MLB News: Rick Ankiel Retires

Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images

Rick Ankiel officially announced his retirement Wednesday via St. Louis broadcaster Dan McLaughlin who made the announcement during the St. Louis Cardinals Spring Training Broadcast. This brings to an end the career of a very unique and intriguing ballplayer.

Drafted straight out of high school in 1997 by the Cardinals, Ankiel made his major league debut as a pitcher in 1999 at the age of 20. In 2000 he was rated at the number one overall prospect in baseball by Baseball America. After having a good regular season Ankiel faltered in the playoffs. He completely lost control of his pitches. He had two very poor starts, one in the NLCS against the Braves and the other in the NLCS against the Mets. He lasted no more than three innings in each start.

Ankiel continued to struggle in 2001 and was soon sent to the minors. Shortly after he had Tommy John surgery and besides on appearance pitching in relief for the Cardinals in 2004, it looked as though his career was at its end.

Read the rest of the story on OPSN - Outside Pitch Sports Network, a Major League Baseball Advanced Media Afiliate

Goodbye El Capitan: Derek Jeter Announces his Retirement After the 2014 Season

Well everyone saw it coming with the retirement of Mariano Rivera and Andy Pettitte this past season. I guess that is everyone besides Yankees' first baseman Mark Teixeira. In a tweet by MLB Network Public Relations we found out how Teixeira felt when he heard the news,

@MLBNetworkPR: Teixeira on Jeter: I was shocked. I really did not see this coming at all.

I'm sorry but I think that's pretty hilarious. But back to the real matter - the Yankees are aging. I for one still think of guys like Jeter, Pettitte and A-Rod as if they are still kids - like I can still picture Alex Rodriquez on the Mariners and who thinks about that anymore - not just because of the steroid scandal but because of the publicity his move to the Texas Rangers and consequently New York Yankees brought ... and the steroid scandal and subsequent suspension of course.

I just expected that Jeter would be hanging up his cleats sooner than later. Sooner is almost always a better way for a player of any sport to go out. They go out still on top and that is exactly what the Yankees' captain will do, after this season at least ... Sometimes the "keep playing until you can't play anymore" way of going does work out. Look at guys like Jamie Moyer who pitched almost up until the day he turned 50 or Bartolo Colon who had an insane year last year - which was also the year he turned 40! But for most guys, especially one as high profile and widely beloved as Jeter, it is better to go out on top and still healthy. Besides it isn't as though Derek Jeter won't be voted into the Hall Of Fame in a few years time right? He is DEREK JETER!

In his 19-year career Jeter played in 2602 games, batted at a .312 average with 256 home runs and 1261 RBI. He was an excellent defensive second baseman, a good teammate (which is why he was named Captain of the Yankees) and overall a class act.

Honestly, I didn't even really feel the need to write a blog on this which is why it is going to be extraordinarily short and slightly dull but I couldn't let the moment pass without at least addressing it. Jeter has made a HUGE impact on the game. Not quite or even close to the impact that Mariano Rivera made and he did so a lot more quietly but Jeter was in the lime light his entire career, made an impact professionally in the sport and will leave a lasting impression that will not be forgotten ....

 Here is a copy of Derek Jeter's letter announcing his retirement and saying thank you to the sport, the Yankees, his teammates and the fans.

Rockies' to Retire Helton's #17 this August

Todd Helton #17 - Getty images

Everyone knew it was inevitable but no one expected it to happen this quickly. First baseman Todd Helton, who played for 17 years with the Colorado Rockies, is a symbol of the Rockies' organization and fan favorite should have his number retired but he only retired in September of 2013. This makes the announcement, first reported by Troy Renck of the Denver Post on Twitter, of the retiring of his number this season a bit of a surprise.

Helton's number will be officially retired on Sunday, August 17, 2014 in a game against the Cincinnati Reds but the Rockies' organization is going to make an entire weekend out of it to celebrate.

Helton did what most others do not do in any sport. He, like Mariano Rivera, spend his entire career with the same team and the Rockies were lucky to have him. Helton finished his career as a .316 hitter with 369 home runs, 592 doubles, 2, 519 hits and 1, 406 RBI. He did have the chance to play in the World Series for the Rockies in 2007 but they were defeated by the Boston Red Sox. Here's what Helton had to say about his experience playing in the fall classic,

Obviously, yeah, I wish we did win a World Series. But when I look at it, I think I was very blessed, fortunate to be in a World Series. I look at a lot of the things we did accomplish and not the one we didn't.

Helton is the best player in the short history of the Rockies along with Larry Walker but Helton holds the most club records. He is the all-time leader in games played, at-bats, and many other meaningful statistics. Helton was the first player to truly be the face of the Rockies' franchise and he is a class act on and off the field.

Helton - Getty Images

The Rockies are one of only a handful of teams to not have had a player inducted to the Hall of Fame. Larry Walker came close but most agree that the honor will go to Helton in the near future. Of course there are critics because he played at the hitter-friendly Coors Field and because he never won an MVP award but the rest of his work speaks for itself and one day he should get into Cooperstown as the Rockies' first member.

So the weekend of August 15-17 this year, remember to stop and tip your caps to the career of Todd Helton, who was a true class act and great baseball player.  Once quote as saying,

I hate the ballplayer who says, ‘I did everything I could have possibly done.’ Because if you didn’t win it all, you obviously didn’t do everything you could have done.

Todd Helton certainly gave the Colorado Rockies 100% of all that he had and this up coming weekend of celebration is well deserved. Congrats, Mr. Helton.

For More News From Around the League go to MLB Nation!

Memories of a Perfect Game!

Oakland Athletics’ pitcher, Dallas Braden, officially retired from baseball last week at only 30 years of age. Braden told the San Francisco Chronicle’s Susan Slusser,

“There is nothing left in there, it’s just a shredded mess, “I left my arm on the mound at the Coliseum, and I’m OK with that. …

Upon the announcement of his retirement last week Oakland Athletics’ pitcher, Dallas Braden, reminded me of one of the best days of my life (and most certainly the best of his). While Braden had good numbers and was a solid part of the A’s starting rotation in 2010 no one expected what happened on that May afternoon in Oakland.

 It was Mother’s Day. The weather screamed baseball, it was not too hot, not too cool, a couple of clouds floated in the sky and a light breeze wafted through the Oakland Coliseum keeping those of us in the sun pleasantly comfortable. Compared to those hot days in July one might say the weather was perfect. The stadium wasn’t full, it hardly ever is in Oakland, but there was a good crowd, a lot of kids there to celebrate with their moms.

Read the rest of the story on Sports Unbiased - your site for all Sports News, Polls and Predictions (and apparently memories! LOL!)

Selig Planning Retirement Tour to All 30 Parks

When Major League Baseball Commisioner Bud Selig announced his retirement in October 2013, many were skeptical that he really meant it. After all Selig has announced his retirement on more than one occasion (remember 2009 and 2012?). But the Commissioner, who will turn 80 in July, was adamant that he really means it this time around. He told the baseball owners at their quarterly meetings:

“It’s 100 percent. This is definitely it. I’m more comfortable today than I was when I [announced] it in October, if that’s possible. Jan. 24, 2015, is it. And I’m very comfortable with that. I’m done.”

So to say goodbye to the baseball world Selig told ESPN’s Jayson Stark that he’d like to have a farewell tour, visit every ballpark (even Oakland!) to thank the fans and employees in all 30 cities.

Read more on Sports Unbiased - your site for all Sports News, Polls and Predictions!