Philadelphia Phillies: Shane Victorino to officially retire

Almost three years after his final game, Philadelphia Phillies fan favorite Shane Victorino is ready to announce his retirement.

Sometimes, it is hard to realize it is time to let go. We see players hang on for years, refusing to admit that their skills are gone, surviving on reputation alone. More often than not, they get a cold dose of reality when teams stop returning their calls, forcing them to contemplate their athletic mortality. And yet, there are some who just refuse to see that writing on the wall, even when it is written in giant neon letters.

For Philadelphia Phillies fan favorite Shane Victorino, it took three years to realize that his time had passed him by. Even though he has not played since 2015, Victorino will formally retire in August, signing a one day contract with the Phillies to end his career where he had his greatest success.

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Now that it is officially over, Victorino had an excellent career. He was a two time All Star, winning four Gold Glove awards for his excellent work in center and right. Overall, the Flyin’ Hawaiian produced a .275/.340/.425 batting line, hitting 231 doubles and stealing 231 bases. He led the National League in triples twice, and was a part of two World Series winning teams, earning a ring with the Phillies in 2008 and the 2013 Red Sox.

Victorino also made himself a postseason hero in Philadelphia. He had two key homers, one against the Brewers in the NLDS, and a game tying blast against the Dodgers in the NLCS. Ironically, it was the Dodgers that left him unprotected in the Rule V Draft, allowing the Phillies to acquire their future star.

As much as that retirement and one day contract will be a celebration of Victorino, it will also be a reminder of how quickly the game can leave a player behind. He was on top of the world in 2013, a World Series winner for a second time and having brought home another Gold Glove award. And then, injuries essentially ended his career, as he played just 101 games in the next two seasons before being forced to the sidelines.

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Shane Victorino became an All Star with the Philadelphia Phillies, a good outfielder with solid speed and excellent defense. It is fitting that now, as his career officially comes to an end, he spends that last day with the Phillies organization.