1983 American 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 American League League players who hung up their spikes in 1983.

"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
 

American League Retirements

1983

2 Bobby Bonner Baltimore Orioles 2B 27
11 Glenn Gulliver Baltimore Orioles 3B 29
21 Dan Morogiello Baltimore Orioles P 29
36 Allan Ramirez Baltimore Orioles P 27
6 Aurelio Rodriguez Baltimore Orioles 3B 36
51 Don Welchel Baltimore Orioles P 27
42 Doug Bird Boston Red Sox P 34
12 Lee Graham Boston Red Sox OF 24
12 Julio Valdez Boston Red Sox 2B 27
8 Carl Yastrzemski Boston Red Sox DH 44
13 Joe Ferguson California Angels C 37
30 Dave Goltz California Angels P 34
28 Steve Lubratich California Angels SS 29
27 Byron McLaughlin California Angels P 28
35 Bill Travers California Angels P 31
27 Lorenzo Gray Chicago White Sox 3B 26
33 Randy Martz Chicago White Sox P 28
23 Chris Nyman Chicago White Sox 1B 28
22 Aurelio Rodriguez Chicago White Sox 3B 36
51 Bud Anderson Cleveland Indians P 28
27 Rich Barnes Cleveland Indians P 24
25 Wil Culmer Cleveland Indians OF 26
26 Bake McBride Cleveland Indians OF 35
30 Karl Pagel Cleveland Indians OF 29
32 Otto Velez Cleveland Indians DH 33
60 Howard Bailey Detroit Tigers P 26
17 Bill Fahey Detroit Tigers C 33
10 Julio Gonzalez Detroit Tigers SS 31
15 Mike Ivie Detroit Tigers 1B 31
33 John Martin Detroit Tigers P 28
37 Bob Molinaro Detroit Tigers DH 34
40 Pat Underwood Detroit Tigers P 27
39 Bill Castro Kansas City Royals P 32
23 Cesar Geronimo Kansas City Royals OF 36
48 Don Hood Kansas City Royals P 34
3 Cliff Pastornicky Kansas City Royals 3B 25
36 Gaylord Perry Kansas City Royals P 45
28 Eric Rasmussen Kansas City Royals P 32
18 Steve Renko Kansas City Royals P 39
9 Joe Simpson Kansas City Royals 1B 32
36 Bob Tufts Kansas City Royals P 28
16 Marshall Edwards Milwaukee Brewers OF 31
7 Don Money Milwaukee Brewers DH 36
26 Bob Skube Milwaukee Brewers OF 26
10 Bobby Mitchell Minnesota Twins OF 29
35 Jay Pettibone Minnesota Twins P 26
5 Ray Smith Minnesota Twins C 28
7 Scott Ullger Minnesota Twins 1B 28
56 Bert Campaneris New York Yankees 2B 42
35 Roger Erickson New York Yankees P 27
34, 38 Dave LaRoche New York Yankees P 36
45 Rudy May New York Yankees P 39
2 Bobby Murcer New York Yankees DH 38
20 Rowland Office New York Yankees OF 31
36 Steve Baker Oakland Athletics P 27
53 Bert Bradley Oakland Athletics P 27
19 Marshall Brant Oakland Athletics 1B 28
48 Ben Callahan Oakland Athletics P 27
9 Darryl Cias Oakland Athletics C 27
40 Ed Farmer Oakland Athletics P 34
51 Dave Hudgens Oakland Athletics 1B 27
47 Rusty McNealy Oakland Athletics OF 25
25 Kelvin Moore Oakland Athletics 1B 26
49 Mark Smith Oakland Athletics P 28
45 Rich Wortham Oakland Athletics P 30
20 Jamie Allen Seattle Mariners 3B 26
11 Bud Bulling Seattle Mariners C 31
12 Manny Castillo Seattle Mariners 3B 27
1 Dave Edler Seattle Mariners 3B 27
33 Jim Maler Seattle Mariners 1B 25
6 Jamie Nelson Seattle Mariners C 24
36 Gaylord Perry Seattle Mariners P 45
8 Rick Sweet Seattle Mariners C 31
22 Richie Zisk Seattle Mariners DH 35
14 Larry Biittner Texas Rangers 1B 38
23 Victor Cruz Texas Rangers P 26
8 Bob Johnson Texas Rangers C 24
51 Al Lachowicz Texas Rangers P 23
32 Jon Matlack Texas Rangers P 34
27 Mickey Klutts Toronto Blue Jays 3B 29
17 Randy Moffitt Toronto Blue Jays P 35
22 Hosken Powell Toronto Blue Jays OF 29
1983 American League Retirements



Find out which players made their Major League debut in the American League during the 1983 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.