1980 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 1980.

"You are George Brett and all the cheering has stopped. The music is muted, the hour is late, and they will be taking the banners down and emptying your locker any minute now. As the late Jimmy Cannon would say it, 'All your bats are broken.'" - Broadcaster Jim Murray
 

National League Retirements

1980

16 Larvell Blanks Atlanta Braves SS 31
22 Gary Cooper Atlanta Braves OF 24
14 Chico Ruiz Atlanta Braves 3B 29
46 Charlie Spikes Atlanta Braves OF 30
17 Jesus Figueroa Chicago Cubs OF 24
24 Ken Henderson Chicago Cubs OF 34
12 Steve Macko Chicago Cubs SS 26
16 Steve Ontiveros Chicago Cubs 3B 29
42 Bill Bonham Cincinnati Reds P 32
34 Sheldon Burnside Cincinnati Reds P 26
9 Vic Correll Cincinnati Reds C 35
50 J.R. Richard Houston Astros P 31
23 Vic Davalillo Los Angeles Dodgers 1B 44
9 Gary Thomasson Los Angeles Dodgers OF 29
28 Hal Dues Montreal Expos P 26
32 Fred Norman Montreal Expos P 38
11 John Tamargo Montreal Expos C 29
6 Jose Cardenal New York Mets OF 37
49 Kevin Kobel New York Mets P 27
21 Elliott Maddox New York Mets 3B 33
58 Luis Rosado New York Mets 1B 25
28 Orlando Isales Philadelphia Phillies OF 21
39 Lerrin LaGrow Philadelphia Phillies P 32
11 Tim McCarver Philadelphia Phillies 1B 39
34 Scott Munninghoff Philadelphia Phillies P 22
12 Bob Beall Pittsburgh Pirates PH 33
2 Bernie Carbo Pittsburgh Pirates PH 33
19 Jim Rooker Pittsburgh Pirates P 38
35 Manny Sanguillen Pittsburgh Pirates 1B 37
47 Dennis Blair San Diego Padres P 26
30 Dave Cash San Diego Padres 2B 32
21 Paul Dade San Diego Padres 3B 29
22 Von Joshua San Diego Padres OF 33
5 Fred Kendall San Diego Padres C 32
42 George Stablein San Diego Padres P 23
34 Bill Bordley San Francisco Giants P 23
18 Chris Bourjos San Francisco Giants OF 25
28 Ed Halicki San Francisco Giants P 30
35 Dennis Littlejohn San Francisco Giants C 26
44 Willie McCovey San Francisco Giants 1B 43
16 Roger Metzger San Francisco Giants SS 33
23 Philip Nastu San Francisco Giants P 26
50 Jeff Stember San Francisco Giants P 23
49 Pedro Borbon St. Louis Cardinals P 34
11 Bernie Carbo St. Louis Cardinals PH 33
41 John Fulgham St. Louis Cardinals P 24
34 Darold Knowles St. Louis Cardinals P 39
21 Jim Lentine St. Louis Cardinals OF 26
47 Al Olmsted St. Louis Cardinals P 24
48 Kim Seaman St. Louis Cardinals P 24
3, 11 Keith Smith St. Louis Cardinals OF 28
1980 National League Retirements



Find out which players made their Major League debut in the National League during the 1980 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.

On July 28, 1976, Blue Moon Odom pitched the final five innings of his Major League career. He was relieved by Francisco Barrios in the sixth inning and the two White Sox combined to pitch a 2-1 no-hitter versus the Oakland Athletics.