Baseball Guru
12-18-2001, 11:50 AM
By Jim Street
MLB.com
SEATTLE -- A decision that seemed inevitable for one of the Mariners most productive players in franchise history has been made. Jay Buhner is retiring.
The popular Buhner, who went from a wild swinger who struck out a lot to an offensive threat each time he stepped into the batters' box, told The Seattle Times Monday, "I'm done. I need surgery just to retire, on my left shoulder, which froze up on me, and on my knee. It's hell to get old."
The 37-year-old Buhner missed most of the 2001 season because of a foot injury, playing 19 games and batting .222 (10-for-45) with two home runs and five RBIs. Manager Lou Piniella paid tribute to Buhner by playing him in right field -- moving Ichiro Suzuki to left field -- in the fifth and final game of the American League Championship Series against the Yankees.
The Mariners, who offered Buhner salary arbitration, are expected to keep him in the organization in some capacity.
"I'd like to continue to help," he told The Times.
Buhner compiled a .254 career batting average, hit 310 home runs and drove in 965 runs. He was selected to the 1996 All-Star Game, won a Gold Glove that same season and played in four AL Division Series and three ALCS. In 1997, he became the 10th player in Major League history to hit 40 or more home runs in three consecutive seasons.
"I've taken it as far as my body has let me," he said, "and I don't think I've done that badly."
The Mariners acquired the sometimes gruff, and always tell-it-like-it-is Buhner, from the Yankees midway through the 1988 season. The deal that sent left-handed hitting first baseman/designated hitter to Ken Phelps to New York became one of the best in Mariners history -- and one of the worst the Yankees ever made.
"We'll miss Jay, day in and day out," Piniella said. "We were obviously a better offense and defense with him out there on the field. But more than that, we were an immeasurably better team just with him around."
Jim Street covers the Mariners for MLB.com and can be reached at mlbjstreet@aol.com.
MLB.com
SEATTLE -- A decision that seemed inevitable for one of the Mariners most productive players in franchise history has been made. Jay Buhner is retiring.
The popular Buhner, who went from a wild swinger who struck out a lot to an offensive threat each time he stepped into the batters' box, told The Seattle Times Monday, "I'm done. I need surgery just to retire, on my left shoulder, which froze up on me, and on my knee. It's hell to get old."
The 37-year-old Buhner missed most of the 2001 season because of a foot injury, playing 19 games and batting .222 (10-for-45) with two home runs and five RBIs. Manager Lou Piniella paid tribute to Buhner by playing him in right field -- moving Ichiro Suzuki to left field -- in the fifth and final game of the American League Championship Series against the Yankees.
The Mariners, who offered Buhner salary arbitration, are expected to keep him in the organization in some capacity.
"I'd like to continue to help," he told The Times.
Buhner compiled a .254 career batting average, hit 310 home runs and drove in 965 runs. He was selected to the 1996 All-Star Game, won a Gold Glove that same season and played in four AL Division Series and three ALCS. In 1997, he became the 10th player in Major League history to hit 40 or more home runs in three consecutive seasons.
"I've taken it as far as my body has let me," he said, "and I don't think I've done that badly."
The Mariners acquired the sometimes gruff, and always tell-it-like-it-is Buhner, from the Yankees midway through the 1988 season. The deal that sent left-handed hitting first baseman/designated hitter to Ken Phelps to New York became one of the best in Mariners history -- and one of the worst the Yankees ever made.
"We'll miss Jay, day in and day out," Piniella said. "We were obviously a better offense and defense with him out there on the field. But more than that, we were an immeasurably better team just with him around."
Jim Street covers the Mariners for MLB.com and can be reached at mlbjstreet@aol.com.