Baseball Almanac - 1898 National League Retirements

1898 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 1898.

"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
1898

# Name Team Pos Age

n/a Art Ball Baltimore Orioles 3B 23

n/a Arlie Pond Baltimore Orioles P 26

n/a Henry Wilson Baltimore Orioles C 22

n/a Hi Ladd Boston Beaneaters OF 29

n/a Dave Pickett Boston Beaneaters OF 25

n/a Stub Smith Boston Beaneaters SS 25

n/a Mike Griffin Brooklyn Bridegrooms OF 34

n/a Frank Hansford Brooklyn Bridegrooms P 24

n/a Lefty Hopper Brooklyn Bridegrooms P 25

n/a Elmer Horton Brooklyn Bridegrooms P 29

n/a Billy Shindle Brooklyn Bridegrooms 3B 38

n/a Ed Stein Brooklyn Bridegrooms P 29

n/a Butts Wagner Brooklyn Bridegrooms 3B 27

n/a Henry Clarke Chicago Orphans OF 23

n/a Danny Friend Chicago Orphans P 26

n/a Matt Kilroy Chicago Orphans P 32

n/a Walter Thornton Chicago Orphans OF 24

n/a Percy Coleman Cincinnati Reds P 22

n/a Jot Goar Cincinnati Reds P 29

n/a Bug Holliday Cincinnati Reds OF 32

n/a Ed Biecher Cleveland Spiders OF 23

n/a Fred Frank Cleveland Spiders OF 26

n/a George Kelb Cleveland Spiders P 28

n/a Dad Clarke Louisville Colonels P 34

n/a Red Ehret Louisville Colonels P 30

n/a Lou Mahaffey Louisville Colonels P 25

n/a John Richter Louisville Colonels 3B 26

n/a Cooney Snyder Louisville Colonels C 27

n/a Tom Stouch Louisville Colonels 2B 29

n/a Billy Taylor Louisville Colonels 3B uk

n/a Frank Todd Louisville Colonels P 29

n/a Bill Wilson Louisville Colonels C 31

n/a Bill Joyce New York Giants 1B 33

n/a Joe Regan New York Giants OF 26

n/a Walt Wilmot New York Giants OF 35

n/a Bob Becker Philadelphia Phillies P 23

n/a Jack Boyle Philadelphia Phillies 1B 33

n/a Newt Fisher Philadelphia Phillies C 27

n/a Billy Nash Philadelphia Phillies 3B 33

n/a George Stallings Philadelphia Phillies PH 31

n/a Bill Eagan Pittsburgh Pirates 2B 29

n/a Bill Grey Pittsburgh Pirates 3B 28

n/a Charlie Hastings Pittsburgh Pirates P 28

n/a Hi Ladd Pittsburgh Pirates PH 29

n/a Lou Bierbauer St. Louis Browns 2B 33

n/a John Callahan St. Louis Browns P uk

n/a Jack Crooks St. Louis Browns 2B 33

n/a Pete Daniels St. Louis Browns P 35

n/a Jim Donnelly St. Louis Browns 3B 33

n/a Duke Esper St. Louis Browns P 30

n/a Joe Gannon St. Louis Browns P 22

n/a George Gillpatrick St. Louis Browns P 24

n/a Tom Kinslow St. Louis Browns C 33

n/a Mike Mahoney St. Louis Browns 1B 25

n/a Germany Smith St. Louis Browns SS 36

n/a Tom Smith St. Louis Browns P 27

n/a Tuck Turner St. Louis Browns OF 26

n/a Doc Amole Washington Senators P 20

n/a Tom Brown Washington Senators OF 38

n/a Bill Eagle Washington Senators OF 21

n/a Jim Field Washington Senators 1B 36

n/a Tom Kinslow Washington Senators C 33

n/a Bob McHale Washington Senators OF 27

n/a Mart McQuaid Washington Senators OF 37

n/a Cy Swaim Washington Senators P 25

n/a Butts Wagner Washington Senators 3B 27

n/a Charlie Weber Washington Senators P 30

# Name Team Pos Age

1898 National League Retirements

Find out which players made their Major League debut in the National League during the 1898 season as this group of players bid farewell to their field's of dreams.

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.

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.

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