2006 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 2006.

"I'll never make the mistake of being seventy (70) again." - Casey Stengel comment made after being told to quit following the 1960 World Series
 

American League Retirements

2006

28 Eric DuBose Baltimore Orioles P 31
50 John Halama Baltimore Orioles P 35
18 Javy Lopez Baltimore Orioles C 36
57 Julio Manon Baltimore Orioles P 33
32 Luis Matos Baltimore Orioles OF 28
43 Sandy Rleal Baltimore Orioles P 26
50 Eddy Rodriguez Baltimore Orioles P 25
16 Ed Rogers Baltimore Orioles OF 28
18 Chris Widger Baltimore Orioles C 36
59 Abe Alvarez Boston Red Sox P 24
30 Matt Clement Boston Red Sox P 32
43 Mike Holtz Boston Red Sox P 34
40 Ken Huckaby Boston Red Sox C 36
39 Kevin Jarvis Boston Red Sox P 37
23 Javy Lopez Boston Red Sox C 36
46 Jermaine Van Buren Boston Red Sox P 26
32 Dustin Hermanson Chicago White Sox P 34
65 Agustin Montero Chicago White Sox P 29
43 Jeff Nelson Chicago White Sox P 40
18 Cliff Politte Chicago White Sox P 33
50 Sean Tracey Chicago White Sox P 26
36 Chris Widger Chicago White Sox C 36
32 Danny Graves Cleveland Indians P 33
28 Todd Hollandsworth Cleveland Indians OF 34
13 Tim Laker Cleveland Indians C 37
12 Lou Merloni Cleveland Indians 2B 36
33 Eduardo Perez Cleveland Indians 1B 37
47 Scott Sauerbeck Cleveland Indians P 35
44 Brian Sikorski Cleveland Indians P 32
45 Alexis Gomez Detroit Tigers OF 28
19 Kevin Hooper Detroit Tigers 2B 30
13 Vance Wilson Detroit Tigers C 34
39 Steve Andrade Kansas City Royals P 29
58 Adam Bernero Kansas City Royals P 30
36 Seth Etherton Kansas City Royals P 30
45 Aaron Guiel Kansas City Royals OF 34
22 Joe Mays Kansas City Royals P 31
44 Kerry Robinson Kansas City Royals OF 33
36, 63 Steve Stemle Kansas City Royals P 30
13 Edgardo Alfonzo Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim 3B 33
19 Curtis Pride Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim OF 38
15 Tim Salmon Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim OF 38
59 Esteban Yan Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim P 31
15 Phil Nevin Minnesota Twins 1B 36
22 Brad Radke Minnesota Twins P 34
21 Ruben Sierra Minnesota Twins DH 41
19 Mike Smith Minnesota Twins P 29
19 Bubba Crosby New York Yankees OF 30
46 Scott Erickson New York Yankees P 39
46 Aaron Guiel New York Yankees OF 34
30 Cory Lidle New York Yankees P 35
26 Terrence Long New York Yankees OF 31
27 Kevin Reese New York Yankees OF 29
31 Aaron Small New York Yankees P 35
51 Bernie Williams New York Yankees OF 38
38 Kris Wilson New York Yankees P 30
5 Jeremy Brown Oakland Athletics C 27
12 Doug Clark Oakland Athletics OF 31
51 Brad Halsey Oakland Athletics P 26
32 Steve Karsay Oakland Athletics P 35
8 Mark Kiger Oakland Athletics 2B 27
4 Antonio Perez Oakland Athletics SS 27
52 Matt Roney Oakland Athletics P 27
36, 11 Scott Sauerbeck Oakland Athletics P 35
61 Jason Windsor Oakland Athletics P 24
64 Travis Chick Seattle Mariners P 22
8 Carl Everett Seattle Mariners DH 35
53 Emiliano Fruto Seattle Mariners P 22
58 Jeff Harris Seattle Mariners P 32
15 Matt Lawton Seattle Mariners OF 35
37 Clint Nageotte Seattle Mariners P 26
33 Eduardo Perez Seattle Mariners DH 37
23 Roberto Petagine Seattle Mariners 1B 35
39 Jason Childers Tampa Bay Devil Rays P 32
47 Scott Dunn Tampa Bay Devil Rays P 29
38 Travis Harper Tampa Bay Devil Rays P 31
43 Chad Harville Tampa Bay Devil Rays P 30
27 Damon Hollins Tampa Bay Devil Rays OF 32
16 Travis Lee Tampa Bay Devil Rays 1B 32
46 Brian Meadows Tampa Bay Devil Rays P 31
33 Dan Miceli Tampa Bay Devil Rays P 36
62, 10 Luis Ordaz Tampa Bay Devil Rays SS 31
24 Kevin Witt Tampa Bay Devil Rays 1B 31
24 Adrian Brown Texas Rangers OF 33
16 Adam Hyzdu Texas Rangers OF 35
2 Drew Meyer Texas Rangers 2B 25
25 Phil Nevin Texas Rangers DH 36
49 Miguel Ojeda Texas Rangers C 32
2 Eric Young Texas Rangers 2B 40
13 Edgardo Alfonzo Toronto Blue Jays 2B 33
23 John Hattig Toronto Blue Jays 3B 27
21 Chad Mottola Toronto Blue Jays OF 35
50 Davis Romero Toronto Blue Jays P 24
41 Pete Walker Toronto Blue Jays P 38
2006 American League Retirements



Find out which players made their Major League debut in the American League during the 2006 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.

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.