Bill Mueller Retires

Number 11 was my favorite. He played only three short years for the Red Sox, but in the three seasons he spent with the Olde Towne Team Mueller added an American League Batting Title and World Series ring to his trophy case. After his 2005 season, Mueller and the Sox went their seperate ways, and Bill signed a 2 year deal worth $9.5 million with the Los Angeles Dodgers, joining former Sox Grady Little, Derek Lowe, and Nomar Garciaparra in Dodger blue.

The Dodgers are one of Baseball's most storied franchises, and as one of the classiest players I have ever seen, Mueller appeared to be headed to do Dodger fans proud.

Except for those knees of his. For the third time in three years, Mueller had his knees operated on, though the prognosis for recovery from the 2006 injury was the bleakest he had faced yet. Though there was little hope for recovery, Mueller waited until today, November 17, 2006, to announce his retirement from baseball.

Though he will not be suiting up for the Dodgers in the spring, he will be working for them in the front office, serving as some sort of special assistant to friend and Dodger general manager Ned Colletti.

Mueller embodied the image of the scrappy, old-timey ballplayer. Coming in at 5'9", the story of days and days spent digging balls out of the infield dirt came to light during the 2004 World Series, just after he drove home Dave Roberts with an RBI base hit to tie the game. His career line reads .292/.373/.425, an impressive line for someone of his stature.

Always my favorite.