1923 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 1923.

"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

1923

n/a Tony Boeckel Boston Braves 3B 31
n/a Jocko Conlon Boston Braves 2B 26
n/a Bob Emmerich Boston Braves OF 26
n/a Snake Henry Boston Braves PH 28
n/a Larry Kopf Boston Braves SS 33
n/a Frank Miller Boston Braves P 38
n/a Turner Barber Brooklyn Robins OF 30
n/a Harry Harper Brooklyn Robins P 29
n/a Bill McCarren Brooklyn Robins 3B 28
n/a Dutch Schliebner Brooklyn Robins 1B 33
n/a Harry Shriver Brooklyn Robins P 27
n/a George Smith Brooklyn Robins P 32
n/a Nick Dumovich Chicago Cubs P 22
n/a Tony Murray Chicago Cubs OF 20
n/a Pete Turgeon Chicago Cubs SS 27
n/a George Abrams Cincinnati Reds P 24
n/a Haddie Gill Cincinnati Reds P 25
n/a Cactus Keck Cincinnati Reds P 25
n/a Karl Schnell Cincinnati Reds P 24
n/a Clint Blume New York Giants P 25
n/a Mose Solomon New York Giants OF 23
n/a Petie Behan Philadelphia Phillies P 36
n/a Joe Bennett Philadelphia Phillies 3B 23
n/a Tod Dennehey Philadelphia Phillies OF 25
n/a Art Gardiner Philadelphia Phillies P 24
n/a Jim Grant Philadelphia Phillies P 29
n/a Ralph Head Philadelphia Phillies P 30
n/a Broadway Jones Philadelphia Phillies P 25
n/a Carlton Lord Philadelphia Phillies 3B 24
n/a Red Miller Philadelphia Phillies P 27
n/a Dink O'Brien Philadelphia Phillies C 29
n/a Dixie Parker Philadelphia Phillies C 29
n/a Pat Ragan Philadelphia Phillies P 38
n/a Goldie Rapp Philadelphia Phillies 3B 32
n/a Jesse Winters Philadelphia Phillies P 30
n/a Jim Bagby Pittsburgh Pirates P 34
n/a Earl Kunz Pittsburgh Pirates P 25
n/a Frank Luce Pittsburgh Pirates OF 27
n/a Jim Mattox Pittsburgh Pirates C 27
n/a Reb Russell Pittsburgh Pirates OF 35
n/a George Kopshaw St. Louis Cardinals C 28
n/a Bill Pertica St. Louis Cardinals P 25
n/a Epp Sell St. Louis Cardinals P 27
n/a Burt Shotton St. Louis Cardinals PR 39
n/a Tige Stone St. Louis Cardinals OF 22
n/a Fred Toney St. Louis Cardinals P 35
n/a Speed Walker St. Louis Cardinals 1B 26
n/a Fred Wigington St. Louis Cardinals P 26
1923 National League Retirements



Find out which players made their Major League debut in the National League during the 1923 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.

Stan Musial ended his Major League career on September 29, 1963. His final hit was a single during the sixth inning off Jim Maloney which drove in his last RBI (which was Curt Flood).