John Lackey has made plenty of money in his career. So much that for the 36-year-old Texan, winning is the only reason why he still wants to play.
Last week, Lackey was traded from the last-place Boston Red Sox to the St. Louis Cardinals, who are in playoff contention, and he welcomes the challenge to win his third World Series ring.
“That’s the only reason why I’m still playing,” Lackey said before Tuesday night’s series opener against the Red Sox in St. Louis. “I’m still playing to try to win rings. That’s the only reason why I’m still here. To be able to be (in St. Louis) and have that opportunity and to make a playoff run, or try to get into the playoffs is where I want to be.
Lackey is the only pitcher in Major League Baseball history to have won two deciding games in the World Series with two different teams (Red Sox and Angels). He’ll hope to make that three by the end of this October.
