ryno4ever
Jul 24th 2007, 2:38 pm
As much as I despised how he has killed the Cubs in the past, I have to respect the career he has had. He is retiring on his own terms, not due to an injury or because a team doesn't want him, but because he has put his contribution to baseball and it's just time to go.
"I love the game," Biggio said. "I'm going to miss putting my feet in the spikes every day. I'm going to miss the dads coming up to you and thanking you for the way you played the game, the little kids coming up to you and asking for your autograph, seeing them smile and having a good time at the game. I'm going to miss all of that."
On the road, Biggio can be expected to play the first game of each series. Chris Burke will likely receive the remainder of the playing time at second base, as he has ever since the start of the second half of the season.
But there will be exceptions. Biggio considers three ballparks sentimental favorites and will likely play the first and last games in those stadiums.
Busch Stadium in St. Louis and Wrigley Field in Chicago are especially dear to Biggio, who has played in more than 100 games in each, more than any other ballpark he's visited in his career. And Shea Stadium in New York isn't far from the Long Island home where he grew up, so that ballpark holds sentimental value, as well.
The Astros will be in Chicago Aug. 31-Sept. 2, New York Sept. 7-9 and St. Louis Sept. 20-24. Biggio can expect to get two starts in each of those series.
Biggio also hopes to crouch one more time behind the plate during that final game Sept. 30. The former catcher-turned second baseman-turned center fielder-turned left fielder-turned-second baseman would like to end his career at the position where it all started nearly 20 years ago.
Out of respect for the visiting Braves, Biggio will only try to implement this plan if the NL East race has already been decided. If all goes as planned, he'll catch one inning.
What a classy guy!
"I love the game," Biggio said. "I'm going to miss putting my feet in the spikes every day. I'm going to miss the dads coming up to you and thanking you for the way you played the game, the little kids coming up to you and asking for your autograph, seeing them smile and having a good time at the game. I'm going to miss all of that."
On the road, Biggio can be expected to play the first game of each series. Chris Burke will likely receive the remainder of the playing time at second base, as he has ever since the start of the second half of the season.
But there will be exceptions. Biggio considers three ballparks sentimental favorites and will likely play the first and last games in those stadiums.
Busch Stadium in St. Louis and Wrigley Field in Chicago are especially dear to Biggio, who has played in more than 100 games in each, more than any other ballpark he's visited in his career. And Shea Stadium in New York isn't far from the Long Island home where he grew up, so that ballpark holds sentimental value, as well.
The Astros will be in Chicago Aug. 31-Sept. 2, New York Sept. 7-9 and St. Louis Sept. 20-24. Biggio can expect to get two starts in each of those series.
Biggio also hopes to crouch one more time behind the plate during that final game Sept. 30. The former catcher-turned second baseman-turned center fielder-turned left fielder-turned-second baseman would like to end his career at the position where it all started nearly 20 years ago.
Out of respect for the visiting Braves, Biggio will only try to implement this plan if the NL East race has already been decided. If all goes as planned, he'll catch one inning.
What a classy guy!