Last week I discussed why I'm not a fan of Derek Jeter's season long retirement party that's going to dominate baseball's headlines in 2014. But it's also got me wondering about what some of the coolest pro athlete retirement stories are. I'm having trouble remembering many, and it's not an easy thing to research on the interwebs. So if you have any in mind please let me know.
One of the best retirement moments I can come up with is the second of three from Michael Jordan -- burying this jumper to beat Utah in 1998 for his 6th championship. He didn't actually retire however until just before the start of the following season, which because of the lockout turned out to be in January of 1999. But then he went and came back yet again in 2001, rendering the whole thing moot.
Far and away the greatest retirement story I know of is that of Billy Chapel, a 40 year old Detroit Tigers pitcher who threw a perfect game in Yankee Stadium on the final day of his career. Not only that, but Chapel didn't even decided to call it quits until the middle of that very game; after learning earlier in the day that the Tigers had been sold and the new owners planned to trade him away from the only team he'd every played for. To make it even more impressive Chapel actually announced his decision by signing a baseball with the inscription "Tell them I'm through," and had it delivered from the dugout to the owners box.
So for whoever is already thinking about following in Jeter's footsteps, I'd recommend Chapel's model as a much better way to go.
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I prefer the ones that just go quietly. John Stockton or Larry Bird for example. No rocking chairs for Kareem and Dr J.
ReplyDeleteI'm OK with taking some time in the spotlight, just nothing like an entire season.
DeleteI remember Yaz doing a farewell run around the warning track at Fenway. It was classy and touching.
ReplyDeleteThat was cool, I don't remember it as it happened, but I have seen it many times.
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