Red Sox Great Garciaparra Retires, Joins ESPN

Fort Myers, FL, United States (AHN) – Nomar Garciaparra returned to Fenway Park, signing a one-day contract with the Boston Red Sox Wednesday morning and then announced his retirement from the sport.

It ended a 14-year career for the 36-year-old Garciaparra, who won two batting titles and made five All-Star teams during his stay with the Boston franchise.

The long-time Red Sox shortstop, known for years to the Red Sox Nation as simply “Nomar”, became a fan favorite in Fenway Park for eight-plus seasons before being traded to the Chicago Cubs at the 2004 Trade Deadline.

Drafted 12th overall in 1994 by Boston, Garciaparra went on to establish himself as one of the premier young shortstops in the game.

The winner of the AL Rookie of the Year and Silver Slugger Award in 1997, posted a career average of .323 with 178 homers and 690 RBI with the Red Sox.

For his career, the six-time All-Star finished with an average .313 with 229 homers and 936 RBI.

Garciaparra, one of 13 players in Major League history to register two grand slams during a single contest, also played for the Dodgers (first base and third base) and the Athletics (third base, first base and DH).

With the Cubs, he played shortstop and third base.

Despite calling it a career, baseball fans will still continue to hear from Garciaparra, who was named by ESPN as a baseball analyst.

He will be primarily seen on “Baseball Tonight.”

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