If the New York Yankees fail to qualify for the playoffs, they’ll be sending two greats off into retirement after the conclusion of the regular season next weekend. Mariano Rivera has long since announced his plans to retire from baseball at the end of the season, but now starting pitcher Andy Pettitte has done the same.
Pettitte made the announcement in a statement on Friday. If the Yankees don’t make it into the postseason, the former All-Star is expected to make his final home start this Sunday against the San Francisco Giants.
Pettitte’s career has been up and down to say the least. The lefty has 255 career wins, but he was also a part of the infamous Roger Clemens steroid debacle where Clemens claimed that Pettitte ‘misremembered’ a conversation the pair had regarding the Rocket’s alleged PED use. Having admitted to taking PEDs himself, Pettitte likely has removed any chance he had at reaching the Hall of Fame – at least while voters seem intent on keeping steroid users out, anyway. With a career ERA of nearly 4.00, getting into the Hall would have been difficult. The admission, though, will probably take away any debate.
This is the second retirement for the pitcher. In 2011, Pettitte retired before the season, only to return the following year. At the age of 41 he is likely finished this time.
