# Which athlete had the worst last game of his/her career? **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [May 31, 2020, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-athlete-had-the-worst-last-game-of-his-her-career/854795 "2020-05-31T15:43:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2020, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-athlete-had-the-worst-last-game-of-his-her-career/854795/21 "2020-05-31T21:25:20Z")
**Magic Johnson** 1996 - 33 Minutes(decent), but only 6 points, 3 rebounds. To be fair, 10 assists is a lot. Still, kind of a middling end. At least the Lakers won. Oops, just realize they made the playoffs and he played a little more. Real final game: **30 minutes, 8 points, 5 assists, and 5 rebounds.** Even more middling. And the lost, of course. ---
**Author:** ![gdave](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gdave/32/3683_2.png) [@gdave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gdave)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2020, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-athlete-had-the-worst-last-game-of-his-her-career/854795/22 "2020-05-31T22:13:03Z")
I think Minnie Minoso should be in the discussion. After retiring from a borderline-Hall-of-Fame career in the Negro Leagues and MLB, he briefly came out of retirement at the age of 54 in a publicity stunt and pinch hit in two games for the White Sox in the 1980 season. In his last game, he made a pinch-hit appearance and popped up to the catcher. It wasn’t really an awful at-bat, but a single publicity stunt pinch-hit appearance in which nobody involved actually expected him to be able to do anything but make an out and get an official plate appearance in his fifth different decade is a pretty bad last game. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2020, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-athlete-had-the-worst-last-game-of-his-her-career/854795/23 "2020-05-31T23:01:37Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > So was I. I hope you weren’t one of the guys behind me saying they took him out so they could rest him and return him for the ninth inning\*. > And the last hit he gave up was a home run to Dann Howitt. That wasn’t me. As I remember it, Ryan had announced his retirement and the Seattle game was known to be his last road game, but the Rangers still had a home stand to finish out the season. I remember wondering if they took Ryan out to preserve his arm and let him make another start in front of the home fans. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2020, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-athlete-had-the-worst-last-game-of-his-her-career/854795/24 "2020-06-01T03:14:01Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > That wasn’t me. > > As I remember it, Ryan had announced his retirement and the Seattle game was known to be his last road game, but the Rangers still had a home stand to finish out the season. I remember wondering if they took Ryan out to preserve his arm and let him make another start in front of the home fans. Maybe, but he sure wasn’t going to after that last pitch. ---
**Author:** ![penultima\_thule](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penultima_thule/32/3833_2.png) [@penultima\_thule](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/penultima_thule)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2020, 5:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-athlete-had-the-worst-last-game-of-his-her-career/854795/25 "2020-06-01T05:32:53Z")
Previously posted on this topic [Previously posted](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=12046991&postcount=59), and [**mhendo**](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=10382947&postcount=7) has made the same point: Graeme ‘Changa’ Langlands, rugby league fullback for St George. Australia captain, Australian coach, Rugby League Immortal and Team of the Century. He played his last match in the 1975 grand final v Eastern Suburbs. The St Gerge game plan was to use Langlands kicking ability to keep Easts pinned into their defensive half. A pre game pain-killing injection for a groin injury went wrong and with deadened leg nerves he was a hobbling passenger for the whole game. To highlight his difficulties, in a sponsors deal [Langlands wore white boots](https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/big-red-v-and-white-boots-life-of-graeme-changa-landlands-20180121-h0lql3.html). The 38-0 scoreline was the most lopside GF result in the league’s history. Also didn’t do very much for Addidas’ marketing strategy. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2020, 11:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-athlete-had-the-worst-last-game-of-his-her-career/854795/26 "2020-06-01T11:03:06Z")
Well, if you consider racehorses as athletes you have several more options to choose from, including these two, 7/6/1975, **Ruffian** ’s last race, a match race against 1975 Kentucky Derby winner Foolish Pleasure at Belmont Park in Elmont NY — [1975 Match Race - Ruffian vs. Foolish Pleasure - YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YnZFnCvKspw) 5/20/2006, **Barbaro** ’s last race, the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore MD — [Barbaro Injury Preakness Stakes May 20 2006 - YouTube](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=TGIals2D1go) … or any other horse that breaks down and has to be euthanized. ---
**Author:** ![Busy\_Scissors](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/d78d45/32.png) [@Busy\_Scissors](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Busy_Scissors)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2020, 11:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-athlete-had-the-worst-last-game-of-his-her-career/854795/27 "2020-06-01T11:41:09Z")
> [@penultima\_thule](#): > > Previously posted on this topic > [Previously posted](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=12046991&postcount=59), and [**mhendo**](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=10382947&postcount=7) has made the same point: > Graeme ‘Changa’ Langlands, rugby league fullback for St George. Australia captain, Australian coach, Rugby League Immortal and Team of the Century. > > He played his last match in the 1975 grand final v Eastern Suburbs. > The St Gerge game plan was to use Langlands kicking ability to keep Easts pinned into their defensive half. > > A pre game pain-killing injection for a groin injury went wrong and with deadened leg nerves he was a hobbling passenger for the whole game. To highlight his difficulties, in a sponsors deal [Langlands wore white boots](https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/big-red-v-and-white-boots-life-of-graeme-changa-landlands-20180121-h0lql3.html). The 38-0 scoreline was the most lopside GF result in the league’s history. Also didn’t do very much for Addidas’ marketing strategy. How bad was Greg Inglis in his last season, on the topic of legends going out with a whimper ? Pretty bad I read with a lot of injury problems. Just signed for Warrington Wolves and is talking about how he didn’t finish his NRL career on the right note. Super league as the retirement home for past-it NRL heroes is a bit sad, but an accurate reflection on the state of the game here. Nonetheless, a player of GI’s stature generates a lot of interest which the game needs. Even a 50% Inglis would prob make an impact tbh. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2020, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-athlete-had-the-worst-last-game-of-his-her-career/854795/28 "2020-06-02T04:37:56Z")
Bill Masterton? ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2020, 7:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-athlete-had-the-worst-last-game-of-his-her-career/854795/29 "2020-06-02T07:00:46Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > Bill Masterton? Sadly, I think this has to win the thread. For those not in the know, Bill Masterton “is the only player in NHL history to die as a direct result of injuries suffered during a game, the result of massive head injuries suffered following a hit during a January 13, 1968, contest against the Oakland Seals.” (Source for the above is [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Masterton).) ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2020, 8:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-athlete-had-the-worst-last-game-of-his-her-career/854795/30 "2020-06-02T08:55:17Z")
> [@Spoons](#): > > Sadly, I think this has to win the thread. For those not in the know, Bill Masterton “is the only player in NHL history to die as a direct result of injuries suffered during a game, the result of massive head injuries suffered following a hit during a January 13, 1968, contest against the Oakland Seals.” (Source for the above is [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Masterton).) See post #2 above: Ray Chapman, who was hit in the head by a pitch thrown by Yankees pitcher Carl Mays and died 12 hours later. He is the only Major League Baseball player to die from an injury received during an MLB game. Masterton and Chapman are at least equal. ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2020, 12:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-athlete-had-the-worst-last-game-of-his-her-career/854795/31 "2020-06-02T12:15:10Z")
Has to be Don Bradman. He was, and still is, by far the best batsman in test cricket history. His average is in another orbit compared to other cricketers past or present and yet… > [@](#): > > Don Bradman’s last ever Test innings ends with a duck, bowled second ball by Eric Hollies at the Oval. > > Bradman scored 19 centuries in Ashes Tests, seven more than any other batsman, and finished with a Test batting average of 99.94. He’d needed just four runs for an average of 100 ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2020, 12:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-athlete-had-the-worst-last-game-of-his-her-career/854795/32 "2020-06-02T12:33:39Z")
In Australian sport it was probably [Paul Carige](https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/nrl/horror-game-still-dogs-carige/news-story/6f460d7755814acc134f31d4c457e7e2?sv=17674677b90aad1afc4bd7ba836b8625), a pretty good young player who, in the preliminary final in 1998, committed a seemingly endless series of blunders in the last few minutes of the game. His team went from having the game won, to losing in extra time. He was never seen in the NRL again. I remember watching and, despite my disregard for the team that he played for, I cringed on his behalf as the errors mounted. ---
**Author:** ![lobotomyboy63](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobotomyboy63/32/2900_2.png) [@lobotomyboy63](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lobotomyboy63)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2020, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-athlete-had-the-worst-last-game-of-his-her-career/854795/33 "2020-06-02T13:10:50Z")
Walter Payton, with asterisks? I nominate him based on the worst last\* game of his career, Super Bowl XX. Says Wikipedia > [@](#): > > Although Payton’s offensive prowess had assisted the Bears throughout the 1985 season, he did not score any touchdowns in the postseason and the New England Patriots prevented him from reaching the end zone in the Super Bowl. According to quarterback Jim McMahon, he was targeted by two or three defenders on every play, and others stated that Payton’s mere presence allowed others to shine, given that at least 2 people were targeting Payton on every play.[12] In a later interview, Ditka stated that one of his major regrets was Payton’s lack of a touchdown in the Super Bowl.[8][9][25] > **[Walter Payton](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walter_Payton)** > > Walter Jerry Payton (July 25, 1953\[notes 1\] – November 1, 1999) was an American professional football running back who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 13 seasons with the Chicago Bears. Nicknamed "Sweetness", he is widely regarded as one of the greatest football players of all time. A nine-time Pro Bowl selection, Payton is remembered as a prolific rusher, once holding records for career rushing yards, touchdowns, carries, yards from scrimmage, all-purpose yards, and many othe... > [@](#): > > A few plays later, McMahon’s 27-yard completion to receiver Dennis Gentry moved the ball to the 1-yard line, setting up perhaps the most memorable moment of the game. William “The Refrigerator” Perry was brought on to score on offense, as he had done twice in the regular season. His touchdown (while running over Patriots linebacker Larry McGrew in the process) made the score 44–3. The Bears’ 21 points in the third quarter is still a record for the most points scored in that period, and their 41-point lead remains the record for widest margin after three quarters in a Super Bowl. So Walter didn’t get a TD\*\* :smack::eek:☹ \*post season \*\*Where to assign blame? —Coach Ditka for not giving him the ball? He later said he regretted it. —Or do you say “Walter didn’t get it done all that postseason. Big show flop sweat?” > [@](#): > > However, if one views the game and watches the Patriots’ defense, it is clear that their primary goal was stopping Payton and he frequently had three and four defenders keyed on him on nearly every play. This allowed the rest of the Bears’ offense far more opportunities to score than had the Patriots employed a more balanced defense. Ultimately Payton was the Bears’ leading rusher during the game, but the Patriots defense held him to only 61 yards on 22 carries, with his longest run being only 7 yards. > **[1985 Chicago Bears season](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1985_Chicago_Bears_season)** > > The 1985 season was the Chicago Bears' 66th in the National Football League (NFL) and their fourth under head coach Mike Ditka. > The Bears entered 1985 looking to improve on their 10–6 record from 1984 and advance further than the NFC Championship Game, where they lost to the 15–1 San Francisco 49ers. Not only did the Bears improve on that record, but they also put together one of the greatest seasons in NFL history. > The Bears won their first twelve games of the season before losing to the Mia... ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Scud](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f08c70/32.png) [@Tom\_Scud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Scud)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2020, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-athlete-had-the-worst-last-game-of-his-her-career/854795/34 "2020-06-02T13:26:09Z")
Hard to classify a game in which your team won easily as a worst game. Pretty sure Payton would take that over running 200 yards with the score reversed. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2020, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-athlete-had-the-worst-last-game-of-his-her-career/854795/35 "2020-06-02T13:46:09Z")
> [@lobotomyboy63](#): > > Walter Payton, with asterisks? > > I nominate him based on the worst last\* game of his career, Super Bowl XX. Not only was it not Payton’s final game, it wasn’t even his final _ **playoff** _ game – the Bears lost in the first round of the playoffs in both [1986](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198701030chi.htm) and [1987](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198801100chi.htm) (i.e., the two seasons after they won Super Bowl XX), and Payton was their starting halfback in both of those playoff games. He didn’t have a great game in Super Bowl XX, and, yeah, it was silly that he didn’t get a chance at a touchdown. But he didn’t have a terrible game, either, and as he played for two more seasons after that Super Bowl, with two more playoff appearances, he really doesn’t fit the OP’s question in any way. ---
**Author:** ![lobotomyboy63](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobotomyboy63/32/2900_2.png) [@lobotomyboy63](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lobotomyboy63)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2020, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-athlete-had-the-worst-last-game-of-his-her-career/854795/36 "2020-06-02T14:03:00Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > Not only was it not Payton’s final game, it wasn’t even his final _ **playoff** _ game – the Bears lost in the first round of the playoffs in both [1986](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198701030chi.htm) and [1987](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198801100chi.htm) (i.e., the two seasons after they won Super Bowl XX), and Payton was their starting halfback in both of those playoff games. > > He didn’t have a great game in Super Bowl XX, and, yeah, it was silly that he didn’t get a chance at a touchdown. But he didn’t have a terrible game, either, and as he played for two more seasons after that Super Bowl, with two more playoff appearances, he really doesn’t fit the OP’s question in any way. His one and only, first and last Super Bowl…pity he couldn’t get a TD, but not his fault. The Pats made sure Walter didn’t beat them, which only meant leaving the gaps open so the rest of the Bears would. I wonder if they keep stats of how many rushing yards were called back on penalties. In all those years of suffering with the Bears he must have that record. He’d bust a spectacular run and then…flag on the play. Offensive holding. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2020, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-athlete-had-the-worst-last-game-of-his-her-career/854795/37 "2020-06-02T14:14:24Z")
Pittsburgh Pirate Steve Blass. He was an amazing pitcher until one day he sucked, creating the idea of “Steve Blass Disease”. > [@Wikipedia](#): > > A condition referred to as “Steve Blass disease” has become a part of baseball lexicon. The “diagnosis” is applied to talented players who inexplicably and permanently seem to lose their ability to throw a baseball accurately.[3][8][9][10] The fielder’s variant of “Steve Blass disease” is sometimes referred to in baseball terminology as “Steve Sax syndrome”.[citation needed] ---
**Author:** ![Cumbrian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ce7236/32.png) [@Cumbrian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cumbrian)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2020, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-athlete-had-the-worst-last-game-of-his-her-career/854795/38 "2020-06-02T15:57:58Z")
> [@Novelty\_Bobble](#): > > Has to be Don Bradman. > > He was, and still is, by far the best batsman in test cricket history. His average is in another orbit compared to other cricketers past or present and yet… Just to chime in on this, he too immediately leapt to my mind. Some facts: After WW2, and excluding his final match, Bradman averaged 111.94 per innings, well above his career average. His penultimate test match innings was 173 not out. So, to need only 4 for a flat 100 as a career average and getting out second ball for zero, was a pretty bad final performance. Mind you, on the other side of the ledger, he was the skipper and was leading his team tactically. They won by an innings and 149 runs, so it’s not like he had a totally terrible match. Indeed, if he’d mismanaged his side, he might have not thumped England so badly and he’d have got another chance to bat and put his first innings score right. In other words, as the totality of his performance isn’t captured by his total with the bat, and he probably had a pretty material impact on a game Australia won handsomely, it’s probably not the worst final game ever. On the point around cricket averages, Bradman is on his own it’s true - no argument from me there. In this lockdown (and being unemployed), I have listened to a lot of cricket podcasts and found out something I’d never known: apparently, during Adam Voges 20th Test match innings (which would thus qualify him for the all time lists), for a period of about an hour, Voges had a batting average in excess of 100. You can keep up with Bradman for a short period, but doing it for an entire career… ---
**Author:** ![Cugel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cugel/32/1199_2.png) [@Cugel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cugel)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2020, 8:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-athlete-had-the-worst-last-game-of-his-her-career/854795/39 "2020-06-03T08:45:46Z")
> [@Novelty\_Bobble](#): > > Has to be Don Bradman. Quibbling I know, but his worst game surely was the 5th Test in 1938. Lost the toss, fractured his ankle when England were 7/800 odd, failed to bat, and Australia lost by the Test record margin. I see I have misinterpreted the question, thought it was the who’s worst game was their last. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2020, 8:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-athlete-had-the-worst-last-game-of-his-her-career/854795/40 "2020-06-03T08:57:02Z")
> [@Cumbrian](#): > > On the point around cricket averages, Bradman is on his own it’s true - no argument from me there. In this lockdown (and being unemployed), I have listened to a lot of cricket podcasts and found out something I’d never known: apparently, during Adam Voges 20th Test match innings (which would thus qualify him for the all time lists), for a period of about an hour, Voges had a batting average in excess of 100. You can keep up with Bradman for a short period, but doing it for an entire career… That’s a great bit of trivia to share with the cricket nerds at work (if ever we return). We always mockingly refer to him as Bradvoges. Well, we did when we were discussing Steve Smith passing him. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-athlete-had-the-worst-last-game-of-his-her-career/854795.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-athlete-had-the-worst-last-game-of-his-her-career/854795.md?page=3)