1955 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 1955.

"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

1955

27 Bob Borkowski Brooklyn Dodgers OF 30
8 George Shuba Brooklyn Dodgers OF 31
48 Karl Spooner Brooklyn Dodgers P 24
29 John Andre Chicago Cubs P 33
23 Bubba Church Chicago Cubs P 31
42 Hy Cohen Chicago Cubs P 25
28 Lloyd Merriman Chicago Cubs OF 31
5 Vern Morgan Chicago Cubs 3B 27
43 Harry Perkowski Chicago Cubs P 33
4 Ted Tappe Chicago Cubs OF 25
26 Bob Thorpe Chicago Cubs P 21
46 Fred Baczewski Cincinnati Redlegs P 30
24 Bob Borkowski Cincinnati Redlegs OF 30
26 Joe Brovia Cincinnati Redlegs PH 34
43 Maurice Fisher Cincinnati Redlegs P 25
37 Bob Hooper Cincinnati Redlegs P 34
31 Jerry Lane Cincinnati Redlegs P 30
32 Jim Pearce Cincinnati Redlegs P 30
12 Milt Smith Cincinnati Redlegs 3B 27
49 Corky Valentine Cincinnati Redlegs P 27
30 John Edelman Milwaukee Braves P 20
15 Charlie Gorin Milwaukee Braves P 28
20 Dave Koslo Milwaukee Braves P 36
19 Ben Taylor Milwaukee Braves 1B 31
29 Roberto Vargas Milwaukee Braves P 27
24 Charlie White Milwaukee Braves C 27
34, 41 Al Corwin New York Giants P 29
30 Sid Gordon New York Giants 3B 38
7 Mickey Grasso New York Giants C 36
10 Davey Williams New York Giants 2B 28
38 Floyd Baker Philadelphia Phillies 3B 39
44 Dave Cole Philadelphia Phillies P 25
18 Jim Command Philadelphia Phillies PH 27
26 Bob Greenwood Philadelphia Phillies P 28
34 Thornton Kipper Philadelphia Phillies P 27
3 Peanuts Lowrey Philadelphia Phillies OF 38
5 Mickey Micelotta Philadelphia Phillies SS 27
27 Ron Mrozinski Philadelphia Phillies P 25
25 Gus Niarhos Philadelphia Phillies C 35
10 Danny Schell Philadelphia Phillies PH 28
45 Fred Van Dusen Philadelphia Phillies PH 18
44 Eddie Waitkus Philadelphia Phillies 1B 36
48 Jim Westlake Philadelphia Phillies PH 25
20, 57 Bill Bell Pittsburgh Pirates P 22
31 Roger Bowman Pittsburgh Pirates P 28
4 Sid Gordon Pittsburgh Pirates 3B 38
9 Nick Koback Pittsburgh Pirates C 20
28 Paul Martin Pittsburgh Pirates P 24
14 Felipe Montemayor Pittsburgh Pirates OF 28
16 Tom Saffell Pittsburgh Pirates OF 34
6 Dick Smith Pittsburgh Pirates SS 28
21 Earl Smith Pittsburgh Pirates OF 28
39 Jake Thies Pittsburgh Pirates P 30
28 Ben Wade Pittsburgh Pirates P 33
18 Nelson Burbrink St. Louis Cardinals C 34
11 Harry Elliott St. Louis Cardinals OF 32
31 Al Gettel St. Louis Cardinals P 38
1 Tony Jacobs St. Louis Cardinals P 30
28 John Mackinson St. Louis Cardinals P 32
17 Vic Raschi St. Louis Cardinals P 37
21 Bob Stephenson St. Louis Cardinals SS 27
5 Harry Walker St. Louis Cardinals OF 39
41 Floyd Wooldridge St. Louis Cardinals P 27
1955 National League Retirements



Find out which players made their Major League debut in the National League during the 1955 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.

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.