Unexpected Homecoming

Pettitte's intimidating glare is returning
to the Bronx.

Andy Pettitte is doing something he vowed he would never do.

After more than a year away from the game and announcing his retirement, Pettitte signed a 1-year, $2.5 million contract to return to the New York Yankees on Friday. It is a Minor League contract with an invitation to Major League spring training.

In a move that shocked us all, Pettitte called his return "embarrassing". But nonetheless, New York is welcoming him home.

Pettitte first got the itch to pitch again when general manager Brian Cashman called him in December, offering him a deal worth about $10 million. However, Pettitte wasn't ready to commit and Cashman went out and acquired two right-handers, trading for Michael Pineda and signing Hiroki Kuroda.

But when the left-hander came to camp as a special instructor this spring, he made it be know he wanted to play.

Pettitte's return to the Yankees could add a second lefty to the staff, along with ace C.C. Sabathia. He is expected to be battling for the fifth spot in rotation with right-handers Phil Hughes and Freddy Garica. If the three-time All-Star makes the team he will probably not be ready until mid-May, leaving manager Joe Girardi with a difficult, but yet somewhat easy decision.

Who wouldn't take a chance on a player like Pettitte with his resume.

Over his 16-year career, Pettitte has totaled 240 wins, 203 in which came in pinstripes, trailing only Whitey Ford (236) and Red Ruffing for the most in Yankee history. The other 37 came as a member of his hometown Houston Astros.

He is second on the Yankees all-time list in games started (396) and strikeouts (1,823).

Pettitte won 20-plus games twice in his career and logged 200 or more innings ten times, including four out of the last six years.

His 16 consecutive seasons of a winning percentage of .500 or better are tied with Lefty Grove for third all-time. Hall of Famer Pete Alexander (19) and Greg Maddux (17) are first and second, respectively. Pettitte's 148 victories from 2000-09 are the most during that decade.

But it's his postseason accomplishments that speak volumes.

Pitching in eight different Fall Classic's, Pettitte's 13 games started in the World Series are second in baseball history to Ford's unbelievable 22. However, his 19 career postseason wins are the most all-time, helping him become a five-time World Series champion.

In 2009, Pettitte's most recent title, he became the first pitcher in postseason history to win all three series-clinching games as a starter, not to mention the fact Pettitte was the winning pitcher when the Yankees clinched the AL East Division title that same season.

He was also the 2001 American League Championship Series Most Valuable Player when New York took down the record-setting Seattle Mariners in five games.

The question is now, how will Pettitte's body respond three months shy of his 40th birthday?

In his most recent season of work, Pettitte had one of his best seasons, compiling an 11-3 record with a 3.28 earned run average and making his first All-Star team in nine years. However, he missed two months that season with a groin injury.

Possessing one of the best pickoffs move in history, Pettitte has caught 99 base runners sleeping in his career, the most all-time. Steve Carlton's 144 would be the Major League record, but it wasn't made an official stat until 1974, ten years into his illustrious playing career.

Pettitte is back, and will trying to pick hitters off his time around.

Tek Takes Final Bow

Varitek wore the 'C' on his chest with
pride and dignity, just how like he
played the game.

Nearly two weeks after watching an emotional Tim Wakefield say goodbye, the Boston Red Sox bid another franchise legend farewell.

Longtime Red Sox backstop Jason Varitek officially announced his retirement Thursday in front of a abundance of former teammates, coaches and media members at a press conference held at JetBlue Park in Fort Myers, Florida.

Varitek was emotional to say the least, but who wouldn't be after a fantastic 14-year playing career.

The 39-year-old played his college ball at Georgia Tech, where he set numerous team records that still stand today, including games played (253), runs (261), hits (351) and doubles (82). Following his colligate career, Varitek was drafted in the first-round by the Seattle Mariners in 1994.

But his time in the Emerald City was short lived.

On July 31, 1997, Varitek, along with right-hander Derek Lowe, was shipped to Boston at the non-waiver Trade Deadline in exchange for reliever Heathcliff Slocumb in one of the most lopsided trades in baseball history.

This time it was the Red Sox giving away a a veteran reliever for a rising prospect, or in this case prospects, that became one of the franchise's all-time greats.

It was just seven years earlier Boston made the mistake of trading a young Jeff Bagwell to the Houston Astros for Larry Andersen. Bagwell went on to hit 449 career homes runs and become the franchise's foundation for a decade and a half.

Throughout his career, Varitek played in 1,546 games for the Red Sox -- 1,488 came as a catcher, setting the team record for the most games caught, shattering Hall of Famer Carlton Fisk's record of 990.

Varitek threw out 301 would-be base-stealers in his career, ranking him fourth on the active list. Ivan Rodriguez, who is an owner of 13 Gold Gloves, is the active leader with an astonishing 661. However, before his retirement, Varitek was the active leader in stolen bases allowed, surrendering 992. In 2009, Varitek gave up 108 stolen bases, allowing 100 for only third time in his career and led the American League, including a game in which he saw his future teammate, Carl Crawford, tie a Major League record, swiping six bags in a game.

As for his bat, Varitek help transcend his position as a switch-hitting catcher, hitting .256 with 193 HRs and driving in 757 runs.

The three-time All-Star's best all around season came in 2005 when he hit .281, adding 22 HRs, 70 RBIs and winning his only Gold Glove and Silver Slugger.

But Varitek's career was more than just about his numbers as he was the epitome of a gamer, leader and captain.

'Tek', as his teammates call him, is one of the greatest game callers in baseball history. He called a Major League record four no-hitters, catching Hideo Nomo (April 4, 2001), Lowe (April 27, 2002), Clay Buchholz (Sept. 1, 2007) and Jon Lester (May 19, 2008).

He stood put to New York Yankees and third baseman Alex Rodriguez, famously shoving his glove into Rodriguez's face that escalated into a bench clearing brawl and paved the way for Boston's improbable 2004 postseason run, exercising their playoff demons and ending an 86-year curse.

Varitek was on the field for both of Boston's most recent World Series championships ('04 and 2007) despite owning a .237 career postseason average. However, all three of the ALCS' Varitek played in against the Yankees, he delivered.

In the playoffs, he hit .279 against New York and five of his 11 postseason HRs came at their expense. Those 11 HRs are a playoff record for a catcher and his 63 career games in October are a franchise record. Varitek never hit a World Series home run, but won all eight Fall Classic games he played in.

When he came to the plate in the first inning of the series-clinching Game 4 of the '04 World Series against St. Louis Cardinals right-hander Jason Marquis, it was the first time in baseball history that two Little League World Series participants faced off against one another on baseball's biggest stage.

It could have been Varitek's shove to the
face of Rodriguez that turned the Red
Sox fortune around.

In December 2006, Varitek was named only the third captain in team history, joining Carl Yastrzemski and Jim Rice. Over the years, he proved he was worthy of that honor, playing with grit, through injuries that only the training staff knew of and being the ultimate team player.

He showed his already irreplaceable value to the pitching staff this season, especially for Josh Beckett. A year after Beckett went 6-6 and posted a career-worst 5.78 earned run average with Varitek only catching six of 21 starts, 2011 was far different.

Varitek caught 29 of Beckett's 30 starts this past season and watched the right-hander flourish. The former Florida Marlin went 13-7 and with a minimum of 20 starts, set career-lows in ERA (2.89) and WHIP (1.03).

Just like Wakefield, his presence will be missed on and off the field.

He was also a member of the 2006 United States World Baseball Classic team, hitting a grand slam against Team Canada.

Varitek and New York's also recently retired, Jorge Posada, were the Fisk and Thurman Munson of this generation and now leave the game and the only franchise's they've ever known and love behind, but legacies that will last far beyond our lifetime.

Fifth Time the Charm

Oden's career has been anything, but what
the Trail Blazers were hoping for.

It's been nearly five years since the Portland Trail Blazers drafted Greg Oden with the No. 1 overall pick, taking him over Texas' Kevin Durant.

Since that time, Oden has undergone more knee surgeries than he has seasons played, Durant has made the Oklahoma City Thunder a title contender, winning two NBA scoring titles in the process and Oden's once upon a time running mate, Brandon Roy, has retired due to his balky knees.

Oden underwent his fifth career knee surgery Monday and the third of the microfracture variety. Originally suffering the injury in his right knee, Oden's last two procedures have come on his left.

It's worth noting no player in NBA history has come back after undergoing three different microfracture procedures.

The 7-footer has played a total of 82 games in his five-year career. That is equivalent to an entire NBA regular season. In his rookie campaign out of Ohio State, Oden played in a career-high 61 games, 39 of them came as a starter, averaging 8.9 points per game and 7.0 rebounds.

Following his first surgery, Oden came back with vengeance, starting in the team's first 21 games of the regular season. He was averaging 11.1 PPG, 8.5 rebounds and 2.3 blocks, making it clear he wasn't going to be the franchise's next Sam Bowie.

However, he was.

On Dec. 5, 2009, in a game against the Houston Rockets, Oden went up to block an Aaron Brooks' shot attempt, but instead came down on an another injured knee.

Oden suffered a fracture left patella and would miss the reminder of the season, playing in what might be his final as a Blazer.

Just like Oden, Bowie was taken ahead of another high profile superstar and a superstar in every sense of the word. The often-injured center was selected by Portland with the No. 2 overall pick in the 1984 NBA Draft, in front of North Carolina's Michael Jordan.

Need I say more?

As for Bowie, he played in 76 games in his rookie season, but only 63 games over the next four years with the Blazers before signing with the New Jersey Nets, spending only five years with the organization and the same number of operations.

Oddly enough, Oden can say the same thing.

Portland should
have listened.

Heading into the season and after the 166-day lockout Oden was a restricted free agent, but agreed to a $8.9 million qualifying offer to stay with Portland. The team has since restructured the deal with Oden, having him earn $1.5 million after he will not have played a game in any of the last three seasons.

A team that was once thought to be possessed by a formula for success, now becomes a team without two main indigents. And with Oden an unrestricted free agent at season's end, his return to the Rose Garden or any NBA arena for that matter, isn't any time soon.

Just remember, history tends to repeat itself.

Waking Goodbye

Over 19 years, Wakefield was the epitome of
a team player.

Tim Wakefield's knuckleball has fluttered passed it's final big league bat.

The 45-year-old veteran called it a career Friday after playing 19 seasons in Major League Baseball -- 17 in which came with his wearing a Boston Red Sox uniform.

Originally drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1988 as a first baseman, Wakefield made his Major League debut in 1992 as a pitcher. He finished the season with an 8-1 record and a 2.15 earned run average in 13 starts. However, he lost 11 games in 1993 and spent most of the 1994 season pitching for Triple-A Buffalo.

Wakefield was called up in September, but never appeared in a big league due to the strike-shortened season. The Pirates released Wakefield prior to the start of the 1995 season.

The Red Sox saw his potential and decided to take a chance on the then-28-year-old right hander.

Wakfield started the year at Triple-A Pawtucket, but injuries paved his fast track back to the majors. In his first 17 games with the Red Sox, Wakfield emerged as the team's most reliable starter, throwing six complete games, accumulating to a 14-1 record with a 1.65 ERA.

Using his knuckleball more then he ever had, Wakefield finished the year 16-8, narrowly missing his first 200 inning season, throwing 195 1/3 innings and posting a 2.95 ERA. It would be the only season Wakefield would see his name finish on the American League Cy Young and Most Valuable Player ballot, finishing third and 13th, respectively.

Over the years, Wakefield became one of the most versatile pitchers the game has ever seen. He appeared in 627 games over his career, 463 of those coming as a starter and the other 164 out of the bullpen.

After throwing three consecutive seasons of 200-plus innings (1996-98), Wakefield started to mainly work out of the Boston bullpen. From 1999 to 2002, Wakefield appeared in a total of 190 games for the Red Sox, but only 66 came as a starter. During that span Wakefield appeared in 45 game or more each season, including saving a career-high 15 games in '99, but never starting more than 17 games in a year.

But it's one of his relief outings in the postseason that will forever live in infamy.

After being responsible for two of the three Red Sox wins as a starter in the 2003 ALCS, Wakefield entered the decisive seventh game in Yankee Stadium as a reliever with the score knotted at five, in the 11th inning and Aaron Boone coming to the plate.

On his first pitch of the game, Wakefield surrendered one of the most memorable home runs in baseball history as Boone launched it deep into the October night, sending New York fans home dancing -- something his knuckleball didn't quite do.

Wakefield went from being potentially the series' MVP and hero to the instant choker and goat.

However, just a year later on the same stage, Wakefield and Co. would have their revenge.

Facing a 3-1 series deficit, and at one point 3-0, Wakefield won Game 5 of the 2004 ALCS, the second of Boston's eight straight postseason wins, capping the most improbable comeback in postseason history en route to their first World Series title in 86 years.

In 2007, Wakefield would win a career-high 17 games and win his second World Series championship with the Red Sox despite only appearing two games that postseason.

Two years later, Wakefield was his selected to his first and only All-Star team, becoming the second oldest player in history to be named his to first career All-Star Game at age 42. Hall of Famer Satchel Paige was the oldest, making his first All-Star appearance in 1952 at 45.

At the break, Wakefield was 11-3, but was hampered by lower back and calf injuries the second half, allowing him only to pitch in four games the rest of the season.

This past season, Wakefield recorded his 200th win and by no means was it easy. He started the year in the bullpen, but by May he was back in the rotation.

Wakefield recorded his 199th career win on July 24, but waited nearly two months before his historic milestone. With the bullpen blowing numerous leads, the knuckleballer made eight appearances before recording his final Major League win on his ninth attempt.

On Sept. 13, he allowed five runs on five hits over six innings in Boston's 18-6 win over the Toronto Blue Jays.

Speaking of September, Wakefield was one of the many Red Sox pitchers that struggled in the season's final month. In the greatest collapse in baseball history, that saw Boston finish the season 7-20 in their final 27 games and squandering a nine-game wild card lead, Wakefield went 1-2 with a 5.25 ERA.

He relinquished five runs in all five of his September appearances, including what would be his final career start, coming in a 6-2 loss to the New York Yankees.

Wakefield finishes his career with a 200-180 record and a 4.41 ERA. 186 of his 200 wins came as a Red Sox, good enough for second on the franchise's all-time list behind Roger Clemens and Cy Young's 192.

He is only the second pitcher in Red Sox to tally more than 2,000 strike outs with 2,046. Clemens is the all-time leader with 2,590. However, Wakefield is first in starts (430), appearances (590) and innings pitched (3,006).

Only Carl Yastrzemski's 23 and Ted Williams and Dwight Evans' 19-year services to the organization preponderate Wakefield's 17.

As for his place with the greatest knuckleballers in history, Wakefield is surpassed by Joe Nierko, Eddie Cicotte and Hall of Famers, Hoyt Wilhelm, Ted Lyons and Phil Nierko. But if Nierko was the godfather of the knuckleball in the 60s, 70s and 80s, then Wakefield was the heir to the throne in the 90s and the turn of the century.

Wakefield may not be a Hall of Famer, but his place in Red Sox history is assured.

Shown the Door

Ward leaping into the end zone after the
Steeler's trick play in Super Bowl XL.

It looks as if the 2012-13 NFL season with be the first in 14 years without Hines Ward in a Pittsburgh Steeler uniform.

According to multiple unnamed sources, the NFL Network has announced the Steelers do not plan on bringing back the veteran wideout for his 15th season. Ward, who is due $4 million in the final year of his contract, has played his entire career in Pittsburgh and epitomized the Steeler's blue-collar culture for the past decade and a half.

Ward has said numerous times he is willing to take a pay cut to remain with the only team he's ever known. But apparently that is not the problem with his productive diminishing each of the last two seasons.

The 35-year-old South Korean lost his starting job this season with the acquisition of Jerricho Cotchery. Ward caught 46 passes this season for 381 yards and two touchdowns, and with the offense heading a different direction, Ward's services may be no longer needed.

It was just two days ago Pittsburgh introduced former Kansas City Chiefs head coach Todd Haley as their next offensive coordinator. The decision came after Bruce Arians' contract expired and was hired to fill the same position in Indianapolis. A move that quarterback Ben Roethlisberger did not approve of. So, not only will Roethlisberger be losing his offensive game caller, but his favorite target over the first eight years of his career.

Playing his college ball as a Georgia Bulldog, Ward was selected by the Steelers in the third-round in 1998 NFL Draft, becoming a staple in the Pittsburgh huddle.

Ward's best season came in 2002 when he set career-highs in receptions (112), yards (1,329), yards per game (83.1) and TDs (12). But his biggest accomplishment came in, at the time, the biggest game of his career.

In Super Bowl XL, Ward caught a 43-yard touchdown pass from fellow wide receiver Antwaan Randle El with 6:04 left in the fourth quarter, giving the Steelers a 21-10 lead and sealing the franchise's fifth championship victory, this time over the Seattle Seahawks.

Ward finished the game with five catches for 123 yards and that one score. With that performance, he was named the game's Most Valuable Player, becoming the fifth receiver to do so and only the second in Steeler history. Hall of Famer Lynn Swann was the first, capturing the award in 1976 for his dominance in Super Bowl X.

Not only will Ward go down as one of the greatest blocking receivers in NFL history, but his ability to stay on the field in the world's most physical sport will live in Pittsburgh lore.

Possessed with a certain grit and toughness about him, Ward played in all 16 of the team's regular season games 10 of his 14 years with the organization, and never playing less than 13.

If in fact Ward has played in last game in black and gold then he leaves behind a remarkable legacy. A one point in his career, Ward had a streak of 186 consecutive games with at least one reception. It was broken in 2010.

This past season, Ward became the 19th player in NFL history to tally more than 12,000 receiving yards and only the eighth player to caught 1,000 passes. He apparently finishes his Pittsburgh career with exactly 1,000 receptions, 12,083 yards and 85 TDs. That doesn't include his postseason statistics.

The four-time Pro Bowler played in 18 career postseason games, catching 88 passes for 1,181 yards and 10 TDs. His 88 receptions rank second behind only Jerry Rice's 151.

However, in his most recent playoff game and what could be in final game as a Steeler, Ward was ineffective, being targeted on two plays, but did not record a catch in Pittsburgh's 29-23 overtime lost to the Denver Broncos.

Following that loss it was reported by multiple media outlets that Ward was in fact ready to call it a career, but he set the record straight on his Facebook page.

"Let me set the record straight: I have no plans on retiring right now, Ward wrote. I want to win another Super Bowl. I don't know where the media is getting this info from but rest assured that when I decide to retire , you'll hear it from ME first."

While it may be clear Ward wants to continue playing, the Steelers no longer want him.

This Time it's for Real

When he was on the field, Williams was one
of the most feared backs the game has ever
seen.

We've heard this story before, but this time it looks like it's official.

After 11 great, but controversial NFL seasons, Baltimore Ravens running back Ricky Williams has decided  against taking handoffs next season and will retire.

Williams, 34, played is college ball at the University of Texas, where he was twice named a Consensus All-American and received college football's highest individual honor. Despite finishing fifth in the Heisman Trophy voting in 1997, Williams would claim the award the following season, receiving 85.23 percent of the vote.

Since the award was created in 1935, Williams is one of only six players to received 80-plus percent of the vote and only the third to tally 85 or more. USC's Reggie Bush, whose 2005 award has since been vacated, and Troy Smith (2006) are the only other to receive that high of a vote total, 91.77 and 91.63, respectively.

The former Longhorn standout finished his Heisman campaign with 2,124 rushing yards on 361 carries, scoring 27 touchdowns.

Williams completed his collegiate career as major college football's all-time leading rusher with 6,279 yards. However, just a year after setting the record, Williams' successor of the prestigious award, Ron Dayne, broke that record, rushing for 1,834 in his Heisman season, bringing his career total to 6,397.

Till this day, Dayne and Williams are still the most productive backs in FBS history.

The New Orleans Saints and then-head coach Mike Ditka drafted Williams with the fifth overall pick in the 1999 NFL Draft. The Hall of Fame coach traded all six of the team's draft picks that season and their first- and third-round picks in 2000 to the Washington just to draft the 226-pounder.

While he was productive in his rookie season, it was in Williams' second year that he eclipsed the 1,000-yard threshold for the first time in his career, rushing for 1,000 yards on the dot. That season Williams led the Saints to their first playoff appearance since 1992, helping them record their first playoff win in franchise history, defeating the St. Louis Rams, 31-28.

New Orleans was ousted from the postseason the following week by the Minnesota Vikings. Those would be the only two playoffs game Williams played in for the Saints.

Williams would play one more season in New Orleans before being traded to the Miami Dolphins prior to the start of the 2002-03 season.

In order to acquire the former Heisman Trophy winner, the Dolphins gave the Saints their '02 first-round draft choice, swapped their fourth-round draft positions for the same draft and a conditional third-round pick for 2003.

A hefty price to pay, but no nearly the cost New Orleans paid to draft him. Miami, at least initially, would be rewarded.

In his first season in South Beach, Williams became the league's rushing leader, carrying the ball 383 for 1,853 yards, putting together, at the time, the eighth best rushing season in NFL history. Williams also led the NFL in yards per game that season, averaging 115.8 and scored a career-high 16 TDs.

He would be named his first and only Pro Bowl and All-Pro team.

Following up his breakout campaign, Williams rushed for his fourth straight 1,000-yard season and became the definition of a workhorse for Miami. In his first two seasons with the Dolphins, Williams carried the ball a combined 775 times, by far the most in the NFL.

After the best two seasons of his career, Williams surprised everyone, choosing to retire from the NFL after violating the league's drug policy and facing a four-game suspension to start the 2004-05 season. It was the second time in threes years Williams had tested positive for marijuana, and along with his suspension, he was slapped with a $650,000 fine.

When his first retirement was made officially on August 2, 2004, Williams was ruled ineligible for the upcoming season.

Miami countered Williams' retirement by drafting Auburn standout, Ronnie Brown, with the No. 2 pick in the 2005 NFL Draft. In his rookie season, Brown, taking most of the snaps vacated by Williams, narrowly missed rushing for 1,000 yards, rushing for 907.

Williams and Brown formed a more than
respectable one-two punch in the
backfield.

However, Williams returned to the Fins the following year, paying back most of his signing bonus and served his four-game suspension. The 12 games Williams played that season, he rushed for 743 yards on just 168 carries.

His second stint didn't last long. In 2006, Williams went north of the border, playing for the Toronto Argonauts in the Canadian Football League.

Williams would be reinstated into the NFL in 2007 by Commissioner Roger Goodell -- a decision that was contingent upon Williams taking multiple drug tests throughout the week. In his first game back, on Monday Night Football, Williams torn one of his pectoral muscles and was placed on injured reserve not long after.

Williams wasn't the one only that missed time that season -- a season that saw the Dolphins almost go winless, finishing the year 1-15. Brown missed the final nine games of the regular season due to a knee injury and also found himself on IR.

In 2008, with a healthy Brown, a new head coach and Bill Parcells calling the shots, Williams was apart of the wildcat offense and making his first playoff appearance since his second year in New Orleans.

2009 would be Williams last run at something special. Brown was placed on IR with a right foot injury just nine games into the season, giving Williams his starting job back.

He rushed for 1,121 that season. It had been six years between 1,000-yard seasons for Williams -- an NFL record.

Williams spent one more season in Miami before signing a two-year contract this past August to join the Ravens. He served as Ray Rice's backup and played in all 18 games this season, including both of Baltimore's postseason games where they ultimately fell in the AFC Championship Game.

In 147 regular season games, Williams finishes his career with 10,009 rushing yards, becoming only the 26th player in NFL history to eclipse that mark. He scored 74 career TDs and was one of the rare running backs with the ability to catch the football. Williams caught 342 passes in his career for 2,606 yards.

Whatever the future holds, Williams will be remembered for his shaggy dreadlocks, rock solid physique, but fragile personality. He had the potential to be one of the greatest running backs in NFL history.

Instead he might be the most misunderstood figure in sports.

Hip, Hip, Jorge!

Posada is a borderline Hall of Fame candidate
 and one of the greatest hitting catchers
in history.

A year after New York Yankees great Andy Pettitte decided to call it a career, Jorge Posada has followed suit, leaving the "Core Four" to a perfect pair.

After months of speculation about his future, it has been reported rather than put on a different uniform for the first time in his career, Posada will indeed announce his retirement in the coming weeks.

Posada, 40, was drafted by the Yankees in the 24th round of the 1990 amateur draft as a second baseman, but made the transition to catcher, a decision he wouldn't regret. The Puerto Rican native made his Major League debut on Sept. 4, 1995 and made the postseason roster, where he appeared in one game as a pinch-runner.

The following year, the switch-hitting catcher appeared briefly during the 1996 season, but did not participate in New York's first World Series run, starting in the mid-1990s.

After serving as current-New York manager Joe Girardi's backup in 1997, Posada became a fixture and invaluable member in the Yankee lineup in 1998.

That season Posada was on the receiving end of the fifteenth perfect game in Major League history, catching lefty David Wells' perfecto on May 17. He batted .268 with 17 home runs and 63 RBIs that season, playing in a 100-plus games for the first time in his career.

That was the year New York won their first of three consecutive World Series titles with Posada behind the dish.

In 2001, Posada was the recipient of Derek Jeter's incredibly famous flip play that prevented the tying run from scoring in Game 3 of the ALDS with New York facing elimination and a 2-0 series deficit. However, it was Posada's fifth inning home run off future Cy Young Award winner Barry Zito that gave his team the lead and enabled them to win, 1-0, and eventually make their fourth straight Fall Classic appearance.

The Yankee backstop would finished third in the American League Most Valuable Player voting in 2003 after batting .283 and setting career-highs in home runs (30) and RBIs (101).

Posada's best year came at the young age of 35. In 2007, he batted .338 and set a career-high with 171 hits. He was rewarded with a four-year $52.4 million contract extension, but missed most of the final season at the Old Yankee Stadium after undergoing season-ending shoulder surgery in July.

In 2009, Posada got his last taste as a champion. In the team's 15 postseason games that season, Posada batted .260 with 2 home runs and 8 RBIs. Both of Posada's home runs either tied the game or gave New York the lead.

The following year he became the first Yankee in history to hit back-to-back grand slams on consecutive days since another New York catching great, Bill Dickey, did so in 1937.

A month later he knocked in the 1,000 run of his career, becoming one of five catchers in Major League history to total 200 home runs, 300 doubles, 1,000 RBIs and 1,500 hits from behind the plates.

After being stripped of his catching duties prior to the start of this past season and moved to a full-time designated hitter role, Posada's season was full of controversy. After getting off to a slow start, Posada pulled himself out of the starting lineup in a Sunday night game at Fenway Park after being dropped to ninth in the batting order.

He and Yankee brass would settle their differences and move forward, knowing they needed one another.

Posada's season highlight came on Sept. 21, 2011 when he was called upon to pinch-hit, in a tie game with the bases-loaded in the bottom of the eighth inning. The longtime catcher delivered a two-run single, capturing the franchise's seventeenth AL East title. After finishing the year with a .235 batting average, 14 home runs and 44 RBIs, he enjoyed one of his greatest postseason series of his career.

In New York's five-game first-round series with the Detroit Tigers, Posada batted .429 with an on-base percentage of .579. Following the team's Game 5 loss, Posada was asked about his future, where he began to tear up and had to step away from his locker.

He finishes his career as a .273 career hitter, .374 on-base percentage, with 275 home runs, 1,065 RBI and 1,664 hits.

A 5-time All-Star, Silver Slugger and World Series champion, Posada leaves New York as one of the most successful offensive players in franchise history, ranking in the top ten of numerous categories. He ranks 10th in total bases (2,888), ninth in extra-base hits (664), 8th in home runs and games players (1,829), 7th in doubles (379) and 4th in intentional walks (78).

His 1,574 career games behind the plate ranks him third in franchise history behind Dickey's 1709 and Yogi Berra's 1692. But his 119 postseason games behind the plate rank first all-time.

One of the proudest Yankees in history, Posada was a leader throughout his 17-year career and considered it a privilege, honor and a huge responsibility to catch for the New York Yankees.

Sad Day In Happy Valley

Paterno has been the face of
Penn State for the last 61
years.

Say it ain't so, Joe.

After six decades of achievement and grace, Penn State football coach Joe Paterno has said he will retire at season's end amid the sexual abuse scandal surrounding a university he has dedicated his life work to.

Paterno first came to Penn State as a 23-year-old kid, being hired as an assistant in 1950. He would serve at that post until 1966, where he was promoted as the head football coach, beginning a 46-year run as the most successful coach in NCAA Division I history.

The 84-year-old coach is the living identify of not only the football program at Penn State, but the university itself, putting State College on the map.

Nearly two week ago, Paterno recorded his 409th win in his illustrious career when his team pulled out an ugly 10-7 victory over conference rival Illinois. The win gave Paterno the most wins in Division I history, surpassing Grambling State legend Eddie Robinson for the all-time mark. Winning the only two national championships in school history in 1982 and '86, Paterno also holds the record for most bowl victories with 24 in his 37 appearances, also a FBS record.

However, all Paterno's victories didn't come on the gridiron.

Penn State has seen 49 academic All-Americans in their history, 47 whom have come under Paterno's tenure, good enough for third all-time among FBS institutions. In 2010, Paterno saw an astonishing 84 percent team graduation rate, second only to Northwestern's 95.

There are so many words to describe Paterno, mentor, educator and pinoeer, but it's what he didn't do that may forever define his legacy in Happy Valley.

Paterno was notified by then-graduate assistant and current receivers coach, Mike McQueary, on an incident he witnessed in the team's football complex in 2002. McQueary saw former defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky, who has been charged with 40 criminal counts of sexual child abuse through his charitable foundation, sodomizing a 10-year-old boy in the shower.

It is unclear what exactly Paterno knew and when he knew it, but nonetheless he failed to follow up on an incident he reportedly discussed with university president Graham Spanier and Athletic Director Tim Curley nearly a decade ago.

Curley, along with vice president Gary Schultz, have stepped down from their respective positions and since have been released on bail after being charged with perjury and failure to report abuse. Curley at one point was Penn State's ball boy, one of the many administrators that have ties to Paterno.

On the other hand, Spanier still remains at his post, but will reportedly resign or be voted out sometime Wednesday, ending his 16 years at the helm.

The Board of Trustees have a meeting scheduled later this week to discuss the future of the university and it's football program. And while Paterno has said he will make his retirement effective at the end of the 2011 football season, the board might not have written the same final chapter in Paterno's tenure.

Paterno addressed his team Wednesday morning in a meeting that saw the iconic coach break into tears and leave the room to a standing ovation after announcing his future plans.

Sandusky was arrested over the weekend after
reportedly abusing 8 boys in a 15-year span.

No. 12 Penn State is scheduled to take on No. 19 Nebraska Saturday in their final home game of the season with all eyes not on the Nittany Lions seniors, but their fatherly head coach know as "JoePa".

If in fact Paterno is allowed to coach Saturday, he will surpass Amos Alonzo Stagg for the most games coached in Division I history with 549. His team is currently in first place in the Big Ten Conference at 8-1 and hope to play in their conference title game, for a shot to play in the Rose Bowl.

Paterno may have fulfilled his legal requirements, but his moral obligation was not. A legendary coaching career that should be celebrated is now forever tainted.

C'est La Russa

La Russa's gutsy decision making didn't always
pan out, but is the reason why he is one of the
greatest managers in history.

Just three days after capping in an improbable postseason run with his third World Series title, St. Louis Cardinals manager Tony La Russa has announced his retirement from the dugout.

It has been 33 years since La Russa took his first managerial position with the Chicago White Sox back in 1979 after a brief playing career for three different organizations in a six-year span. During that time he accumulated a .199 career average, an average that eventually lead to a career change and a wise one at that.

La Russa spent nine seasons on the South Side, where he won his first Manager of the Year Award in 1983, before being fired by the White Sox just 64 games into the 1986 season. He would not be unemployed for very long as the Oakland Athletics came calling just weeks after. La Russa managed Oakland's final 79 games that season, watching them go 45-34, far better than the 31-52 mark they posted prior to his arrival.

The following year La Russa saw his club finish the season at the.500 mark (81-81) with the help and emergence rookie Mark McGwire. With the guidance of La Russa, the eventual 1987 Rookie of the Year set a rookie record with a Major League leading 49 home runs and .618 slugging percentage.

La Russa followed up his first two campaigns in Oakland with three consecutive American League Pennants, 1988-'90. Despite winning only one World Series in those three appearances, a legend was born.

The Tampa native managed five more seasons by the bay before leaving for St. Louis. La Russa's departure from Oakland was mainly due to death of patriarch Walter A. Haas, Jr. and his team being under .500 each of the last three seasons.

La Russa would replace Joe Torre at the helm in St. Louis prior to the 1996 season, setting the stage for some of his best managerial work and a legacy that might never be matched.

With the Cardinals, La Russa was able to watch a historic and record-breaking 70 home run season, capture nine postseason appearances, including two wild card berths in 2001 and most recently this season, all seven of St. Louis' National League Central division titles, three NL Pennants and two World Series titles.

In 2004, La Russa lead the Cardinals to their first World Series appearance since '87, but they were swept by the curse-breaking Boston Red Sox. Two years later, La Russa and Co. would return to the Fall Classic, this time beating Detroit Tigers and their error-prone pitching staff in five games. That feat made him the only manager in history to win multiple pennants in both the AL and NL and the second manager in history, along with the late Sparky Anderson, to win the World Series in both, as well.

Then comes the story of his Cardinals impossible 2011 season.

Pronounced dead numerous times during the year, La Russa never let his team quit. They overcame a 10 1/2 wild card deficit and clinch a playoff spot the final day of the regular season. The Cardinals crashed the postseason party, defeating the heavily favored Philadelphia Phillies in the NLDS, their division rival Milwaukee Brewers in the NLCS and the defending AL champion Texas Rangers in a thrilling seven-game World Series, where they were down to their final strike, twice.

The announcement comes as a surprise to many, but not the Cardinals front office. It has been said La Russa informed general manager John Mozeliak and Co. of his decision as early as August and could be the reason why the 67-year-old manager was so relaxed during his latest postseason run.

There are so many words to describe La Russa throughout his career, genius, daring and fiery to name a few. He is the most second-guessed manager in the history of game, living by the phrase, "Trust your gut, don't cover your butt."

Being the innovator of the late-inning relievers and sometimes batting his pitchers eight instead of ninth, La Russa won six pennants and is one of nine managers in history to win at least three World Series titles during their career, ranking him sixth all-time. He retires third on the all-time list with 14 playoff appearances and career wins with 2,728, trailing only Hall of Famers Connie Mack and John McGraw.

In 33 years of managing, La Russa finds himself second on the all-time list in losses (2,365), postseason wins (70) and games managed (5,097), joining Mack as the only other manager in history to manage more than 5,000 games in a career.

La Russa won four Manager of the Year Awards during his career, his last coming in 2002, but another could be waiting in the wings after what could be his finest managerial job yet. A year after losing soon-to-be Hall of Fame managers Torre, Cito Gaston and Lou Pinella to retirement, baseball has lost another. Mixing and matching his way to World Series titles, La Russa is one of the greatest managers in history and one day will have his day in Cooperstown.

After 16 seasons a new face will be at the top step of the St. Louis dugout in 2012.

Moss To The Sidelines

When motived there's no question Moss was a
cut above the rest.

Thirteen years ago the Minnesota Vikings selected a slender wide receiver out of Marshall University setting the stage for one of the greatest careers in NFL history, now that career has apparently come to a close. Future Hall of Fame wideout Randy Moss made a surprise decision Monday by announcing his retirement from professional football at age thirty-four.

Most forget how great Moss really was as his on and off the field issues overshadowed an eventual trip to Canton career. If in fact this is the end of the line, what a ride it was.

Prior to the 1998 draft many believed that Dallas Cowboys' owner Jerry Jones would select Moss with the eight overall pick, instead Jones went in a different direction selecting defensive end Greg Ellis out of North Carolina.

Thirteen picks later Minnesota would take a chance on the former Florida State castoff. In his rookie season in Minneapolis he caught a rookie record 17 touchdowns grabbing the AP Offensive Rookie of the Year and leading the Vikings to 15-1 regular season mark.

Although the Vikings would come a field goal kick away from the Super Bowl that season it began one of the most decorated careers the game has ever seen.

As for the Jones and the Cowboys, Moss would torch them every time he stepped onto the gridiron carrying a chip on his shoulder. In his eight career games against America's team he had 40 receptions for 789 yards and 11 touchdowns.

After bursting onto the seen, Moss electrified the Metrodome crowd with his dynamic speed and circus act catches. He spent his first seven seasons in Minnesota leading them to four playoff appearances while appearing in five of his seven Pro Bowls before being ship to Oakland prior to the 2005 season.

Like it has been for many players Oakland was a black hole for Moss in the prime of his career. Many believed his days of torturing defensive corrdinators were over after only tallying 11 touchdowns in two seasons with the Raiders.

Then on draft day of 2007, Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots shocked the football world by trading for the disgruntled wide receiver, hoping to catch lighting in bottle. They did just that. Moss caught a single-season record 23 touchdowns from quarterback Tom Brady that season, helping the Patriots cap off an undefeated regular season before losing to the New York Giants in Super Bowl XLII.

It was the first time in his career he had played with a Hall of Fame caliber quarterback after years of making mediocre signal callers like Daunte Culpepper, Jeff George, and Brad Johnson look like world beaters.

While the Patriots never got back to the Super Bowl during Moss' tenure in New England they made the playoffs his final three years in Foxborough racking up 27 touchdowns.

Last season he started with Brady and Co., but wore out his welcome by voicing his displeasure with his expiring contract in a post-game press conference, days later he was traded back to where it all began.

The Minnesota experiment last all of four games before then-Vikings head coach Brad Childress decided he wasn't the type of player his team needed and released the thirteen-year veteran. Moss latched on and spent the final eight games of the season with the Tennessee Titans as a non-factor catching a total of 6 passes for 80 yards with no touchdowns.

Moss mooning the Lambeau crowd is only one
of many actions that was frowned upon by
his piers. 

Despite being one of the most colorful and controversial athletes in recent memory, Moss' place among the elite cannot be denied.

His 153 career touchdowns has him tied for second most among wide receivers and third all-time behind only Jerry Rice (207) and Emmitt Smith (175). He is currently 46 receptions shy of 1,000 for his career with 954, good enough for eighth on the all-time list. His ability to lure defenders to sleep has him second in games with 100 receiving yards or more with 64 and fifth all-time with 14,858 receiving yards.

While it's not even up for debate that the greatest receiver in NFL history title belongs to Rice, Moss is the closest thing we have to compare. His freakish ability earned him the nickname "Super Freak" and leave many to wonder what could have been if Moss would have been able to put in all together on a consistence basis.

For thirteen seasons Moss wowed NFL crowds on Sundays with his jaw-dropping receptions and ability to do what other great players dare to dream. A Super Bowl ring is the only piece that eludes his already impressive resume, but nonetheless if this is the end, it was one hell of a show.

Big Diesel Makes His Final Stop

O'Neal at times seemed to be larger
than the game itself.

For almost two decades center Shaquille O'Neal was the face of the National Basketball Association, Wednesday that came to close when the seven-footer decided to call it a career. Now after nineteen seasons in the NBA we can reflect on remarkable career of this larger than life individual.

A New Jersey native, O'Neal played his college ball at Louisiana State University and won the National Player of the Year Award in 1991 while playing for the Tigers. After playing three seasons at LSU, O'Neal entered the 1992 NBA Draft and was selected with the number one overall pick by the Orlando Magic.

    In his rookie season in Orlando, O'Neal was selected to start the All-Star Game in Phoenix, the first rookie to receive that honor since the great Michael Jordan did so in 1985 representing the Chicago Bulls. After averaging 23.4 point per game and 13.9 rebounds that season, he would be voted the '92-'93 Rookie of the Year, becoming the first time Magic players to win the award.

    In only his third year in the NBA, O'Neal along with his sidekick Anfernee "Penny" Hardaway led the Magic to their first Finals appearance in franchise history. It was not the magical ending Orlando was hoping for as O'Neal was outplayed by another future Hall of Fame center Hakeem Olajuwon and the Magic were swept in four straight games, giving the Houston Rockets their second straight NBA title.

    The following year would be his last in Orlando. The Magic won their second straight division title and also reached the Eastern Conference Finals in as many years only to be swept by Jordan's Bulls. O' Neal was set to hit the open market as a free agent for the first time and with a new dynasty building in Chicago and Eastern Conference, he thought his best chance to win was elsewhere and bolted for the West Coast.

    Prior to the '96-'97 season O'Neal was wooed by general manager and Laker legend Jerry West to join the Los Angeles Lakers, signing seven-year contract worth $120 million. His first three seasons in Los Angeles were productive making the postseason every year, but had yet to make a Finals appearance since his arrival only escaping the second-round once. That was all about to change with another brilliant move by the Los Angeles GM.

    West lured former Bulls head coach Phil Jackson out of hibernation and come to Hollywood paving the way for the next Lakers dynasty. In 2000, O'Neal finally got the bad taste out of his mouth reaching the NBA Finals for the first time since his Magic lost in '95. That same season O'Neal would be named the NBA Most Valuable Player for the first and only time in his career.

    With Jackson's championship pedigree, O'Neal's dominating presence in the paint and a young Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles would win three straight NBA titles from '00-'02.

    After the final piece of confetti had fallen and the last glass of champagne have been drunk, it got very dark in the City of Angels as their once dynamic duo began to feud. Los Angeles's run at a 4-Feat would come up short in the second-round against the San Antonio Spurs. The younger and more athletic Bryant , whose work ethic has become legendary, felt they needed to work even harder to recapture their title and dethrone the Spurs. O' Neal's thinking was a bit different, claiming they would be just fine and continue their dominance.
  
    It looked that way as Los Angeles would represent the Western Conference in the NBA Finals for the fourth time in five years, but Bryant proved to be right.

    O'Neal's Lakers would lose to the Detroit Pistons in five games having their dynasty and his time in Los Angeles come to a close. With the then-twenty-four-year-old Bryant was currently saddled with an expiring contract and O'Neal showing signs of aging at thirty-two, the Lakers decided to build their future around the shooting guard trading O'Neal to the Miami Heat. Leaving many to wonder what they may have accomplished if they stayed together.

O'Neal, right won his fourth and final NBA
title with Wade left, in Miami.

Many believe the departure of West after the '02 season was the turning point between the two, as the former GM was said to be the glue that held everything together.

O'Neal's time away from the top would be short lived. In only his second year teamed up with Dwayne Wade and Pat Riley, the Heat were able to overcome an 0-2 Finals deficit to the Dallas Mavericks and win their first NBA title in franchise history in 2006. The championship was the fourth of O'Neal's career in his six trips to the Finals.

    O'Neal would eventually wear out his welcome in South Beach and after playing three and half seasons in Miami he was traded back to the Western Conference joining Steve Nash and the Phoenix Suns.
  
    Really his only shining moment as a member of the Suns was in the '09 NBA All-Star Game in Phoenix when he was named the game's MVP for the third time in his career sharing the award with Bryant. His final two seasons in the NBA were spent with his fifth and sixth different teams, but they were injury riddled as O'Neal only played 90 regular season games for the Cavaliers and Celtics combined.

    Even though O'Neal was heavily criticized throughout his career for not staying in shape there was a method to his madness.

    Shaq leaves the game as the fifth leading scorer in NBA history with 28,596 career points. His 58 percent field goal percentage is good enough for second all-time. O'Neal is the only player in NBA history to average 20 point and 10 rebounds for thirteen straight seasons and was a fifteen-time All-Star. That ranks second in NBA history only to Kareem-Abdul-Jabbar's nineteen.

    His postseason resume is even more impressive. O'Neal made the postseason in seventeen of his nineteen years in the league reaching the Finals six times. Of the four titles won by O'Neal, he was named the Finals MVP three times.

O'Neal, left and former teammate Bryant, right
might have accomplished even greater
things if they stayed together.

O'Neal is retiring as one of the true ambassadors and characters of the game. His self-proclaimed nicknames took the NBA by storm such as The Big Aristotle, Shaqtus, Superman, Big Diesel, Shaqovic, and of course Shaq to name a few.

The Lakers have already stated publicly they will retire his No. 34 jersey eventually, leaving a footprint in our hearts we won't soon forget.

    His personality was as big as he was and will truly be missed. Although he may have underachieved with his god given ability, Shaq was second to none during his career and will go down as one of the greatest ever to play the game.

    O'Neal will hold his retirement press conference at his home in Isleworth on Friday and can be seen on ESPN at 1 p.m. Eastern Time.

    With diesel gas prices at an average of $3.95 a gallon throughout the United States it was time to park the Big Diesel in the garage for good.

The Closing of a Story Book Career

Selanne always possessed the heart

of a champion.

The Anaheim Ducks are coming off a disappointing loss Friday night at home, dropping Game 5 of their first-round series to the Nashville Predators.

The Ducks find themselves on the brick of elimination, but longtime right wing and future Hall of Famer, Teemu Selanne seems timeless. Selanne is enjoying one of the greatest postseasons in his glorious career.

Now, at the age of 40, Selanne had one of his most productive seasons in the last five years of his career.

Selanne recorded 31 goals and 49 assists during the regular season, accumulating to 80 points for the Ducks. He helped lead the Ducks to the fourth seed in the Western Conference with a record of 47-30.

Anaheim was able to win seven of their last 10 regular season games to land such good postseason position. With the Ducks facing a 3-2 series deficit, Selanne has done his best to keep Anaheim afloat.

Selanne has recorded a point in all five of the Ducks playoffs games this season and scored a goal in four of them.

In games one and two, Selanne scored a goal in each of them, as the Ducks spilt the first two games at home with the Predators. Then, in Game 3, Selanne scored two goals in a 30-second window in the second period of a 4-3 loss in Nashville.

In Game 4, Selanne would find the back of the net yet again, becoming only the third player in NHL postseason history to score five goals at age 40 or older in a single postseason. The last player to do so was Boston Bruin Mark Recchi, who did it in last year's postseason, lighting the lamp six times.

Even though Selanne did not score Saturday night in Anaheim, he did record a point via the assist. At the 14:16 mark of the third period, Selanne assisted teammate Jason Blake's second goal of the series, giving the Ducks a temporary 3-2 lead. The Ducks would go on to lose the game in overtime and find themselves in the predicament they are in now.

With Anaheim's season hanging in the balance, so does the fate of Selanne's career, who has hinted he may retire at season's end, no matter the result.

Selanne is a former first-round pick of the Winnipeg Jets back in 1988 and experienced so many wonderful feats in what will be an eventual Hall of Fame career.

During his 1992-93 rookie season, Selanne set the NHL rookie record for goals and points scored in a single season with 76 goals and 132 total points. The 10-time All-Star was the first European to be named the NHL All-Star Game MVP after recording a hat trick in 1998.

Selanne would go on to lead the NHL in goals that season as he did two other times in his career. He became only the second Duck in franchise history to be named a finalist for the Hart Trophy in 1997-98, following the lead of teammate Paul Kariya, who was named a finalist the year before.

After being traded to the San Jose Sharks in March of 2001 and then playing a one season for the Colorado Avalanche, Selanne would return to Anaheim for the 2005-06 season in grand fashion.

In a 2006 game against the Avalanche, he would score the 500th goal of his career against his former team. In 2007, Selanne would spark a deep playoff run for Anaheim, bringing home their first Stanley Cup in franchise history after dismantling the Ottawa Senators in five games.

Most recently on March 21, 2011, Selanne became the 18th member in NHL history to join the 600 goal club by scoring, once again, in a game against Colorado.

Whether or not Sunday night in Nashville is the final game of a illustrious 20-year career, many have had the privilege to watch a hockey legend and a true Mighty Duck.

Manny Being Manny

Ramirez had one hit in 17 at-bats
with the Rays in '11.

Tampa Bay Rays designated hitter Manny Ramirez is calling it a career. Ramirez, who signed a one-year deal with the Rays this offseason, was batting .059 in five games with the team in 2011.

This does not come as a surprise with his recent struggles at the plate, but what does come as a shock is the reason why Ramirez is retiring.

According to Major League Baseball, there is a problem with Ramirez and the Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program. Ramirez has chosen rather than completing and continuing the process under the Program to retire from baseball.

Ramirez, then with the Los Angeles Dodgers, was suspended 50 games by baseball in 2009 after testing positive for a female fertility drug. Even though the drug was not considered a steroid, it was commonly used by steroids users to restore their testosterone levels back to normal.

It is unclear what Ramirez has done to violate the Major League Drug Policy, but in any event Ramirez has opted for retirement.

A former first-round pick of the Cleveland Indians back in 1991, Ramirez quickly gained the reputation of one of the game's most feared hitters. In 19 seasons, Ramirez was a 12-time All-Star with a career batting average of .312. Prior to the start of the 2001 season, Ramirez left Cleveland, signing a eight-year $160 million deal to join the Boston Red Sox.

In 2002, Ramirez won the American League batting title with an average at .349. In 2004, Ramirez led the Red Sox to first World Series title in 86 years, being named the series' Most Valuable Player. His 555 career home runs ranks him 14th on the all-time list and finishes with 1831 career runs batted in.

Ramirez will always be remembered for his playful, yet sometimes idiotic antics. Which have commonly been know as 'Manny being Manny'. With Ramirez calling it a career we can finally look back on a wonderful, yet controversial career.

The 38-year-old outfielder is forever linked to performance-enhancing drugs, his numbers always tainted and now will begin the debate, will Manny ever be inducted in Cooperstown? We'll let you decide.

An Angel that Earned His Wings

Anderson receives a curtain call
during his 10 RBI night.

Former Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim outfielder Garret Anderson has decided to call it a career. The announcement was made official on Tuesday morning.

Anderson played 17 seasons in the big leagues with three different teams, including the Atlanta Braves and Los Angeles Dodgers the last two seasons. Although, Anderson will always be known for his 15 fabulous years in Anaheim.

Anderson, a native of Los Angeles was drafted in the fourth round of the 1990 amateur draft out of Kennedy High School. Little did we know that he would become an immortal angel.

In his 15 seasons as a member of the Angels, Anderson became the franchise all-time leader in games played (2,013), hits (2,368), doubles (489), runs (1024), extra-base hits (796), total bases (3,743) and runs batted in (1,292). Some consider Anderson the greatest player in franchise history and there is no argument here.

During his tenure, the Angels made six playoff appearances with five of them coming as American League Western Division champions. They made two ALCS appearances winning one of them in 2002, heading to their first World Series in franchise history.

That season the Angels made the postseason by winning the AL Wild Card and eventually defeating the San Francisco Giants in an epic seven-game series with the help of Anderson's bases-clearing double to seal the victory in the decisive seventh game.

Anderson was a player that flew under the radar most of his career, which is just the way he would have wanted it, but was quietly a one of the best hitters in Major League Baseball.

From 1996-06 only two players had more hits than Anderson's 1,956 throughout that time period, Derek Jeter (2,138) and Alex Rodriguez (2,023). Anderson stole the show at the at the 2003 Midsummer Classic winning the Home Run Derby and the All-Star Game Most Valuable Player Award. In August of 2007, Anderson made the New York Yankees pitching staff his personal batting practice session, going 4-for-6, driving in 10 runs. The last four came on a grand slam he hit off of left-handed reliever Sean Henn to cap his amazing night.

Anderson was designated for assignment by the Dodgers on Aug. 8 of last year after only batting .181 in a pinch-hitting role. That would be the last time we would see Anderson in a Major League uniform.

Anderson's No. 16 will soon be in the right field bleachers in Anaheim, never to be worn again and just maybe one day Anderson will reach the pearly gates of baseball heaven, Cooperstown.