Baseball is a generationally loved sport to watch. Growing up to the stars of the game and being in love with all moments of excitement and cheer for your favorite stars. But life doesn’t stay the same, things are always evolving as we speak, and the stars we once beloved could be gone the next day and move on to greater things in their lives. As we age so does the game of baseball as it sets the scene for a younger generation to take the field. With new coming in old must depart, and the childhood favorites will have to retire. This article dives into what I personally think are the top 10 best retirement seasons ever. Some put up MVP seasons leaving with thunder in a jar while others failed to reach superstardom expectations for their last dance.

Honorable Mentions

Ichrio Suzuki, 2019

Not all these careers on the top 10 were spectacular in the final season, some were historically amazing others were just favorably reminiscent for the times the player spent with the team. For Suzuki he came back to the Mariners in 2018 and had his final go around at age 44-45. By all means, Ichiro was terrible during his final season, he average a .430 OPS in his last two seasons, but you might be wondering why he is an HM when he played poorly his last season, well that season Mariners played their opening day games in Japan against the Brewers. The Mariners planned this is Ichiro can retire in the place where it started it all.

Adrian Beltre, 2018

Adrian Beltre reached the 3,000 hits mark in his final seasons with the Rangers. He slowly became one of the best third baseman of all time. He batted over .273 with 65RBIs ,118 hits in 119 games. Though his last season was spent with a bad Rangers squad that went 67-95, it was still a memorable season for Beltre.

Pedro Martinez, 2009

Pedro Martinez had nothing special in his final season but it was good enough to get him on the top ten all time. #10 could be given to anybody but I thought Pedro had a reliable season posting a 5-1 record, 3.63 ERA in 45 innings for the National league pennant winner Phillies. It gave him an ERA+ 17% better than league average. He was effective in his start against the Dodgers in the NLCS game, he went 7 innings of shutout baseball, eventually winning the series and heading to the World Series where they eventually lost to the Yankees in 6. Martinez still proved to be effective and was equal to a reliable bullpen piece even though he only had 9 games with the club that year

Hank Greenberg, 1947

An early retirement to say the least, Hank Greenberg only played till he was 36 year old at the end of the 1947 campaign. He had a pretty good season to cap off on his Hall of Fame career, he was walked 104 times and average a .408 OBP. He had 25 Home runs, 71 runs, 100 hits and 74 Rbis in 125 games. He proved to be reliable for the 1947 Pirates who failed to reach higher than 7th place in the National League. Nonetheless his career is worth mentioning as one of the best all time and one of the best final seasons of all time.

10. Buster Posey, 2021

The end of a short lived hall of fame career came at the cusp of a record breaking 107 win Giants team for the catcher Buster Posey. Posey at 34 years old contemplated retiring after he opted out in the pandemic shortened season in 2020 but decided to stay for one last run with the organization that started it all in 2021. That year proved to be a magical one for the Giants as they defeated the Dodgers in the NL West race for the division winners, and achieved the inevitable: being first in the division. The Dodgers won the division every year for the past 8 years, but the Giants swept in and scored the division lead with one decisive game between them and the Dodgers who ended with a 106 campaign.

Posey only played in 113 games but collected 120 hits, 56 RBI, 18 HRS and a batting average over .300. He slugged a respective .499 and had a stat-line of 304/.390/.499/.899 and gave him an OPS+ 40% better than league average. He won his 5th sliver slugger, first since 2017 and first all star nod since the 2018 season. He ranked 21st in the NL MVP race and proved to be effective down the stretch for the team. He is one of the best Giants of all time and easily the best catcher the franchise has ever witnessed.

9. Chipper Jones, 2012

A career worth mentioning, for Jones to pay into his age 40 season and still be effective is the best. He ended with 20 seasons in the bigs and never had an OPS below league average. His last year was another indication of his long successful career. In 112 games he had 111 hits, 62 RBIS, 14 HRS, and a batting average of .287 to give him an OPS+ 24% better than league average. He earned an all star nod and collected a few MVP votes during the 2012 campaign. It was another great goodbye season and a terrific one to cap off the HOF excellence career of Jones.

8. Roberto Clemente, 1972

In the age of the new franchise expansion teams coming into the league, the Pirates still remained dominant in the 1960s-1970s with the awakened force of Roberto Clemente and other notable stars on their squad. Clemente provided needed pop in the lineup as their everyday right fielder. In 102 games he accumulated 118 hits, 60 RBIs and 10 Hrs. He hit over .312, complying a 4 year stretch where he hit over .310, was on base over .350, and slugged over .475 with an OPS in the .830s range. He was a notable hitter on the 96-59 Pirates squad that almost won the pennant but lost in 5 to the Reds. 37 year old Clemente proved to be the glue for this aggressive team and it paid of, ending with his final 15th all star nod, his 12th golden glove all that helped him be 13th overall for NL MVPs that year.

7. Barry Bonds, 2007

Given the fact he was on steroids doesn’t put him much lower than this. But he still had a strong ending to one of the greatest hitting careers ever seen in history. Yes, again he was on steroids so it loses a bit of legitimacy to call it a great final season, but we can, Bonds put up historical numbers. In the year he claimed victorious to the all time HR he solidified himself as the greatest hitter to take the field. He beat out Hank Aaron’s 755 with a. 28 Hr 2007 campaign that ended his illustrious career with 762. Steroids have hurt his image but this is a part of baseball history as anything else is so we must accept this and move on. Many players took steroids it’s not just Bonds and a few other stars who should be troubled for their HOF legitimacy when it was widespread.

Bonds rightfully is the best and his final season shows for it. People were afraid to pitch to Bonds in tough situations, pitchers would usually throw out of the zone to Bonds knowing he is going to mash at any ball in the zone. He ended with a league leading 132 walks and .480 OBP in 126 game. He also put up 28 Hrs and 66 RBIs in just 94 hits. He had a HR every 3.3 ABS. He ended with his 16th consecutive season with an OPS above 1.000. He is definitely the hitter of the 20th century.

6. Billy Wagner, 2010

Billy Wagner is one of the most under appreciated LH closers this game has ever seen. He isn’t in the hall of fame but his 16 year career with a career 2.31 era and 422 saves proves his legitimacy to have his name in plaque. Wagner ended his career at the ripe age of 38 and his one year stint with the Braves ended up becoming one of his best seasons in recent history. The 2010 Braves went 91-71 finishing 2nd in the division eventually loosing out to the Giants in the NLDS, but that team was filthy and in large part to Billy Wagner’s impressive stat line. He appeared in 71 games, he finished 64 of them and collected 37 saves. He led the bullpen with a 7-2 record and 1.43 ERA in 69 innings pitched. He had 104 strikeouts and had a FIP just above 2.00, giving him a strikeout per 9 ratio of 13.5. With this impressive stat line he was over 175% better than league average with an ERA+ of 275. He was absolutely dominant in his last season and rightfully belongs on the top ten final seasons.

5. Albert Pujols, 2022

Anytime a player reaches a milestone in their career they should be acknowledged for it. In his last year Pujols especially exceeded expectations. It would be 6 seasons since his last season hitting above league average so there was minimal expectation for Pujols in his final season, but he was back with the Redbirds so it was more sentimental to have him finish where he started and end it with long time Cardinal veteran Yadier Molina. Pujols put up 24 homers just enough to scratch the surface of the 700 home run club. He became top 5 in HRS and beat out Rods’ 696 with a launch ending at 703.

He played sluggish the first half of the 2022 season but quickly refurbished his mechanics towards the All star break. He had an OPS over .850 and a BA of .285 in the second half. There was also a remarkable difference in power against LHP and RHP that the Cardinals decided to just play him in LHP situations which quickly rose his stats for the season. In 83 hits he recorded 24 HRs in 109 games. Scored his first all star since 2015. For the season he hit .270/.345/.550/.895 for the season putting him 53% better than league average. He brought out the power his last season and it paid off. The road to 700 and Aaron Judge’s road to 62 were two of the most memorable HR watches of all time.

4. Mariano Rivera, 2013

He is undoubtedly the best closer to ever step foot on a mound. The fact his career lasted him into his 40s which is astounding enough, stats aside it is hard for a closer to remain dominant for that long of a career. 20 years and many accolades Rivera proved to be the greatest of all time. His 2013 season was just another replicate of the power he beholds. He went 6-2 with an ERA just above 2.10, he appeared in 64 games, 44 saves in 50 save opportunities. He only gave up 15 ER and 6HRs, he was dominant to say the least. Another wonderful goodbye to a Goat, a legendary career Rivera put up in the Big Apple. No one will replicate the career of the Sandman.

3. Ted Williams, 1960

The greatest Red Sox of all time had one of the greatest goodbye seasons for not just the Red Sox but all of baseball. 41 year old #9 hit 29 Hrs, 72 RBIs in 113 games for the Sox. He ranked #13 in the MVP race that year a .316 BA, .451 OBP, .645 SLG and 1.096OPS helped him achieve that rank. He was good but played on a sluggish Red Sox team that failed to make it past 7th place in the American League.

2. David Ortiz, 2016

Ortiz impressed Boston mighty with his 2016 campaign. If not for Koufax’s insane 1966 season Ortiz would be first on this list. Ortiz was a top ten MVP candidate for the AL East winners. He was the clear best DH in the game that season and cemented himself as a top 3 all time. In 151 games Ortiz had 38 bombs and a league leading 127 RBIs. He had a 1.021 OPS, 621SLG, .401 OBP and .315BA to prove it. He was one of the best hitters that season, he took home his 7th all star and 10th silver slugged. This season was the cherry on top for a historically beloved player.

1. Sandy Koufax, 1966

Koufax is no doubt the #1 for best final seasons and its due to him having a legendary year in 1966 when he took home the NL Cy Young. Sandy Koufax shocked the world with his third triple crown season in 4 years. He had a stat line of 27-9, ERA of 1.73, 317SO and an ERA+ of 190. He was the unanimous CY Young winner and was second in the MVP race loosing out to Roberto Clemente. He ended his career at 31 years old, with three back to back to back historical seasons it seemed his career would extend throughout his 30s and perhaps his 40s. Unfortunately arthritis got the best of his career. Injuries aside this was one hell of a final season.

This is all opinions but this is what I believe is the top ten all time best last years before retirement years are for the history of the game. We have had many greats come across these fields, some stars failed to have longer better careers as injuries derailed and took the best of them. Or others aged too fast to end their career on a high note but none were as effective their last year of service as these guys were for their respective clubs.