Shane Victorino finally has called it a career.
The 37-year-old, who last played in Major League Baseball in 2015 with the Los Angeles Angels, announced his retirement Tuesday in an exclusive interview with Hawaii’s KHON-TV. Victorino spent his 12-year career playing for the San Diego Padres, Philadelphia Phillies, Los Angeles Dodgers and Boston Red Sox and Angels.
Watch him announce his retirement in the video below:
Victorino played a key role on the Phillies’ 2008 World Series championship team and was instrumental in the Red Sox winning the 2013 Fall Classic. And with the Hawaiian outfielder now officially retired, we decided to look back on some of his heroics during Boston’s magical 2013 postseason run.
Let’s start with his go-ahead grand slam in Game 6 of the American League Championship Series against the Detroit Tigers — a hit that sent Fenway Park into an absolute frenzy.
It’s been over four years since that hit, but it still gives chills to Red Sox fans.
Here’s the reception Victorino got from the Fenway crowd when he took the field the next inning:
The Red Sox went on to win the game and advance to the World Series against the St. Louis Cardinals, who they eliminated in six games. And while David Ortiz rightfully won World Series MVP honors, Victorino provided the biggest hit in Game 6 in Boston.
Here’s his bases-clearing double in the third inning:
It’s hard to think of a time when Fenway has been louder than it was in that moment.
Victorino wasn’t done in Game 6, however, picking up an RBI single in the fourth inning, seconds after Red Sox fans sang along to Bob Marley’s “Don’t Worry About a Thing.”
Victorino had plenty of great moments during his Red Sox career, but those heroics stand out among the rest.
Over his two-plus seasons in Boston, Victorino hit .282 with 18 homers, 77 RBIs and 28 stolen bases. He retired with a .275 career batting average to go along with 108 homers and 489 RBIs. He also was a two-time All-Star and a four-time Gold Glove Award winner.
Is Victorino bound for the National Baseball Hall of Fame? Probably not. But he’ll certainly go down as one of the most memorable players in Red Sox (and Phillies) history.
