1934 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 1934.

"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

1934

9 Gordie Hinkle Boston Red Sox C 30
25 Joe Judge Boston Red Sox 1B 41
8 Red Kellett Boston Red Sox SS 25
- Spike Merena Boston Red Sox P 25
3 Ed Morgan Boston Red Sox 1B 31
21 Freddie Muller Boston Red Sox 2B 27
14 Joe Mulligan Boston Red Sox P 21
17 Herb Pennock Boston Red Sox P 41
23 Dick Porter Boston Red Sox OF 33
47 Milt Bocek Chicago White Sox OF 22
14 Bob Boken Chicago White Sox 2B 27
- George Caithamer Chicago White Sox C 24
12 Joe Chamberlain Chicago White Sox SS 25
- Dutch Fehring Chicago White Sox C 23
22, 48 Phil Gallivan Chicago White Sox P 28
23 Milt Gaston Chicago White Sox P 39
17 Harry Kinzy Chicago White Sox P 24
19 Hugo Klaerner Chicago White Sox P 26
36 Mark Mauldin Chicago White Sox 3B 20
8 Johnny Pasek Chicago White Sox C 29
24, 28 John Pomorski Chicago White Sox P 29
49 Muddy Ruel Chicago White Sox C 39
9 Evar Swanson Chicago White Sox OF 32
36 Frenchy Uhalt Chicago White Sox OF 25
34 Charlie Uhlir Chicago White Sox OF 22
15 Sarge Connally Cleveland Indians P 36
35 Dutch Holland Cleveland Indians OF 31
26 Eddie Moore Cleveland Indians 2B 36
- Bill Perrin Cleveland Indians P 24
2 Dick Porter Cleveland Indians OF 33
29 Sam Rice Cleveland Indians OF 45
19 Steve Larkin Detroit Tigers P 24
31 Cy Perkins Detroit Tigers PH 39
19 Icehouse Wilson Detroit Tigers PH 22
24, 33 Charlie Devens New York Yankees P 25
20 Burleigh Grimes New York Yankees P 41
20 Floyd Newkirk New York Yankees P 26
20 Harry Smythe New York Yankees P 30
15 Mort Flohr Philadelphia Athletics P 23
16 Bob Kline Philadelphia Athletics P 25
19 Ed Lagger Philadelphia Athletics P 22
15 Tim McKeithan Philadelphia Athletics P 28
10 Jerry McQuaig Philadelphia Athletics OF 23
16 Roy Vaughn Philadelphia Athletics P 23
14 Earl Clark St. Louis Browns OF 27
27 Grover Hartley St. Louis Browns C 46
20 Bill McAfee St. Louis Browns P 27
26 Charley O'Leary St. Louis Browns PH 52
- Art Scharein St. Louis Browns PH 29
19 Ed Wells St. Louis Browns P 34
29 Orville Armbrust Washington Senators P 27
10 Allen Benson Washington Senators P 30
25 Bob Boken Washington Senators 3B 27
22 Reese Diggs Washington Senators P 19
22 Gus Dugas Washington Senators OF 28
- Marc Filley Washington Senators P 23
24 Dave Harris Washington Senators OF 34
23 John Kerr Washington Senators 3B 36
20 Bob Kline Washington Senators P 25
26 Alex McColl Washington Senators P 41
30 John Milligan Washington Senators P 31
19, 22 Pete Susko Washington Senators 1B 30
1934 American League Retirements



Find out which players made their Major League debut in the American League during the 1934 season as this group of players bid farewell to their field's of dreams.

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.

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.