1958 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 1958.

"I'll never make the mistake of being seventy (70) again." - Casey Stengel comment made after being told to quit following the 1960 World Series
 

American League Retirements

1958

43 Charlie Beamon Baltimore Orioles P 24
8 Foster Castleman Baltimore Orioles SS 28
20 Bert Hamric Baltimore Orioles PH 31
36 Connie Johnson Baltimore Orioles P 36
6 Eddie Miksis Baltimore Orioles SS 32
40 Chuck Oertel Baltimore Orioles OF 28
19 Lou Sleater Baltimore Orioles P 32
21 Willard Nixon Boston Red Sox P 30
15 Duane Wilson Boston Red Sox P 24
16 Ted Beard Chicago White Sox OF 38
28 Dixie Howell Chicago White Sox P 39
15 Bob Keegan Chicago White Sox P 38
31 Chuck Lindstrom Chicago White Sox C 22
36 Jim McDonald Chicago White Sox P 32
28 Stover McIlwain Chicago White Sox P 19
12 Les Moss Chicago White Sox PH 34
31, 36 Tom Qualters Chicago White Sox P 24
3 Hal Trosky Chicago White Sox P 22
30 Jim Wilson Chicago White Sox P 37
29 Rod Graber Cleveland Indians OF 28
7 Fred Hatfield Cleveland Indians 3B 34
7 Billy Hunter Cleveland Indians SS 30
37 Bob Kelly Cleveland Indians P 31
21 Bob Lemon Cleveland Indians P 38
16 Larry Raines Cleveland Indians 2B 29
23 Milt Bolling Detroit Tigers SS 28
19 Jack Feller Detroit Tigers C 22
27 Bob Hazle Detroit Tigers OF 28
27 Joe Presko Detroit Tigers P 30
19 Lou Sleater Detroit Tigers P 32
29 Bill Taylor Detroit Tigers OF 29
12 Tim Thompson Detroit Tigers C 35
20 Herm Wehmeier Detroit Tigers P 32
11 Mike Baxes Kansas City Athletics 2B 28
24 Wally Burnette Kansas City Athletics P 29
16 Glenn Cox Kansas City Athletics P 28
6, 30 Walt Craddock Kansas City Athletics P 27
14, 15 Carl Duser Kansas City Athletics P 26
4 Milt Graff Kansas City Athletics 2B 28
1 Billy Hunter Kansas City Athletics SS 30
3, 35 Dave Melton Kansas City Athletics OF 30
35 Jim Small Kansas City Athletics OF 22
23 Virgil Trucks Kansas City Athletics P 42
21 Sal Maglie New York Yankees P 42
21 Virgil Trucks New York Yankees P 42
27 Joe Albanese Washington Senators P 25
34 Jerry Snyder Washington Senators 2B 29
21 Bob Wiesler Washington Senators P 28
1958 American League Retirements



Find out which players made their Major League debut in the American League during the 1958 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.

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.