1966 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 1966.

"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

1966

2 Frank Bolling Atlanta Braves 2B 35
26 John Herrnstein Atlanta Braves OF 29
24 Herb Hippauf Atlanta Braves P 28
42 Joey Jay Atlanta Braves P 31
11 Marty Keough Atlanta Braves 1B 32
38 Chi-Chi Olivo Atlanta Braves P 39
45 Ed Sadowski Atlanta Braves C 36
32 Arnold Umbach Atlanta Braves P 24
32 Ernie Broglio Chicago Cubs P 31
23 Ron Campbell Chicago Cubs SS 27
45 Len Church Chicago Cubs P 25
43 Wes Covington Chicago Cubs OF 35
46 Dave Dowling Chicago Cubs P 24
7 John Herrnstein Chicago Cubs 1B 29
40 Billy Hoeft Chicago Cubs P 35
28 Marty Keough Chicago Cubs OF 32
7 Harvey Kuenn Chicago Cubs OF 36
43 Don Lee Chicago Cubs P 33
36 Robin Roberts Chicago Cubs P 40
34 Frank Thomas Chicago Cubs PH 37
23 Carl Warwick Chicago Cubs OF 30
30 Joey Jay Cincinnati Reds P 31
41 Joe Nuxhall Cincinnati Reds P 38
33 Dom Zanni Cincinnati Reds P 35
46 Don Arlich Houston Astros P 24
42 Frank Carpin Houston Astros P 28
11 Gene Freese Houston Astros 3B 33
46 Joe Gaines Houston Astros OF 30
4 Jim Gentile Houston Astros 1B 32
43 Don Lee Houston Astros P 33
25 Felix Mantilla Houston Astros 1B 32
38 Robin Roberts Houston Astros P 40
22 Greg Sims Houston Astros OF 20
17 Jim Barbieri Los Angeles Dodgers OF 25
25 Wes Covington Los Angeles Dodgers OF 35
19 Jim Gilliam Los Angeles Dodgers 3B 38
26 Derrell Griffith Los Angeles Dodgers OF 23
32 Sandy Koufax Los Angeles Dodgers P 31
20 Choo Choo Coleman New York Mets C 29
42 Larry Elliot New York Mets OF 29
5 Shaun Fitzmaurice New York Mets OF 24
20 Bob Friend New York Mets P 36
28 Bill Hepler New York Mets P 21
11 Roy McMillan New York Mets SS 37
16 Larry Miller New York Mets P 29
23 Billy Murphy New York Mets OF 23
48 Danny Napoleon New York Mets OF 25
41 Gordie Richardson New York Mets P 28
47 Dick Rusteck New York Mets P 25
35 Roger Craig Philadelphia Phillies P 37
34, 19 Terry Fox Philadelphia Phillies P 31
21 Ray Herbert Philadelphia Phillies P 37
22 John Herrnstein Philadelphia Phillies OF 29
22 Harvey Kuenn Philadelphia Phillies OF 36
27 Steve Ridzik Philadelphia Phillies P 38
27 Ed Roebuck Philadelphia Phillies P 35
24 Jerry Lynch Pittsburgh Pirates OF 36
37 Bob Purkey Pittsburgh Pirates P 37
45 Dave Roberts Pittsburgh Pirates 1B 33
30 Billy Hoeft San Francisco Giants P 35
43 Don Landrum San Francisco Giants OF 31
35 Dennis Aust St. Louis Cardinals P 26
29 Don Dennis St. Louis Cardinals P 25
14 George Kernek St. Louis Cardinals 1B 27
30 Art Mahaffey St. Louis Cardinals P 28
37 Ron Piche St. Louis Cardinals P 32
19 Bob Skinner St. Louis Cardinals PH 35
40 Tracy Stallard St. Louis Cardinals P 29
1966 National League Retirements



Find out which players made their Major League debut in the National League during the 1966 season as this group of players bid farewell to their field's of dreams.

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.

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.