Garciaparra retires as member of Boston Red Sox
Article By Unknown on 10th March, 2010
Associated Press
FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Nomar Garciaparra rejoined the Red Sox for one day and then retired, ending a 14-year career in which he won two batting titles with Boston and became a beloved player in the city.
The shortstop signed a one-day contract with his former team Wednesday before announcing he's leaving baseball at 36 to become an ESPN analyst.
"From the first day I had the thrill of putting on a Red Sox uniform and playing in front of all the great fans at Fenway Park, I have felt at home in Boston," Garciaparra said in a statement. "While I had the privilege of playing with other legendary teams, I always saw myself retiring in a Red Sox uniform."
Garciaparra played parts of nine seasons in Boston. He was a six-time All-Star who captured the 1997 American League Rookie of the Year Award and won batting crowns in 1999 and 2000.
He also has a place in Red Sox lore for being part of a four-team trade in 2004 that helped the club win its first World Series in 86 years.
"I felt like I was there," Garciaparra said, referring to the championship celebration. "In Boston there's something greater than an individual player winning a World Series. When I was there I realized there's something bigger than us winning a World Series. It's winning a World Series for these people."
General manager Theo Epstein, who grew up in the Boston area, was responsible for the trade that dispatched Garciaparra.
"We've been fortunate over the years to maintain a relationship after the trade," Epstein said. "I think both of us understood at the time that it wasn't about Nomar and it wasn't about me. It was just baseball trades that happen. They're about what's going on with the team at the time and certain things that had to happen. But, it didn't change what Nomar meant to the Red Sox...
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The shortstop signed a one-day contract with his former team Wednesday before announcing he's leaving baseball at 36 to become an ESPN analyst.
"From the first day I had the thrill of putting on a Red Sox uniform and playing in front of all the great fans at Fenway Park, I have felt at home in Boston," Garciaparra said in a statement. "While I had the privilege of playing with other legendary teams, I always saw myself retiring in a Red Sox uniform."
Garciaparra played parts of nine seasons in Boston. He was a six-time All-Star who captured the 1997 American League Rookie of the Year Award and won batting crowns in 1999 and 2000.
He also has a place in Red Sox lore for being part of a four-team trade in 2004 that helped the club win its first World Series in 86 years.
"I felt like I was there," Garciaparra said, referring to the championship celebration. "In Boston there's something greater than an individual player winning a World Series. When I was there I realized there's something bigger than us winning a World Series. It's winning a World Series for these people."
General manager Theo Epstein, who grew up in the Boston area, was responsible for the trade that dispatched Garciaparra.
"We've been fortunate over the years to maintain a relationship after the trade," Epstein said. "I think both of us understood at the time that it wasn't about Nomar and it wasn't about me. It was just baseball trades that happen. They're about what's going on with the team at the time and certain things that had to happen. But, it didn't change what Nomar meant to the Red Sox...
Read Complete Article at Latest Sporting News Articles for MLB
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