Pro athletes retire at home despite ties.
There comes a time in every sports fan’s life where they must brave the harsh truth that their favorite player or hometown hero will one day have to hang up his or her jersey for the last time.
That happened last year for Rockies fans when 17-year veteran Todd Helton announced his retirement and said he would no longer be the first baseman for the Colorado Rockies. Helton had his No. 17 jersey retired by the Rockies this month — the first member of the franchise to receive such an honor.
Yankee nation also will see the end of the historic career of Derek Jeter at the conclusion of this season. Jeter has made an impact on not only the league, but the nation, sparking a beautiful advertisement by the Jordan brand celebrating his accomplishments.
Jeter’s legacy will live on and he will be widely considered one of the greatest players to ever step on the diamond. His final game at Yankee Stadium will draw in baseball fans everywhere to see him play in New York for the last time.
This summer in Cleveland, the Indians honored Jim Thome by building a statue of him and the team signed him to a one-day contract so he could retire on the team he meant so much to for most of his career.
Although it might be hard to think about one’s favorite teams without a star player, there is always something special about returning back to the ballpark and see a number retired on the wall.
The celebration of an athlete at his home stadium is one of the best moments in sports, even if it’s one we don’t think of everyday. The legacy and the memories that legends create for the fans make them realize the influence sports have on society. Relationships can be formed, broken and fixed over the outcome of sporting events, but everyone can come together to appreciate legends.
As a Rockies fan and Colorado native, my trips to Coors Field from here on will bring a friendly reminder about another reason why I love sports: memories. Everytime I see his No. 17, I will be reminded about the 2007 playoffs and the home run he ripped over the right-field wall during his last home game.
Although we will see the end of another historic career this year, the celebration at Yankee Stadium will be similar to the one that was at Coors Field. It will celebrate someone whose impact was so large it transcended the field and entered the lives of everyone.
Paul Holden is a sophomore journalism major and a sports writer for The Post. Has your favorite player retired at home? Let him know at ph553412@ohio.edu or @PaulHolden33.
