2002 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 2002.

"You start chasing a ball and your brain immediately commands your body to: Run forward. Bend. Scoop up the ball. Peg it to the infield. Then your body says, 'Who, me?'" - Retirement comment made by Joe DiMaggio
 

National League Retirements

2002

18 Chris Donnels Arizona Diamondbacks 3B 37
36 Mike Morgan Arizona Diamondbacks P 43
27 Armando Reynoso Arizona Diamondbacks P 37
30 Todd Stottlemyre Arizona Diamondbacks P 38
22 Greg Swindell Arizona Diamondbacks P 38
50 Steve Torrealba Atlanta Braves C 25
24 Roosevelt Brown Chicago Cubs OF 27
37 Scott Chiasson Chicago Cubs P 25
16 Delino DeShields Chicago Cubs OF 34
55 Courtney Duncan Chicago Cubs P 28
12 Angel Echevarria Chicago Cubs OF 32
15 Mario Encarnacion Chicago Cubs OF 27
6 Darren Lewis Chicago Cubs OF 35
58 Mike Mahoney Chicago Cubs C 30
15 Kevin Orie Chicago Cubs 3B 30
39 Steve Smyth Chicago Cubs P 24
49 Luis Pineda Cincinnati Reds P 28
27 Jose Rijo Cincinnati Reds P 38
39 Jose Silva Cincinnati Reds P 29
50 Benny Agbayani Colorado Rockies OF 31
48 Mike James Colorado Rockies P 35
26 Walt McKeel Colorado Rockies C 31
47 Chris Nichting Colorado Rockies P 37
12 Jose Ortiz Colorado Rockies 2B 25
62 Hansel Izquierdo Florida Marlins P 26
45, 46 Oswaldo Mairena Florida Marlins P 27
2 Marty Malloy Florida Marlins 2B 31
32, 30 Tim Raines Florida Marlins OF 43
53 Nate Teut Florida Marlins P 27
39 T.J. Mathews Houston Astros P 33
23 Dave Mlicki Houston Astros P 34
35 Hipolito Pichardo Houston Astros P 33
43 Alan Zinter Houston Astros C 35
58 Kevin Beirne Los Angeles Dodgers P 29
56 Dennis Springer Los Angeles Dodgers P 38
54 Jeff Williams Los Angeles Dodgers P 30
55 Israel Alcantara Milwaukee Brewers OF 30
47 Mike Buddie Milwaukee Brewers P 32
49 Jose Cabrera Milwaukee Brewers P 31
43 Matt Childers Milwaukee Brewers P 24
81 Ben Diggins Milwaukee Brewers P 23
6 Jorge Fabregas Milwaukee Brewers C 33
26 Marcus Jensen Milwaukee Brewers C 30
23 Andrew Lorraine Milwaukee Brewers P 30
59 Brian Mallette Milwaukee Brewers P 28
32 Nick Neugebauer Milwaukee Brewers P 22
95 Takahito Nomura Milwaukee Brewers P 34
23 Alex Ochoa Milwaukee Brewers OF 31
30 Jimmy Osting Milwaukee Brewers P 26
13 Dave Pember Milwaukee Brewers P 25
33 Jim Rushford Milwaukee Brewers OF 29
50 Everett Stull Milwaukee Brewers P 31
38 Ryan Thompson Milwaukee Brewers OF 35
40 Henry Rodriguez Montreal Expos OF 35
9 Lee Stevens Montreal Expos 1B 35
38 Ed Vosberg Montreal Expos P 41
55 Masato Yoshii Montreal Expos P 38
23 McKay Christensen New York Mets OF 27
5 Mark Johnson New York Mets 1B 35
17 Satoru Komiyama New York Mets P 37
40 Tony Tarasco New York Mets OF 32
4 John Valentin New York Mets 3B 36
48 David Coggin Philadelphia Phillies P 26
15 Dave Hollins Philadelphia Phillies 3B 37
50 Doug Nickle Philadelphia Phillies P 28
6 Mike Benjamin Pittsburgh Pirates 2B 37
29 Javier Cardona San Diego Padres C 27
49 Eric Cyr San Diego Padres P 24
41 Tom Davey San Diego Padres P 29
29 Kory DeHaan San Diego Padres OF 26
40 Matt DeWitt San Diego Padres P 25
28 Bobby Jones San Diego Padres P 33
25 Tom Lampkin San Diego Padres C 39
47 David Lundquist San Diego Padres P 29
43 Juan Moreno San Diego Padres P 28
43 Doug Nickle San Diego Padres P 28
37 Jose Nunez San Diego Padres P 24
24 Alex Pelaez San Diego Padres 1B 27
43 Kevin Pickford San Diego Padres P 28
58 J.J. Trujillo San Diego Padres P 27
23 Shawon Dunston San Francisco Giants OF 40
31 Robb Nen San Francisco Giants P 33
40 Andy Benes St. Louis Cardinals P 35
28 Mike Coolbaugh St. Louis Cardinals 3B 30
16 Ivan Cruz St. Louis Cardinals 1B 35
52 Matt Duff St. Louis Cardinals P 28
31 Chuck Finley St. Louis Cardinals P 40
58 Kevin Joseph St. Louis Cardinals P 26
57 Darryl Kile St. Louis Cardinals P 34
58 Jose Rodriguez St. Louis Cardinals P 28
52 Nerio Rodriguez St. Louis Cardinals P 32
52 Bud Smith St. Louis Cardinals P 23
36 Gene Stechschulte St. Louis Cardinals P 29
2002 National League Retirements



Find out which players made their Major League debut in the National League during the 2002 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 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.