Page 22 - ARUBA TODAY

A22 SPORTS
Wednesday 15 november
Beltran retires at 40 after winning 1st World Series title

By KRISTIE RIEKEN remains one of the best
AP Sports Writer playoff performances in
HOUSTON (AP) — It took history. He hit .455 with four
quite some time, but Car- homers and nine RBIs in
los Beltran finally got there, an NLDS win over Atlanta,
winning a World Series title then batted .417 with four
after 20 seasons in the ma- more homers and five RBIs
jors. before Houston was elimi-
Now he is leaving the nated by the Cardinals in
Houston Astros and leav- the NLCS.
ing baseball, retiring after Beltran appeared in 10
a career in which he was a games this postseason, in-
nine-time All-Star and was cluding three in the World
Rookie of the Year. The Series. He finished with
40-year-old designated hit- three hits, including two
ter and outfielder made doubles, and an RBI in
the announcement Mon- helping the Astros to their
day, 12 days after the As- first title.
tros beat the Los Angeles Many of his current and for-
Dodgers in Game 7 of the mer teammates expressed
World Series. their gratitude and appre-
He announced his retire- ciation for Beltran on social
ment in an essay written media after his announce-
for The Players’ Tribune ment on Monday. Correa
website. His story touched In this Sept. 17, 2017, file photo, Houston Astros’ Justin Verlander, right, and Carlos Beltran cel- posted a picture of the two
on what finally winning a ebrate the team’s win over the Seattle Mariners to clinch the AL West crown in a baseball game of them on Instagram with
championship meant to in Houston. Associated Press a caption that read in part:
him. “I will always look up to you
“I realized early on that Besides being named an Jose Altuve, Carlos Cor- was a player-coach for us brother! Thanks for making
my purpose in this game All-Star nine times, most re- rea and Marwin Gonzalez this year and he contribut- me a better player and a
was to share knowledge cently in 2016, and the 1999 proved invaluable for the ed in ways that lead me to better person! I’m going to
with younger players and AL Rookie of the Year, he Astros. believe there’s no way we miss you so much!”
to give back to the game won three Gold Glove and “He was worth every penny win the championship with- Houston right-hander Jus-
of baseball,” he wrote. “I two Silver Slugger awards. for us ... he helped us win in out him this year.” tin Verlander tweeted
always wanted to do that His production dropped a lot of ways, even though He finishes with a .279 aver- about Beltran’s retirement,
— that, and be the best dramatically this year. He his numbers were not what age, 435 homers, 1,587 RBIs writing: “We only played
teammate I could possibly hit .295 with 29 homers and they were last year, he and 312 stolen bases. He together for a short time
be. Over 20 years, I feel like 93 RBIs for the New York contributed in a lot of ways also has played for Kansas but what a ride we had! I
I accomplished that. Yankees and Texas in 2016. that were not really seen by City, the New York Mets, learned a lot about what
“So whether we won or lost He then batted .231 with our fans,” Houston general San Francisco and St. Louis. being a veteran means
Game 7, I would have still 14 homers and 51 RBIs for manager Jeff Luhnow said. This season was Beltran’s and the impact we can
been happy with my ca- Houston. Despite that, Bel- “They were talked about second stint with the As- have. You’re an amazing
reer. But it still feels nice to tran’s veteran presence a lot by our players. Also I tros, after he was traded teammate and leader.
have a ring,” he contin- and his work with Houston’s think people know what to Houston in June 2004. What a way to bow out ...
ued. younger players including I’m talking about. He really His work that postseason a World Champion!” q
Bobby Doerr Doerr told the AP. “He had Oregon, his adopted home
after spending a winter fish-
a big motion and was a lit-
Continued from Page 18 tle on the wild side. You just ing for steelhead on the
had to bow your neck and Rogue River and meeting
“Ted couldn’t understand stay in there.”He frequently his future wife. When Do-
mediocre, see. And I was led AL second basemen in err retired, he picked up
in that mediocre class,” double plays, putouts and a bamboo fly rod Williams
Doerr told The Associated assists, crediting his fielding designed and named for
Press on his 90th birthday in skill to endless hours spent him — but Doerr still had
2008, which the governor bouncing a rubber ball to pay for it.Doerr returned
of Oregon declared Bob- against the front steps of his to the Red Sox as a coach
by Doerr Day.Doerr’s mod- family’s Los Angeles home. from 1967-69 and was a
esty was belied by his stats: He helped the Red Sox win batting coach for the To-
He finished with 2,042 hits, the AL pennant in 1946 — ronto Blue Jays in 1980.He
223 home runs and 1,247 the only time his teams was wearing a Blue Jays
RBIs and he once went got past the Yankees — cap in a home videotape
414 games without an er- but they lost Game 7 of while debating hitting with
ror — a record at the time. the World Series to the St. Williams during a 1987
His six seasons with at least Louis Cardinals when Enos fishing trip. Williams main-
100 RBIs was not matched Slaughter scored the win- tained a batter needed
by another second base- In this Aug. 2, 2007, file photo, Boston Red Sox Hall of Famer Bob- ning run from first on a sin- to swing with a slight up-
by Doerr waves to the crowd at Fenway Park in Boston, prior to a
man for 25 years.Doerr was baseball game between the Red Sox and the Baltimore Orioles. gle. Doerr long maintained percut to squarely contact
inducted into the National Associated Press that with just one more the ball on its downward
Baseball Hall of Fame in with a 2004 World Series ring the fastball, figuring he strong relief pitcher, they angle from the pitcher’s
1986 by the Veterans Com- after breaking their 86-year couldn’t do much with a could have won more pen- mound; Doerr favored a
mittee and the Red Sox re- championship drought. breaking ball unless it was a nants.Forced to retire by level swing, convinced that
tired his No. 1 jersey in 1988. As a hitter, Doerr said he hanging curve.“I didn’t like a bad back in 1951, Doerr the topspin put on the ball
The Red Sox honored Doerr was always looking for to hit guys like Bob Feller,” lived out his retirement in would help it carry.q