Sean Casey is saying goodbye to the Baseball field and the field will never be the same - quieter and with a lot less class.
He is only 34 and he leaves with a career average of .302. He hit .322 in 199 at-bats least season, an injury-filled year that limited his playing time with the Boston Red Sox. But he couldn't find a job this year - a victim of Baseball's system. There is room for the obscenely paid superstars and there is room for young, low-priced talent. There is little room for middle-of-the-road veterans who command relatively high salaries. Casey's agent checked and he had few nibbles. "But most of them wanted me to be a bench player, a role player," Casey said. He wasn't up to that, not after 12 years as a star and a man who any team would be proud to use as its public face. "It's weird," he said. "I know I'm retiring, but it feels as if I'm not retiring. I'm just moving to another stage of my career (MLB Network analyst)."
"What a shock, me talking," he said. "Now I have a chance to talk on TV to people instead of them wondering all the time what I was saying to guys at first base."
Of his decision, Casey said, "This is a way to stay in the game and to shift to my No. 1 priority - spending more time with my family (two boys and a girl). I know my legacy is as a nice guy, as a great teammate, as a good player and I'm proud of that. So rather than be a bench player, this gives me a chance to be home more."
Casey, who lives in Jupiter, Fla., spent eight of his 12 years with the Reds and said, "I consider that my Baseball home. One of the highlights of my career was that I never really got to say goodbye after I was traded, but when I came back I got an ovation (a long, long Standing O) and I was able to tip my cap. That was something I'll never forget."
Casey was traded by the Reds to Pittsburgh on Dec. 7, 2005 - a disaster among most Reds fans. The Reds received left-handed pitcher Dave Williams, an ill-fated acquisition.
Casey's most vivid memories are of the 1999 season, a season that haunts him to this day.
"We had a one-game lead with two to play in Milwaukee and didn't close the deal," he said. "Then we lost that one-game playoff to the Mets. That bugs me to this day. I think of it whenever I see former teammates like Greg Vaughn and Mike Cameron."
Casey also made the All-Star team in '99, "And it was a thrill because it was the year they had the Team of the Century there and I met Ted Williams, then I got to replace Mark McGwire at first base in the game.
"Baseball has been good to me, everything I expected and more. It was a dream come true."
