2009 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 2009.

"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
 

National League Retirements

2009

56 Daniel Cabrera Arizona Diamondbacks P 29
31 Tony Clark Arizona Diamondbacks 1B 37
36 Tom Gordon Arizona Diamondbacks P 42
48 Yusmeiro Petit Arizona Diamondbacks P 25
17 Brandon Webb Arizona Diamondbacks P 31
30 Jeff Bennett Atlanta Braves P 29
57 Jorge Campillo Atlanta Braves P 31
20 Greg Norton Atlanta Braves 1B 37
56 Vladimir Nunez Atlanta Braves P 35
48 Neal Cotts Chicago Cubs P 30
44 Chad Fox Chicago Cubs P 39
4 Ryan Freel Chicago Cubs 3B 34
37 Angel Guzman Chicago Cubs P 28
99 So Taguchi Chicago Cubs OF 40
51 Luis Vizcaino Chicago Cubs P 35
60 Kevin Barker Cincinnati Reds 1B 34
62 Justin Lehr Cincinnati Reds P 32
25 David Weathers Cincinnati Reds P 40
49 Adam Eaton Colorado Rockies P 32
41 Alan Embree Colorado Rockies P 40
51 Josh Fogg Colorado Rockies P 33
34, 77 Matt Herges Colorado Rockies P 40
14 Matt Murton Colorado Rockies OF 28
32 Glendon Rusch Colorado Rockies P 35
37 Ryan Speier Colorado Rockies P 30
40 Kiko Calero Florida Marlins P 35
20 Logan Kensing Florida Marlins P 27
30 John Koronka Florida Marlins P 29
60 Carlos Martinez Florida Marlins P 28
41 Brandon Backe Houston Astros P 32
58 Yorman Bazardo Houston Astros P 25
8 Aaron Boone Houston Astros 1B 37
26 Doug Brocail Houston Astros P 43
41 Chris Coste Houston Astros C 37
2 Darin Erstad Houston Astros OF 35
29 Geoff Geary Houston Astros P 33
36 Matt Kata Houston Astros 2B 32
54 Chad Paronto Houston Astros P 34
31 Billy Sadler Houston Astros P 28
31 Jason Smith Houston Astros 2B 32
5 Mark Loretta Los Angeles Dodgers 3B 38
26 Doug Mientkiewicz Los Angeles Dodgers 1B 35
28 Eric Milton Los Angeles Dodgers P 34
29 Jason Schmidt Los Angeles Dodgers P 37
47 Mike Burns Milwaukee Brewers P 31
16 Chris Duffy Milwaukee Brewers OF 30
50 Jorge Julio Milwaukee Brewers P 31
41 Braden Looper Milwaukee Brewers P 35
73 Seth McClung Milwaukee Brewers P 29
20 David Weathers Milwaukee Brewers P 40
9 Marlon Anderson New York Mets PH 36
4 Angel Berroa New York Mets SS 32
29 Emil Brown New York Mets OF 35
21 Carlos Delgado New York Mets 1B 37
47 Casey Fossum New York Mets P 32
29 Andy Green New York Mets 2B 32
26, 6 Ramon Martinez New York Mets SS 37
44 Tim Redding New York Mets P 32
10 Gary Sheffield New York Mets OF 41
56 Jon Switzer New York Mets P 30
23 Paul Bako Philadelphia Phillies C 37
4 Eric Bruntlett Philadelphia Phillies 2B 32
55 Clay Condrey Philadelphia Phillies P 34
27 Chris Coste Philadelphia Phillies C 37
47 Scott Eyre Philadelphia Phillies P 38
45 Pedro Martinez Philadelphia Phillies P 38
33 Andy Tracy Philadelphia Phillies 1B 36
34 Chris Bootcheck Pittsburgh Pirates P 31
38 Craig Hansen Pittsburgh Pirates P 26
18 Craig Monroe Pittsburgh Pirates OF 33
18 Jeff Salazar Pittsburgh Pirates OF 29
5 Ramon Vazquez Pittsburgh Pirates SS 33
30 Tyler Yates Pittsburgh Pirates P 32
8 Chris Burke San Diego Padres SS 30
16 Cliff Floyd San Diego Padres PH 37
24 Brian Giles San Diego Padres OF 39
50 Duaner Sanchez San Diego Padres P 30
35 Rich Aurilia San Francisco Giants 1B 38
51 Randy Johnson San Francisco Giants P 46
16 Chris Duncan St. Louis Cardinals OF 29
3 Khalil Greene St. Louis Cardinals SS 30
30 John Smoltz St. Louis Cardinals P 43
45 Daniel Cabrera Washington Nationals P 29
13 Alex Cintron Washington Nationals 2B 31
26 Logan Kensing Washington Nationals P 27
50 Julian Tavarez Washington Nationals P 37
41 Ron Villone Washington Nationals P 40
2009 National League Retirements



Find out which players made their Major League debut in the National League during the 2009 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.