Baseball Almanac - 1961 National League Retirements

1961 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 1961.

"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
1961

# Name Team Pos Age

34 Dick Burwell Chicago Cubs P 22

8 George Freese Chicago Cubs PH 35

46 Joe Schaffernoth Chicago Cubs P 24

45 Mel Wright Chicago Cubs P 34

27 Harry Anderson Cincinnati Reds PH 30

11 Jim Baumer Cincinnati Reds 2B 31

9 Hal Bevan Cincinnati Reds PH 31

41 Ken Hunt Cincinnati Reds P 23

14 Willie Jones Cincinnati Reds 3B 36

27 Pete Whisenant Cincinnati Reds OF 32

23 Ed Palmquist Los Angeles Dodgers P 28

43 Johnny Antonelli Milwaukee Braves P 32

3 Bob Boyd Milwaukee Braves 1B 42

30 Neil Chrisley Milwaukee Braves PH 30

3 Billy Martin Milwaukee Braves PH 34

19 Seth Morehead Milwaukee Braves P 27

7, 18 Pancho Herrera Philadelphia Phillies 1B 27

10 Al Kenders Philadelphia Phillies C 25

25 Ken Lehman Philadelphia Phillies P 33

42 Jack Meyer Philadelphia Phillies P 30

18 Elmer Valo Philadelphia Phillies OF 41

30 Jim Woods Philadelphia Phillies 3B 22

16 Gene Baker Pittsburgh Pirates 3B 36

20 Walt Moryn Pittsburgh Pirates OF 36

14 Rocky Nelson Pittsburgh Pirates 1B 37

28 Billy Loes San Francisco Giants P 32

18 George Crowe St. Louis Cardinals PH 41

38 Mickey McDermott St. Louis Cardinals P 33

28 Walt Moryn St. Louis Cardinals OF 36

24 Ed Olivares St. Louis Cardinals OF 23

# Name Team Pos Age

1961 National League Retirements

Find out which players made their Major League debut in the National League during the 1961 season as this group of players bid farewell to their field's of dreams.

Goose Goslin played for eighteen seasons and averaged one-hundred twenty-seven games played per season. In 1938, during his final at-bat, he twisted his back and was replaced at the plate by a pinch-hitter for the first time in his Major League career.

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).

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