Brewers P 26
31 Paul Rigdon Milwaukee Brewers P 26
23 Brian Rose New York Mets P 26
2 Juan Sosa Arizona Diamondbacks 3B 26
50 Andy Barkett Pittsburgh Pirates OF 27
54 Tim Christman Colorado Rockies P 27
32 Brett Hinchliffe New York Mets P 27
51 Scott MacRae Cincinnati Reds P 27
36 Angel Pena Los Angeles Dodgers C 27
30 Jorge Toca New York Mets 1B 27
15 Julio Zuleta Chicago Cubs 1B 27
39 Justin Atchley Cincinnati Reds P 28
35 Cliff Brumbaugh Colorado Rockies OF 28
56 Rocky Coppinger Milwaukee Brewers P 28
38 Brandon Kolb Milwaukee Brewers P 28
4 Ryan Minor Montreal Expos 3B 28
56 Dante Powell San Francisco Giants OF 28
8 Rob Ryan Arizona Diamondbacks PH 28
18 Jeff Abbott Florida Marlins OF 29
16 Kimera Bartee Colorado Rockies OF 29
29 Stubby Clapp St. Louis Cardinals 2B 29
52 Felipe Crespo Philadelphia Phillies OF 29
52 Felipe Crespo San Francisco Giants 1B 29
50 Geraldo Guzman Arizona Diamondbacks P 29
32 Keith McDonald St. Louis Cardinals C 29
50 Trey Moore Atlanta Braves P 29
58 Frankie Rodriguez Cincinnati Reds P 29
51 Chris Seelbach Atlanta Braves P 29
37 Scott Winchester Cincinnati Reds P 29
43 Bobby Chouinard Colorado Rockies P 30
53 Gus Gandarillas Milwaukee Brewers P 30
26 Robin Jennings Cincinnati Reds OF 30
30 Robin Jennings Colorado Rockies OF 30
43 Felipe Lira Montreal Expos P 30
51 Rich Loiselle Pittsburgh Pirates P 30
29 Chris Peters Montreal Expos P 30
48 Johnny Ruffin Florida Marlins P 30
43 Marc Valdes Atlanta Braves P 30
24 Glen Barker Houston Astros OF 31
9 Damon Buford Chicago Cubs OF 31
36 D.T. Cromer Cincinnati Reds 1B 31
27 Mike Gulan Florida Marlins 3B 31
16 Terry Jones Montreal Expos OF 31
16 Kevin Sefcik Colorado Rockies PH 31
4 Quilvio Veras Atlanta Braves 2B 31
50 Marc Wilkins Pittsburgh Pirates P 31
11 Kurt Abbott Atlanta Braves 2B 32
2 Rico Brogna Atlanta Braves 1B 32
18 Russ Davis San Francisco Giants 3B 32
23 Kevin Jordan Philadelphia Phillies 1B 32
9 Robert Perez Milwaukee Brewers OF 32
45 Chuck Smith Florida Marlins P 32
38 Don Wengert Pittsburgh Pirates P 32
14 Derek Bell Pittsburgh Pirates OF 33
41 Brian Bohanon Colorado Rockies P 33
29 Ricky Bones Florida Marlins P 33
47 Kent Bottenfield Houston Astros P 33
43 Osvaldo Fernandez Cincinnati Reds P 33
44 Phil Hiatt Los Angeles Dodgers 3B 33
15 Randy Knorr Montreal Expos C 33
18 Jalal Leach San Francisco Giants OF 33
2 Pat Meares Pittsburgh Pirates 2B 33
52 Mike Mohler Arizona Diamondbacks P 33
24 James Mouton Milwaukee Brewers OF 33
4 Lyle Mouton Florida Marlins OF 33
29 P.J. Forbes Philadelphia Phillies 2B 34
26 Brian Johnson Los Angeles Dodgers C 34
50 Jesse Levis Milwaukee Brewers C 34
38 Ramon Martinez Pittsburgh Pirates P 34
43 Chuck McElroy San Diego Padres P 34
46 Bobby Munoz Montreal Expos P 34
31 Omar Olivares Pittsburgh Pirates P 34
2 Deion Sanders Cincinnati Reds OF 34
21 Scott Servais Houston Astros C 34
7 John Wehner Pittsburgh Pirates 1B 34
20 Rick Wilkins San Diego Padres C 34
18 Tim Bogar Los Angeles Dodgers 1B 35
7 Jeff Branson Los Angeles Dodgers 2B 35
20 Tony Eusebio Houston Astros C 35
23 Bernard Gilkey Atlanta Braves OF 35
38 Pete Harnisch Cincinnati Reds P 35
30 Gregg Olson Los Angeles Dodgers P 35
26 Bob Scanlan Montreal Expos P 35
41 Jeff Shaw Los Angeles Dodgers P 35
36 Joe Slusarski Atlanta Braves P 35
58 Joe Slusarski Houston Astros P 35
28 Bill Spiers Houston Astros PH 35
29 Rob Ducey Montreal Expos OF 37
2 Rob Ducey Philadelphia Phillies OF 37
18 Darryl Hamilton New York Mets OF 37
14 Charlie Hayes Houston Astros 3B 37
14 Dave Martinez Atlanta Braves OF 37
25 Turner Ward Philadelphia Phillies PH 37
25 Mark McGwire St. Louis Cardinals 1B 38
46 Jeff Tabaka St. Louis Cardinals P 38
36 Kevin Tapani Chicago Cubs P 38
40 Bobby Witt Arizona Diamondbacks P 38
24 Bobby Bonilla St. Louis Cardinals 1B 39
11 Ken Caminiti Atlanta Braves 1B 39
7 Tony Fernandez Milwaukee Brewers 3B 39
23 Mark Leiter Milwaukee Brewers P 39
12 Dave Magadan San Diego Padres 3B 39
50 Joe Strong Florida Marlins P 39
22 Devon White Milwaukee Brewers OF 39
22 Eric Davis San Francisco Giants OF 40
26 Mark Gardner San Francisco Giants P 40
36 Billy Taylor Pittsburgh Pirates P 40
19 Tony Gwynn San Diego Padres OF 42
2001 National League Retirements



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

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.