Yankees first baseman, Mark Teixeira, announced his retirement from baseball today effective at the end of the season and as you might expect, he got very emotional while speaking. “I got to live out my dream,” said Teixeira, who has hit 404 career home runs and won a World Series with the Yankees in 2009. The announcement comes as somewhat of a surprise as he had mentioned he hoped to play five more years during spring training this year.
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“I just realized my body can’t do it anymore,” Teixeira said. “If I’m going to grind through seasons not being healthy, I’d rather be home with my kids. Teixeira is in the eighth and final year of a $180 million contract he signed as a free agent in December 2008. He is hitting .198 with 10 home runs and 27 RBIs in 77 games this season.
For his career, Tex has accumulated 404 career HR (7th among active players) – 1,281 RBI (9th among active players) and 5 Gold Gloves. “I got to live out my dream and had more success than I could ever imagined, but it felt like it was the right time to step away from the game. I want to finish this season on a high note.”
Tex became emotional while speaking, especially at the topic of his mother, who passed away this past December.
He is one of five switch-hitters in MLB history to hit at least 400 home runs, joining Mickey Mantle (536), Eddie Murray (504), Chipper Jones (468) and Carlos Beltran (415).
Only nine players have finished their careers with at least 400 home runs and five Gold Gloves. All are in the Hall of Fame except Barry Bonds and Andruw Jones, who will be eligible in 2018.
