2003 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 2003.

"I want to hit a routine grounder to second and run all out to first base, then get thrown out by a half step. I want to leave an example to the young guys that that's how you play the game, all out." - George Brett
 

American League Retirements

2003

10 Benji Gil Anaheim Angels 2B 31
3 Tom Gregorio Anaheim Angels C 27
46 Gary Johnson Anaheim Angels OF 28
52 Bart Miadich Anaheim Angels P 28
8 Eric Owens Anaheim Angels OF 33
18 Rich Rodriguez Anaheim Angels P 41
64, 45 Barry Wesson Anaheim Angels OF 27
40 Marty Cordova Baltimore Orioles DH 34
14 Omar Daal Baltimore Orioles P 32
53 Carlos Mendez Baltimore Orioles 1B 29
12 Jose Morban Baltimore Orioles SS 24
57 Pedro Swann Baltimore Orioles OF 33
59 Hector Almonte Boston Red Sox P 28
19 John Burkett Boston Red Sox P 39
25 Jeremy Giambi Boston Red Sox DH 29
44 Bill Haselman Boston Red Sox C 38
31 Robert Person Boston Red Sox P 34
30 Ryan Rupe Boston Red Sox P 29
51 Kevin Tolar Boston Red Sox P 33
47 Steve Woodard Boston Red Sox P 29
50 Jose Paniagua Chicago White Sox P 30
41 Mike Porzio Chicago White Sox P 31
28 Armando Rios Chicago White Sox OF 32
46 Jason Bere Cleveland Indians P 33
49 Dave Elder Cleveland Indians P 28
59 Alex Herrera Cleveland Indians P 27
62 Greg LaRocca Cleveland Indians 3B 31
59 Jason Phillips Cleveland Indians P 30
34 Jerrod Riggan Cleveland Indians P 30
53 Carl Sadler Cleveland Indians P 27
56 Angel Santos Cleveland Indians 2B 24
36 Bill Selby Cleveland Indians SS 33
33 Steve Avery Detroit Tigers P 34
36 Eric Eckenstahler Detroit Tigers P 27
43 Gene Kingsale Detroit Tigers OF 27
49 Danny Klassen Detroit Tigers 3B 28
45 Chris Mears Detroit Tigers P 26
24 Warren Morris Detroit Tigers 2B 30
7 Dean Palmer Detroit Tigers DH 35
21 Craig Paquette Detroit Tigers 1B 35
30 Ben Petrick Detroit Tigers OF 27
53 Brian Schmack Detroit Tigers P 30
8 Matt Walbeck Detroit Tigers C 34
33 Morgan Burkhart Kansas City Royals 1B 32
1 Gookie Dawkins Kansas City Royals 2B 25
58 Rick DeHart Kansas City Royals P 34
3 Carlos Febles Kansas City Royals 2B 28
50 Jason Gilfillan Kansas City Royals P 27
52 Jeremy Hill Kansas City Royals P 26
25 Rontrez Johnson Kansas City Royals OF 27
37 Graeme Lloyd Kansas City Royals P 37
31 Albie Lopez Kansas City Royals P 32
39 Sean Lowe Kansas City Royals P 33
23 Julius Matos Kansas City Royals 3B 29
57 Scott Mullen Kansas City Royals P 29
19, 27 Jarrod Patterson Kansas City Royals 3B 30
11 Tom Prince Kansas City Royals C 39
46 Brad Voyles Kansas City Royals P 27
52 Tony Fiore Minnesota Twins P 32
38 Adam Johnson Minnesota Twins P 24
50 Jesse Orosco Minnesota Twins P 47
12 Tom Prince Minnesota Twins C 39
31 Rick Reed Minnesota Twins P 39
58 Todd Sears Minnesota Twins 1B 28
57 Juan Acevedo New York Yankees P 34
60, 11 Erick Almonte New York Yankees SS 26
38 Drew Henson New York Yankees 3B 24
28 Chris Latham New York Yankees OF 31
47 Jesse Orosco New York Yankees P 47
48 Fernando Seguignol New York Yankees 1B 29
27 Luis Sojo New York Yankees 2B 39
29 Bubba Trammell New York Yankees DH 32
5 Ron Gant Oakland Athletics OF 39
18 Graham Koonce Oakland Athletics 1B 29
8 Adam Piatt Oakland Athletics OF 28
9 Todd Sears San Diego Padres 1B 28
46 Aaron Looper Seattle Mariners P 27
30 Chad Meyers Seattle Mariners OF 28
22 Kazuhiro Sasaki Seattle Mariners P 36
23 Luis Ugueto Seattle Mariners 2B 25
9 Al Martin Tampa Bay Devil Rays DH 36
28, 40 Jim Parque Tampa Bay Devil Rays P 28
39 Steve Parris Tampa Bay Devil Rays P 36
32 Adam Piatt Tampa Bay Devil Rays OF 28
57 Carlos Reyes Tampa Bay Devil Rays P 35
48 John Rocker Tampa Bay Devil Rays P 29
26 Jared Sandberg Tampa Bay Devil Rays 3B 26
22 Terry Shumpert Tampa Bay Devil Rays 2B 37
35 Chris Truby Tampa Bay Devil Rays 3B 30
44 Alan Benes Texas Rangers P 32
16 Ryan Christenson Texas Rangers OF 30
50 Robert Ellis Texas Rangers P 33
57 Reynaldo Garcia Texas Rangers P 26
21 Jason Jones Texas Rangers OF 27
12 Chad Kreuter Texas Rangers C 39
43 Tony Mounce Texas Rangers P 29
40 Mario Ramos Texas Rangers P 26
57 Juan Acevedo Toronto Blue Jays P 34
16 Mike Bordick Toronto Blue Jays SS 38
26 Brian Bowles Toronto Blue Jays P 27
30 Doug Linton Toronto Blue Jays P 39
54 Dan Reichert Toronto Blue Jays P 27
33 Jeff Tam Toronto Blue Jays P 33
35 Corey Thurman Toronto Blue Jays P 25
2003 American League Retirements



Find out which players made their Major League debut in the American League during the 2003 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.