Edgar Martinez announces his retirement from
baseball
August 10, 2004 -- Edgar Martinez, 41, who has played 18 years with the Seattle Mariners, is retiring after this season because " his body can't keep up anymore."
The two-time AL batting champion, one of baseball's greatest designated hitters, choked up Monday when he announced his decision to retire at the end of the season.
"I have decided that this will be my last season," Martinez said at Safeco Field. "I am very fortunate and grateful that I have been able to play my entire career with the Seattle Mariners. The fans here have always been and continue to be great."
Martinez holds the DH record for home runs and RBIs, and has the highest batting average among DHs with at least 1,000 at-bats, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.
Overall, Martinez is a .312 hitter with 305 home runs and 1,244 RBIs. He has 2,205 hits, including 510 doubles. The seven-time All-Star has batted over .300 in 10 seasons and led the American League in hitting in 1992 and 1995.
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