after 15 Red Sox seasons
Major League Baseball reported on its website that, after a 15-year career dedicated solely to the Boston Red Socks, Jason Varitek will announce his retirement.
Jason Varitek will retire as one of the most beloved Boston Red Sox players, reining as captain his final 7 years. The 39-year-old three-time American League All star will end is career with the Boston Red Sox record of 1,488 appearances as a catcher.
EPSN’s Sportsnation took a poll and 66 percent of Americans believed Varitek will be a hall-of-famer. The valuable Boston player retired with a .256 career batting average, he was a switch hitter that batted home 757 runs and hit 193 home runs. America still seems confident for hall-of-fame bids despite lower than average statistics.
Joe Sheehan of Sportsillustrated spoke of Varitek’s less definitive qualities, “He was, to some extent, Boston’s Thurman Munson –a catcher who got credit for the intangible factors: preparing and handling pitchers, leading the team and displaying a certain amount of emotion on and off the field.”
A career is often drowned out by hall of fame discussions. Jason Varitek played for a single franchise his entire career, was team captain for the United States in the World Baseball Classic and caught four no-hitter games. For these achievements alone his time spent in baseball will live on as Red Sox lore.
Varitek’s wife commented on her husband’s illustrious career via Twitter, “I could not be more proud of my husband! What a truly remarkable 14 years with the Boston Red Sox. You are a true Champion.”
