2001 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 2001.

"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

2001

39 Jose Fernandez Anaheim Angels 1B 27
33 Steve Green Anaheim Angels P 24
31 Glenallen Hill Anaheim Angels DH 37
5 Wally Joyner Anaheim Angels 1B 39
34 Pat Rapp Anaheim Angels P 34
45 Leslie Brea Baltimore Orioles P 23
36 Kris Foster Baltimore Orioles P 27
59 Ryan Kohlmeier Baltimore Orioles P 24
47 Chuck McElroy Baltimore Orioles P 34
75 Alan Mills Baltimore Orioles P 35
8 Cal Ripken, Jr. Baltimore Orioles 3B 41
19 Dante Bichette Boston Red Sox OF 38
43 Carlos Castillo Boston Red Sox P 27
63 Paxton Crawford Boston Red Sox P 24
55 Todd Erdos Boston Red Sox P 28
39 Bryce Florie Boston Red Sox P 32
15 Craig Grebeck Boston Red Sox SS 37
3 Mike Lansing Boston Red Sox SS 34
52 James Lofton Boston Red Sox SS 28
46 Allen McDill Boston Red Sox P 30
39 Joe Oliver Boston Red Sox C 36
57 Calvin Pickering Boston Red Sox 1B 25
17 Bret Saberhagen Boston Red Sox P 38
50 Pete Schourek Boston Red Sox P 33
3 Harold Baines Chicago White Sox DH 43
31 Jose Canseco Chicago White Sox DH 37
66 Mark Dalesandro Chicago White Sox C 34
61 Ken Vining Chicago White Sox P 27
1 Mark Lewis Cleveland Indians 3B 32
36 Scott Radinsky Cleveland Indians P 34
16 Eddie Taubensee Cleveland Indians C 33
24 Willie Blair Detroit Tigers P 36
41 Chris Holt Detroit Tigers P 30
49, 71 Pedro Santana Detroit Tigers 2B 25
43 Chris Wakeland Detroit Tigers OF 26
55 Tony Cogan Kansas City Royals P 25
19 Doug Henry Kansas City Royals P 38
40 John Barnes Minnesota Twins OF 26
53 Mike Duvall Minnesota Twins P 27
9 Jason Maxwell Minnesota Twins SS 30
18 Scott Brosius New York Yankees 3B 35
13 Michael Coleman New York Yankees OF 26
60 Brett Jodie New York Yankees P 25
21 Paul O'Neill New York Yankees OF 39
14 Joe Oliver New York Yankees C 36
43 Christian Parker New York Yankees P 26
48 Robert Perez New York Yankees OF 32
31 Gil Heredia Oakland Athletics P 36
5 John Jaha Oakland Athletics DH 36
30 Robin Jennings Oakland Athletics OF 30
26 Rob Ryan Oakland Athletics OF 28
2 F.P. Santangelo Oakland Athletics 2B 34
23 Mario Valdez Oakland Athletics OF 27
19 Jay Buhner Seattle Mariners OF 37
37 Norm Charlton Seattle Mariners P 39
28 Stan Javier Seattle Mariners OF 38
10 Anthony Sanders Seattle Mariners OF 28
10 Ed Sprague Seattle Mariners 1B 34
44 Ken Hill Tampa Bay Devil Rays P 36
50 Mike Judd Tampa Bay Devil Rays P 26
16 Felix Martinez Tampa Bay Devil Rays SS 28
37 Rusty Meacham Tampa Bay Devil Rays P 34
48 Ariel Prieto Tampa Bay Devil Rays P 32
52 Brian Rose Tampa Bay Devil Rays P 26
51 Jeff Wallace Tampa Bay Devil Rays P 26
45 Jeff Brantley Texas Rangers P 38
57 Cliff Brumbaugh Texas Rangers OF 28
11, 41 Ken Caminiti Texas Rangers 3B 39
35 Tim Crabtree Texas Rangers P 32
9 Chad Curtis Texas Rangers OF 33
56 Kevin Foster Texas Rangers P 33
38 Ryan Glynn Texas Rangers P 27
36 Mike Hubbard Texas Rangers C 31
58 Mike Judd Texas Rangers P 26
46 Mark Petkovsek Texas Rangers P 36
16 Bo Porter Texas Rangers OF 29
4 Scott Sheldon Texas Rangers 3B 33
44 J.D. Smart Texas Rangers P 28
59 Jeff Zimmerman Texas Rangers P 29
1 Tony Fernandez Toronto Blue Jays DH 39
52 John Frascatore Toronto Blue Jays P 32
3 Jeff Frye Toronto Blue Jays 2B 35
22 Brian Simmons Toronto Blue Jays OF 28
2001 American League Retirements



Find out which players made their Major League debut in the American League during the 2001 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 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.