This is The End... (not a Doomsday post)

As the story headline indicates, this is not a doomsday post. I was just feeling nostalgic today and was thinking about the end of careers. Perhaps it was sparked by the sudden retirement of Manny Ramirez the other day, or maybe the unsurprising "oh, you weren't retired already?" announcement by Carlos Delgado. Nonetheless, I decided to take a look back to the last home runs of some of the most recent famous sluggers. Unfortunately, MLB.com's video is spotty for games prior to 2008 so we only have so many videos to work with. Nonetheless, let's check it out.

Let's just go chronologically in vague order of retirement, shall we?

Carlos Delgado

via tonysports.files.wordpress.com

Last home run: May 8, 2009 vs. Sean Burnett, PIT

The Scoop: Carlos Delgado was easily one of the most underrated sluggers of the past 20 years. From 1996-2008, he slugged an incredible 457 homers in just 13 seasons (~35 per season), primarily for the Blue Jays, but later in his career for the Marlins and Mets. Delgado had rebounded from a bit of an off-year (by his standards) to hit 38 homers in 2008 and finish 9th in the MVP voting. He was turning 37 during the 2009 season, but he certainly seemed as strong as ever, possibly poised to make a run at 500 homers. Unfortunately for Delgado, it was all over sooner than anyone imagined- a decent start to the 2009 season (highlighted by the first ever homer hit into Citi Field's Pepsi Porch) was cut short by a bone spur and a torn labrum in his hip. Delgado never really recovered from this and battled various hip injuries for the next seasons before retiring without making it back to the majors. I don't really think he's a Hall of Famer, but he was definitely one of the most feared sluggers of the 2000's.

***

Manny Ramirez

via media.silive.com

Last home run: September 17, 2010 vs. Max Scherzer, DET

The Scoop: Ah, the ManRam. One of the greatest hitters who ever lived, and a certifiable whackjob. I don't really think I need to give much of a background to Mr. Ramirez, but here's a Sparknotes version. Manny was a star in New York City's Washington Heights before being drafted by the Cleveland Indians with the 13th overal pick in the '91 draft. Manny broke in at the end of the '93 season, slugged 238 homers in 8 seasons with Cleveland, and helped them win 5 straight AL Central crowns, a streak which included 2 AL Pennants. Manny signed a monstah deal with the Red Sox entering his age-29 season in 2001 and proceeded to rake in Boston as well, hitting 274 homers in 7.5 seasons, helpng the Red Sox win some sort of championship (I was distracted by the wall, sorry for not remembering). He was traded to the Dodgers in mid-2008, absolutely killed the ball down the stretch and spent the next season and a half with LA, hitting 44 homers to bring his career total up to 554 (not including a record 28 in the postseason). The last bomb for Manny was, oddly enough, with the White Sox, whom he was traded to in late August 2010. He didn't have much magic left though; he only hit one homer with them- the final shot of his career. We all know his dismal end with the Rays this year, which produced all of one single and one potential suspension, but that shouldn't discount Manny's legacy. Yes, he's an idiot, but he was arguably one of the best right-handed hitters of all time. 

***

Jim Edmonds

via www2.pictures.zimbio.com

Last home run: September 21, 2010 vs. Dave Bush, MIL

The scoop: Jim Edmonds was one of the flashiest centerfielders to ever play the game. Was he a great fielder? Certainly. His catches were a little stylish at times, but he wasn't your typical centerfielder with great speed in the first place. Regardless, Edmonds could rake with the best of them, and his hitting always seemed to be underrated throughout his career. In his peak from 1995-2005, he averaged 30 homers per year (discounting an injury-plagued 1999 raises it to 32 per year). After a great start to his career with the Angels, they traded him to the Cardinals during the Spring Training of 2000 because the clubhouse basically hated him (claims of him being a selfish player, yadda yadda, I don't know the entire story because I was 10). A fresh start with the Cardinals sparked his career, as he hit a career-high 42 homers and finished 4th in the MVP voting. From 2001-2007, he and Albert Pujols became one of the scariest combinations in baseball, smashing 481 home runs between the two of them. Sadly, by the end of this, Edmonds was facing post-concussion syndrome, and the Cardinals traded him to the Padres after '07. He was a shadow of his former self with the Friars, and he was cut on May 9, 2008. The Cubs picked him up and he rebounded with 19 homers to end the season, but then sat out all of 2009 because he didn't like the market. Edmonds came back in 2010 and split the season with Milwaukee & Cincinnati. His 11th homer of the season came in what would be his last career at-bat, as he tore his Achilles tendon rounding the bases (the video clip really is sad to watch). Edmonds ended his career with 393 homers, 13 postseason homers, 8 Gold Gloves, and a WAR of 68. ATTENTION BBWAA: THIS MAN HAS A VERY GOOD CASE FOR THE HALL OF FAME. THINK TWICE BEFORE YOU MARK YOUR BALLOT WITHOUT HIM BECAUSE I KNOW YOU WILL. 

***

Okay, this post is running up on 1000 words so I'll stop it here. If people like this, then I'll find some more players- there are certainly several more recently retired sluggers that I could write about (Griffey, Sheffield, Kent, Alou... hell, even Luis Gonzalez). So let me know! I love feedback.

PS- For you Donnie Baseball fans, here's his final home run (and his only postseason shot)- October 4, 1995 in Game 2 of the ALDS against Andy Benes and the Mariners. Enjoy!