Key Retirees:
Cotton Simson, SP
St. Louis Browns 1939-51
Pittsburgh Pirates 1952-55
Simson was the dominant pitcher of his generation. He began his career when Frank Smith and Jethro Lee were at the top of their game. Once they retired, Simson was the best around. He helped lead the Browns to the 1946 World Series where his 2.12 ERA was good enough only for an 0-2 record. After being traded to the Pirates before the 1952 season, he helped return Pittsburgh to a position of respect with two near-misses in two of the most thrilling pennant races the NL has ever seen. Over his career, Simson won 20 or more games 10 times. He retired with a fantastic 317-173 record (64.7%, 13th Most Wins All-Time), 2.97 ERA, 1058 walks, 2709 K's (4th All-Time), 332 complete games, 51 shutouts (12th All-Time) and a 1.09 WHIP. Two seasons before retiring, Simson was between Smith and Lee on the all-time ERA list but those final two seasons with career high ERA's dropped him out of the Top 25. Simson was a 6-time POY and an 11-time all-star.
Tom Howard, SS/2B
New York Giants 1942-56
When Howard first brokeout during the 1944 season, many in the media called it a wartime fluke. He quickly proved those doubters wrong because in 1947 he became the first Triple Crown winner in major league history by hitting .352 with 33 HR and 137 RBI. He went on to retire with a .311 average, 2100 hits, 373 doubles, 193 homeruns, 1010 RBI, 1035 runs, 675 K's, 533 walks, 91 steals and a .856 OPS. He was one of the best shortstops of his generation before helping the team by moving to 2B in 1951. He played in three World Series, but the Giants lost all three of them. In 1949 he won a Gold Glove at shortstop and then in 1955 he added a GG at second base. He was the 1943 ROY, the 1947 BOY and a 7-time all-star.
Other Notable Retirees:
Dennis Kitterman, 1B
Dodgers 1939-43, 1946-49
Tigers 1949-56
.319, 1981 H, 233 2B, 119 HR, 787 RBI, 1108 R, 459 K, 770 BB, 101 SB, .839 OPS
Kitterman broke through as the 1B of the future with the 1943 Dodgers, but he went off to war after the season and only returned halfway through the 1946 season. In May of 1949, he was traded to Detroit where he became a consistent leader the Tigers teams that won four straight World Series. He also won a World Series with the Dodgers in 1943.
Corky Stell, SP
White Sox 1942-50
Reds 1950-51
Tigers 1951-56
163-108, 15 Sv, 3.30 ERA, 820 BB, 986 K, 30 CG, 8 SHO, 1.27 WHIP
Three-time POY including the first two seasons of Detroit's four year WS run. 6-time AS.
Will Groaning, LF
Cubs 1944-52
Red Sox 1952-55
.284, 1623 H, 336 2B, 185 HR, 844 RBI, 910 R, 678 K, 1210 BB, .849 OPS
Three-time AS who finished 2nd in walks 6 times in a 7-year period.
Ace Shipley, SP
Reds 1938-40, 1942-48
Cardinals 1949-52
Pirates 1953-56
193-149, 3.52 ERA, 912 BB, 1282 K, 125 CG, 20 SHO, 1.29 WHIP
Won 1947 WS with Reds and 1950 WS with Cardinals. 4-time AS.
Ogden Wing, LF
Ancestor
Cardinals 1938-43, 1946-56
.307, 2297 H, 302 2B, 200 HR, 1018 RBI, 1370 R, 748 K, 1037 BB, 276 SB, .854 OPS
Won 3 GG's. Won 3 pennants and 1 WS. 9-time AS.
"Jungle" Jim Dunkel, 3B
Ancestor
Senators 1938-42, 1946-52
Yankees 1953-55
Cardinals 1956
.280, 1500 H, 254 2B, 214 HR, 914 RBI, 833 R, 638 K, 581 BB, .822 OPS
Won 2 pennants and 1 WS with Senators. Won 2 GG's. 3-time AS.
Honorable Mentions:
Eugene Sprecher, SP
Browns/Orioles 1942, 1946-55
145-160, 4.43 ERA, 1230 BB, 1122 K, 115 CG, 19 SHO, 1.48 WHIP
Lost 3 years to the war but returned in 1946 to win 22 games and help lead Browns to the pennant. Despite the 22-10 record and 2.93 ERA, he lost out on the ROY thanks to another fabulous season by fellow Brown Johnny Champagne (.397, 12 HR, 94 RBI) who also just returned from the war that year.
Stu Cripps, RF
White Sox 1942-49, 1952-53
Giants 1949-51, 1956
Yankees 1953-55
.291, 1602 H, 231 2B, 84 HR, 674 RBI, 682 R, 455 BB, 724 K, .744 OPS
Won 2 GG's.
Bonnard Shadle, SS
Ancestor
Braves 1940-56
.260, 1703 H, 315 2B, 70 HR, 680 RBI, 937 R, 864 K, 1069 BB, 154 SB, .738 OPS
Won 1 GG.
Other Retiring Ancestors:
Cecil Reed, LF
Ancestor
Pirates 1946-56
.250, 259 H, 17 HR, 103 RBI, 125 R, 114 K, 100 BB, .677 OPS