Carlos Delgado Retires; Reyes, Beltran Look Back On Ex-Mets Slugger
NEW YORK (WFAN/AP) — Former Mets first baseman Carlos Delgado has given up on coming back from a hip injury, announcing his retirement from baseball two years after he was sidelined.
The ex-Mets and Toronto Blue Jays infielder announced his decision at a news conference in his native Puerto Rico on Wednesday. The 38-year-old Delgado was in good spirits, laughing as friends presented him with a rocking chair -- engraved with "Puerto Rican Home Run King" -- as a retirement gift.
The two-time All-Star first baseman played 17 major league seasons, finishing with 473 home runs and a .280 batting average.
Delgado played for the Blue Jays from 1993-2004, went to the Florida Marlins for a season and finished out his career with the Mets from 2006-09.
"He was unbelievable for us when he was healthy, and he taught me how to play the right way," Jose Reyes told the New York Daily News after hearing of Delgado's retirement. "We were one victory from the World Series and he did everything he could to get us there."
Carlos Beltran added: "We weren't able to win a championship, but we played some great games ... I feel bad for him, but he was fortunate enough to play the game for a long time."
Delgado said he hasn't decided his next step.
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