1938 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 1938.

"You are George Brett and all the cheering has stopped. The music is muted, the hour is late, and they will be taking the banners down and emptying your locker any minute now. As the late Jimmy Cannon would say it, 'All your bats are broken.'" - Broadcaster Jim Murray
 

American League Retirements

1938

15 Al Baker Boston Red Sox P 33
11 Bill Harris Boston Red Sox P 38
19 Bill Humphrey Boston Red Sox P 27
27 Dick Midkiff Boston Red Sox P 24
12 Ted Olson Boston Red Sox P 26
15 Lee Rogers Boston Red Sox P 25
17 Sugar Cain Chicago White Sox P 32
18 Merv Connors Chicago White Sox 1B 25
6 Gene Ford Chicago White Sox P 26
26, 45 Frank Gabler Chicago White Sox P 27
48 George Gick Chicago White Sox P 23
28 Jesse Landrum Chicago White Sox 2B 26
45 Joe Martin Chicago White Sox PR 27
17 George Meyer Chicago White Sox 2B 29
25 Monty Stratton Chicago White Sox P 27
32 Tommy Irwin Cleveland Indians SS 26
2 John Kroner Cleveland Indians 2B 30
35 Lloyd Russell Cleveland Indians PR 26
- Charley Suche Cleveland Indians P 23
35 Woody Davis Detroit Tigers P 26
25 Chet Morgan Detroit Tigers OF 28
27 Tony Piet Detroit Tigers 3B 32
34 Joe Rogalski Detroit Tigers P 26
24 Ivy Andrews New York Yankees P 32
33 Lee Stine New York Yankees P 25
25 Joe Vance New York Yankees P 33
- Irv Bartling Philadelphia Athletics SS 24
29 Charlie Berry Philadelphia Athletics C 36
10 Paul Easterling Philadelphia Athletics OF 33
30 Mule Haas Philadelphia Athletics OF 35
5 Gene Hasson Philadelphia Athletics 1B 23
25, 30 Ace Parker Philadelphia Athletics SS 27
7 Stan Sperry Philadelphia Athletics 2B 25
21 Al Williams Philadelphia Athletics P 25
8 Ethan Allen St. Louis Browns OF 35
9 Tommy Heath St. Louis Browns C 25
20 Glenn Liebhardt St. Louis Browns P 28
22 Ed Linke St. Louis Browns P 27
19 Les Tietje St. Louis Browns P 28
20 Goose Goslin Washington Senators OF 38
33 Joe Kohlman Washington Senators P 26
19 Bill Phebus Washington Senators P 29
6 John Stone Washington Senators OF 33
1938 American League Retirements



Find out which players made their Major League debut in the American League during the 1938 season as this group of players bid farewell to their field's of dreams.

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.

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).