2004 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 2004.

"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

2004

63 Val Majewski Baltimore Orioles OF 23
49 Sam Narron Texas Rangers P 23
54 Felix Diaz Chicago White Sox P 24
47 Ramon Castro Oakland Athletics 3B 25
34 Nate Cornejo Detroit Tigers P 25
32 Chris George Kansas City Royals P 25
31 Byron Gettis Kansas City Royals OF 25
16 Tim Raines, Jr. Baltimore Orioles OF 25
59 Eduardo Villacis Kansas City Royals P 25
29 Kurt Ainsworth Baltimore Orioles P 26
31 Cesar Crespo Boston Red Sox SS 26
17 Eric Crozier Toronto Blue Jays DH 26
56 Rosman Garcia Texas Rangers P 26
43 Dicky Gonzalez Tampa Bay Devil Rays P 26
52 Matt Hensley Anaheim Angels P 26
37 Justin Huisman Kansas City Royals P 26
60 Sam Marsonek New York Yankees P 26
67 Anastacio Martinez Boston Red Sox P 26
59 Adam Peterson Toronto Blue Jays P 26
53 Phil Seibel Boston Red Sox P 26
49 Ryan Snare Texas Rangers P 26
48 Josh Stewart Chicago White Sox P 26
24 Rich Thompson Kansas City Royals OF 26
3 Mike Tonis Kansas City Royals C 26
65 Dusty Bergman Anaheim Angels P 27
51 Nick Bierbrodt Texas Rangers P 27
57 Kyle Denney Cleveland Indians P 27
33 Chad Hermansen Toronto Blue Jays OF 27
46 Mark Malaska Boston Red Sox P 27
24 Ruben Mateo Kansas City Royals OF 27
10 Damian Rolls Tampa Bay Devil Rays OF 27
54 Aaron Taylor Seattle Mariners P 27
36 Danny Wright Chicago White Sox P 27
52 Jamie Brown Boston Red Sox P 28
12, 31 Ben Davis Chicago White Sox C 28
13 Ben Davis Seattle Mariners C 28
36 Bob File Toronto Blue Jays P 28
48 Kevin Frederick Toronto Blue Jays P 28
23 Jason Kershner Toronto Blue Jays P 28
35 Gary Knotts Detroit Tigers P 28
14 Jose Leon Baltimore Orioles 1B 28
32 Damian Moss Tampa Bay Devil Rays P 28
38 Abraham Nunez Kansas City Royals OF 28
18 Simon Pond Toronto Blue Jays OF 28
17 Alex Prieto Minnesota Twins 2B 28
53 Jeriome Robertson Cleveland Indians P 28
56 Jimmy Anderson Boston Red Sox P 29
31 Jeff D'Amico Cleveland Indians P 29
47 Karim Garcia Baltimore Orioles OF 29
33 Bucky Jacobsen Seattle Mariners 1B 29
49 Jake Robbins Cleveland Indians P 29
50 Jimmy Serrano Kansas City Royals P 29
37 Earl Snyder Boston Red Sox 3B 29
55 Scott Stewart Cleveland Indians P 29
24 Brandon Berger Kansas City Royals OF 30
36 Mickey Callaway Texas Rangers P 30
19 Jason Conti Texas Rangers OF 30
27 Jack Cressend Cleveland Indians P 30
32 Kelly Dransfeldt Chicago White Sox SS 30
20 Bobby Estalella Toronto Blue Jays C 30
20 Brad Fullmer Texas Rangers DH 30
1 Wilton Guerrero Kansas City Royals 2B 30
44 Billy Koch Chicago White Sox P 30
51 David Maurer Toronto Blue Jays P 30
45 Raul Gonzalez Cleveland Indians OF 31
36 Jose Jimenez Cleveland Indians P 31
7 Mendy Lopez Kansas City Royals 2B 31
30 Mickey Lopez Seattle Mariners 2B 31
72 Robert Machado Baltimore Orioles C 31
3 Pokey Reese Boston Red Sox SS 31
18 Homer Bush New York Yankees 2B 32
49 Darwin Cubillan Baltimore Orioles P 32
47 David Lee Cleveland Indians P 32
31 Mark Little Cleveland Indians OF 32
10 Adam Riggs Anaheim Angels OF 32
58 Joey Dawley Cleveland Indians P 33
36 Bobby Jones Boston Red Sox P 33
13 Billy McMillon Oakland Athletics OF 33
57 Lou Pote Cleveland Indians P 33
51 Carlos Pulido Minnesota Twins P 33
31 Todd Ritchie Tampa Bay Devil Rays P 33
71 Joe Roa Minnesota Twins P 33
2 Dave Berg Toronto Blue Jays OF 34
5 Andy Fox Texas Rangers 2B 34
58 Sandy Martinez Boston Red Sox C 34
2 Sandy Martinez Cleveland Indians C 34
17 Danny Patterson Detroit Tigers P 34
47 Scott Sullivan Kansas City Royals P 34
26 Brook Fordyce Tampa Bay Devil Rays C 35
16 Ricky Gutierrez Boston Red Sox 2B 35
18 Shane Halter Anaheim Angels 3B 35
46 Donovan Osborne New York Yankees P 35
35 Herbert Perry Texas Rangers DH 35
36 Ernie Young Cleveland Indians DH 35
41 Pat Hentgen Toronto Blue Jays P 36
10 Fernando Vina Detroit Tigers 2B 36
34 Paul Abbott Tampa Bay Devil Rays P 37
12 Roberto Alomar Chicago White Sox 2B 37
55 Kevin Appier Kansas City Royals P 37
32 Eric Karros Oakland Athletics 1B 37
30 Curtis Leskanic Boston Red Sox P 37
33 Curtis Leskanic Kansas City Royals P 37
23 David Segui Baltimore Orioles DH 38
25 Ellis Burks Boston Red Sox DH 40
38 Mike Jackson Chicago White Sox P 40
2 Mark McLemore Oakland Athletics 2B 40
29 Fred McGriff Tampa Bay Devil Rays DH 41
11 Edgar Martinez Seattle Mariners DH 42
43, 20 Andres Galarraga Anaheim Angels DH 43
2004 American League Retirements



Find out which players made their Major League debut in the American League during the 2004 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.