In the realm of professional sports, the retirement of an iconic player is often a bittersweet moment for the players and fans alike. These are the players who — during their golden age — seemed to be able to do anything. Fans flocked to watch these monoliths of the sporting world. Names such as Jordan, Pelé, Montana and Griffey hold a certain air of remarkable esteem. These are the athletes who make big play after big play, always coming up clutch when the game is on the line. They are masters of showmanship. It stands, however, that few of these bigger-than-life players are able to walk off of the stage at the right moment.
Ken Griffey Jr., while possibly the best baseball player of his era, could not manage to walk out on a high note. In 2009, he returned back to the Seattle Mariners, the team with which he started his iconic career. In that year he posted his second worst career batting average. That said, he still managed to knock out 19 home runs, thereby taking his spot as the player with the sixth most all-time careers home runs. Certainly he could have retired after that year. Instead, he signed another one-year contract with the Seattle Mariners. His final season was plagued by injuries, and he appeared in a miserly 20 games. He had an awful batting average of .184, and he did not hit a single home run. While this present year he will be inducted into the Hall of Fame, his playing years faded into the realm of forgetfulness as he stretched his career past its welcome.
Michael Jordan, on the other hand, retired from the NBA three times. The first came after the 1993 season — which concluded in a championship. He then returned to the NBA in 1995 after a short stint playing baseball. He retired again in 1999 after having led the Chicago Bulls to another three championship seasons. After another few years, he returned in 2002 to the Washington Wizards. His last two seasons in basketball both ended with a record of 37-45. Rather than leaving on the high note of a 1998 title-winning shot, "Jordan's last game was a 20 point loss to the Sixer's."
Jump 13 years later to current day. David Ortiz — the renowned Boston Red Sox slugger — is having one of the best seasons of his career. His batting average is the best it has been since 2007, he is well on pace to rack up another 100 RBI season and he is on pace to hit 38 home runs — a number that he has not reached since 2006. Further, Ortiz is doing all of this for a team which tumultuously sits atop first place in their division. Did I forget to mention that Ortiz is retiring after this year?
In November, a YouTube video released by "The Player's Tribune" displayed David Ortiz announcing his retirement after this current season. If Ortiz had flagged greatly this year there would be no need for a discussion. Pundits would say, "He's finished," and fans would say, "He had a good career." But that is not the case. Now pundits and fans alike are asking, "Is he really going to retire after such a good season?"
I hope he does. I hope that he stays true to his word and takes a lesson from the great mantra of show business to "always leave them wanting more." I hope David Ortiz leads the Sox to the playoffs one last time. I hope he has another few magical walk-off hits at one a.m. under the lights at Fenway. I hope he receives a standing ovation after one of his best seasons ever and then ... I hope he bids farewell.
