1962 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 1962.

"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
 

National League Retirements

1962

39 Tony Balsamo Chicago Cubs P 25
31, 45 Dave Gerard Chicago Cubs P 26
30, 33 George Gerberman Chicago Cubs P 21
46 Al Lary Chicago Cubs P 34
22, 20 Jim McAnany Chicago Cubs PH 26
15 Jim McKnight Chicago Cubs 3B 26
11 Moe Morhardt Chicago Cubs PH 26
48, 47 Don Prince Chicago Cubs P 25
19 Daryl Robertson Chicago Cubs SS 27
52 El Tappe Chicago Cubs C 36
19 Elder White Chicago Cubs SS 28
11 Rogelio Alvarez Cincinnati Reds 1B 25
38 Dave Hillman Cincinnati Reds P 35
5 Darrell Johnson Cincinnati Reds C 34
39 Bob Miller Cincinnati Reds P 27
43 Howie Nunn Cincinnati Reds P 27
40 Dave Sisler Cincinnati Reds P 31
39 John Anderson Houston Colt .45s P 30
27 Pidge Browne Houston Colt .45s 1B 34
18 Don Buddin Houston Colt .45s SS 29
4 Jim Busby Houston Colt .45s OF 36
17 Bob Cerv Houston Colt .45s OF 37
31 Al Cicotte Houston Colt .45s P 33
17 Dick Gernert Houston Colt .45s 1B 34
16 Billy Goodman Houston Colt .45s 2B 37
22 Al Heist Houston Colt .45s OF 35
23 Jim Pendleton Houston Colt .45s OF 39
20, 24 Don Taussig Houston Colt .45s OF 31
36 George Witt Houston Colt .45s P 29
21 Andy Carey Los Angeles Dodgers 3B 31
39 Mike Krsnich Milwaukee Braves OF 31
1 Richie Ashburn New York Mets OF 36
3, 11 Ed Bouchee New York Mets 1B 30
2, 7 Elio Chacon New York Mets SS 26
44 Harry Chiti New York Mets C 30
35 Ray Daviault New York Mets P 29
29 John DeMerit New York Mets OF 27
12 Sammy Drake New York Mets 2B 28
27 Larry Foss New York Mets P 27
12 Joe Ginsberg New York Mets C 36
6 Rick Herrscher New York Mets 1B 26
27, 34 Dave Hillman New York Mets P 35
36 Sherman Jones New York Mets P 28
41 Clem Labine New York Mets P 36
6 Jim Marshall New York Mets 1B 32
36 Bob Miller New York Mets P 27
26 Vinegar Bend Mizell New York Mets P 32
26 Herb Moford New York Mets P 34
5 Joe Pignatano New York Mets C 33
11 Gene Woodling New York Mets OF 40
15 Billy Consolo Philadelphia Phillies 3B 28
17 Jacke Davis Philadelphia Phillies OF 27
14 Don Ferrarese Philadelphia Phillies P 33
50 Ed Keegan Philadelphia Phillies P 23
19 Bobby Malkmus Philadelphia Phillies SS 31
31 Mel Roach Philadelphia Phillies 3B 30
47 Bill Smith Philadelphia Phillies P 28
9 Sammy White Philadelphia Phillies C 34
14 Jim Marshall Pittsburgh Pirates 1B 32
30 Vinegar Bend Mizell Pittsburgh Pirates P 32
14 Carl Boles San Francisco Giants OF 28
20 Bob Nieman San Francisco Giants OF 36
2 Joe Pignatano San Francisco Giants C 33
35 John Anderson St. Louis Cardinals P 30
40 Harvey Branch St. Louis Cardinals P 24
36 Don Ferrarese St. Louis Cardinals P 33
1962 National League Retirements



Find out which players made their Major League debut in the National League during the 1962 season as this group of players bid farewell to their field's of dreams.

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).

On September 28, 1960, broadcaster Curt Gowdy uttered, "It's got a chance. It's got a chance. And it's gone!" Those words were used to describe the final at-bat of slugger Ted Williams.