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 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

2006

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

Goose Goslin played for eighteen seasons and averaged one-hundred twenty-seven games played per season. In 1938, during his final at-bat, he twisted his back and was replaced at the plate by a pinch-hitter for the first time in his Major League career.

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.