1968 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 1968.

"You start chasing a ball and your brain immediately commands your body to: Run forward. Bend. Scoop up the ball. Peg it to the infield. Then your body says, 'Who, me?'" - Retirement comment made by Joe DiMaggio
 

National League Retirements

1968

23 Wayne Causey Atlanta Braves 2B 32
23 Ted Davidson Atlanta Braves P 29
23, 47 Stu Miller Atlanta Braves P 41
43 Mike Page Atlanta Braves OF 28
47 Jophery Brown Chicago Cubs P 24
19 Lee Elia Chicago Cubs SS 31
38 Darcy Fast Chicago Cubs P 22
29 Clarence Jones Chicago Cubs 1B 27
40 Jack Lamabe Chicago Cubs P 32
22 Vic LaRose Chicago Cubs 2B 24
24 Jimmy McMath Chicago Cubs OF 19
38, 45 Bobby Tiefenauer Chicago Cubs P 39
37 John Upham Chicago Cubs P 27
56 Ted Davidson Cincinnati Reds P 29
26 Bill Kelso Cincinnati Reds P 29
48 Bob Lee Cincinnati Reds P 31
30 Jay Ritchie Cincinnati Reds P 32
25 Jimmie Schaffer Cincinnati Reds C 33
37 John Tsitouris Cincinnati Reds P 33
6 Dave Adlesh Houston Astros C 25
30 John Buzhardt Houston Astros P 32
33 Hal Gilson Houston Astros P 27
43 Pat House Houston Astros P 28
28 Lee Thomas Houston Astros OF 33
16 Rocky Colavito Los Angeles Dodgers OF 35
11 Bart Shirley Los Angeles Dodgers SS 29
1 Jerry Buchek New York Mets 3B 27
33, 45 Bill Connors New York Mets P 27
2 Phil Linz New York Mets 2B 29
37 Howie Bedell Philadelphia Phillies PH 33
33 Paul Brown Philadelphia Phillies P 27
17 Doug Clemens Philadelphia Phillies OF 29
21 Larry Colton Philadelphia Phillies P 26
46 Larry Jackson Philadelphia Phillies P 37
37 John Sullivan Philadelphia Phillies C 28
2 Chuck Hiller Pittsburgh Pirates 2B 34
4 Bill Virdon Pittsburgh Pirates OF 37
39 Bill Monbouquette San Francisco Giants P 32
10 Bob Schroder San Francisco Giants 2B 24
47 Hal Gilson St. Louis Cardinals P 27
31 Dick Hughes St. Louis Cardinals P 31
9 Roger Maris St. Louis Cardinals OF 34
1968 National League Retirements



Find out which players made their Major League debut in the National League during the 1968 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.

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.