Bump.
Biggio retiring. Rare today to see a guy retire on his own terms and with one team. Hopefully the last game of the season, he can play catcher for a couple of innings, centerfield, and then 2nd base to end it all. Would be sweet.
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2947484
HOUSTON -- Houston Astros infielder Craig Biggio plans to retire at the end of the season after a 20-year career in which he joined the elite 3,000-hit club.
Distinguished Company
Only seven major league players have more than 3,000 hits and 400 stolen bases. Five are enshrined in Cooperstown.
"I get to go out on top. The 3,000th hit night was the best. I'll never forget that," Biggio said at a news conference Tuesday. "I'm in a good place. I think I've done everything I could on a baseball field."
The 41-year-old Biggio got his 3,000th hit on June 28.
"I just can't believe it's over. It's gone by fast," he said. "I have no regrets. I played the game the right way."
Biggio is batting .247 with 24 doubles, five homers and 31 RBIs. He began Tuesday with 3,014 hits, six shy of tying Rafael Palmeiro for 23rd place. He has been selected to the All-Star Game seven times and has four Gold Glove awards.
Biggio has played his entire major league career with the Astros, becoming the longest-tenured player in franchise history. The others in the 3,000 hit club who played for one team: Stan Musial of the Cardinals (3,630), Carl Yastrzemski of the Red Sox (3,419), Cal Ripken of the Orioles (3,184), George Brett of the Royals (3,154), Robin Yount of the Brewers (3,142). Tony Gwynn of the Padres (3,141), Al Kaline of the Tigers (3,007) and Roberto Clemente of the Pirates (3,000).
A teary-eyed Biggio said he will miss putting on his uniform every day and also will miss the fans.
Along with teammate and friend Jeff Bagwell, who retired before the start of this season, Biggio led the Astros to four division titles, the team's first NL pennant and trip to the World Series in 2005.
Biggio's 3,000th hit came one day shy of the 19th anniversary of his first career hit, a single off Orel Hershiser on June 29, 1988.
"He's done all of the things that he possibly could do in his career," Bagwell told KRIV-TV in Houston. "All of those things that he's done in his career is something he can hang on his mantle and be very, very proud of, especially in five years when he walks into the Hall of Fame."
Biggio should be a first-ballot Hall-of-Famer, Bagwell told the station. "I know so and if anybody doesn't believe that then they're crazy," he said.
Biggio is the only player in major league history with 600 doubles, 250 homers, 3,000 hits and 400 steals. Biggio is a career .282 hitter. He has already been inducted into the Texas Baseball Hall of Fame and the Texas Sports Hall of Fame.
A seven-time All-Star, Biggio starred at Seton Hall and was the 22nd player selected in the 1987 amateur draft. He caught his first four seasons.
He made his first All-Star Game in 1991, but the Astros moved him to second base in 1992, a position he had never played. But he made the All-Star team again, ranking among the NL's top 10 in runs, walks and stolen bases.
After the Astros acquired Jeff Kent in 2002, Biggio moved to the outfield. When Kent left in 2004, Biggio returned to second.
Biggio considered leaving Houston when he became a free agent in 1995 and had an offer from Colorado. Astros owner Drayton McLane said he called Biggio every day for three weeks to persuade him to stay.
Biggio, his wife, Patty, and their three children live in Houston. He thanked his family at the news conference.
"I can't justify being out of their lives any more. I want to be home," he said.
During his two decades with the Astros, Biggio has become known in the city as much for his charitable work as for his play. He has been the national spokesman and fundraiser for the Sunshine Kids Foundation, which helps children with cancer, for more than a decade.
Rack Smackie.
