Garciaparra Signs With Boston, Retires

[UNHWildCats]

FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Nomar Garciaparra, a two-time batting champion and six-time All-Star, revealed last summer that he had a recurring dream of one day playing for the Red Sox again. That never came to fruition, so Garciaparra did the next best thing on Wednesday morning, announcing his retirement at a news conference held by his original team.

An icon during his time with the Red Sox -- which started in 1996 and ended with an abrupt trade to the Chicago Cubs on July 31, 2004 -- Garciaparra will start a career in broadcasting with ESPN.

Garciaparra flew to Fort Myers to make the announcement so he could retire in ceremonious fashion, signing a one-day Minor League contract with the team with which he had most of his best moments. The Red Sox selected Garciaparra -- a star shortstop until moving to the corner infield spots later in his career -- in the first round of the 1994 First-Year Player Draft.

"The dream to play baseball in the big leagues started here," Garciaparra said at a news conference held at City of Palms Park. "I really wanted to have that be the last uniform I ever put on."

"What this organization has always meant to me and meant to my family, the fans. I always tell people Red Sox Nation is bigger than any nation out there and to be able to say I came back home and to be back to Red Sox Nation is truly a thrill. ... It's good to be back."

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd ... Id=rss_bos" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[UNHWildCats]

When told Nomar didn't cry at his retirement press conference, and asked if he would cry when he retires, Pedroia says: 'Legends don't cry'

[SuperHornet]

About time Mr. Hamm goes away.

[GannonFan]

I wonder how long it took him to adjust his batting gloves prior to stepping up to the mike? And seriously, hasn't Garciaparra been out of baseball, or irrelevant, for 5-6 years now? I was shocked he was still under contract somewhere. Plus, you have to feel for him - it wasn't until the Red Sox traded him that the Red Sox really broke through.

[AshevilleApp]

When told Nomar didn't cry at his retirement press conference, and asked if he would cry when he retires, Pedroia says: 'Legends don't cry'

Both should cry.

[Craneac Cowboy]

actually Nomar was with my Oakland A's... for 2 years?

[Skjellyfetti]

Clearly the crackdown on performance enhancing drugs was not kind to his career.