Article: Torii Hunter To Retire

[Seth Stohs]

According to LaVelle E. Neal of the Star-Tribune, Torii Hunter has decided to retire from playing baseball.

 

Torii Hunter decided last offseason to return to the organization he grew up in, the organization he often says changed him from a boy to a man. And now the 40-year-old will begin the next chapter of his life after helping the Twins return to competitive baseball play.Hunter told Neal today, "I'm sad because it's all I've known for half of my life."

 

He spent parts of 19 seasons in the big leagues. He won nine Gold Glove Awards. He played in five All Star games. He won a Silver Slugger Award. He played for the Twins, the Angels and the Tigers, playing in the postseason most of those seasons.

 

He turned 40 in July, and now he says it's enough.

 

“But mentally, I think it’s time. I still love the game, but time has taken a toll on me mentally and physically.”

 

Hunter retires with some pretty impressive career numbers. Overall, he hit .277/.331/.461 (.793) with 498 doubles, 39 triples and 353 home runs. He stole 195 bases and supplied many web gems for his fans.

 

He also retires a Twins player, something that meant a lot to him, his teammates, the organization and to the fans. He leaves as one of the best players in organization history. He is in the top ten among Twins hitters all time in many statistical categories despite spending seven season in other organizations.

 

Hunter is a leader. He has ties around the game. He has expressed interest in front office positions.

 

Congratulations to Torii Hunter on a great career – one that began in 1993 when he was selected by the Twins in the first round out of Little Rock Arkansas and ended with the same organization and a fan base that loves him!

 

 

 

 

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[Hosken Bombo Disco]

In the end, I'm glad the Twins brought him back, and I hope we see him around in years to come.

[DaveW]

Retirement is always a touchy issue at times for once great players (make no doubt about it, Hunter was a great player, not hall of fame great, but one or two thresholds below and will go down as one of the best 10 players or so in this franchises history)

 

But good for him to see the writing on the wall, this year was far from great for him, but he didn't embarrass himself and had a couple nice stretches when the fork wasn't in him

 

I don't mind him being a part of the org moving forward, but to be honest I wouldn't want him in an everyday role just yet. Maybe ease him into it a bit? I don't think you can go from player to every day bench coach in one year. Spring Training coach and some front office/ambassador position for year one, and go from there?

 

Anyways, thanks for the memories Torii you were a big part of bringing the Twins back to respectability the first time around, and you will be put into the Twins HOF sooner rather than later. Jersey retired? Maybe, but that is a debate for another day I suppose.

[Squirrel]

 

I don't mind him being a part of the org moving forward, but to be honest I wouldn't want him in an everyday role just yet.

Well ... he could be the dance party leader ...

[DocBauer]

This is the perfect ending. I felt and stated I thought he had that one special season left in him. That "coming home" season to close out a career and show you can still do it. Now, bash him, his August, his OPS, he defense, whatever you want to say. But he brought an energy to the team along with 22HR and 80 RBI. And those are all things not be ignored.

 

I've always had respect for Torii, even if I didn't always agree with his words or stance on things. The way he played the game, and the way he has tried to bring the game back to kids in the inner cities are the two things I probably respect him most for.

 

I don't know if you remember or not, but about a year ago I wrote a half serious, half tongue-in-cheek article about how the loss of Torii Hunter lead to the eventual downfall of the Twins through a large affecting domino effect with his FA loss. (OK, it was probably 70-30 serious vs not) His coming home to help the Twins jump start their rebuild, especially with Rosario, Buxton and Hicks patrolling the OF with him is a full-circle, baseball gods kind of justice.

 

I'd call this a happy ending. Thank you Torii.

[TheLeviathan]

It was a very good career and I hope retirement serves him just as well.

[twinsnorth49]

Glad he saw it and nobody had to notice for him, it's always sad when great players have to be told to leave. Torii had a great career and treated all of us to some great baseball, in the end I'm happy he went out as a Twin.

[mudcat14]

I'll bet we never see Torii in uniform on an everyday basis again.  He may show up as a spring training instructor, even perhaps as a roving minor league coach.  But after earning more than $170mil in this game, I doubt he'll feel the need to commit full time to anything, nor should he.  Following his son's athletics will be his focus now. 

[DaveW]

 

I'll bet we never see Torii in uniform on an everyday basis again.  He may show up as a spring training instructor, even perhaps as a roving minor league coach.  But after earning more than $170mil in this game, I doubt he'll feel the need to commit full time to anything, nor should he.  Following his son's athletics will be his focus now. 

Honestly, he is so good on TV and in any interview, I wouldn't be surprised if he ended up on ESPN, TBS, MLB network or Fox in the next couple years.

[mikelink45]

Great timing - he is helping the Twins two years in a row.

 

[Boom Boom]

It's a good thing that the decision to bring him back or not was taken out of the Twins' hands.

 

I'd never say he was a favorite of mine, but he was a very good player for a long time.

[Secondary User]

 

Let the speculation begin

[gunnarthor]

Really great career. He's not often compared to Mauer favorably but from 2001-2012, he amassed the same amount of WAR Mauer has in his 12 year career.  Obviously, Mauer had bigger peaks and valleys. 

 

Nice career, hope he enjoys his retirement. 

[gunnarthor]

 

 

Honestly, he is so good on TV and in any interview, I wouldn't be surprised if he ended up on ESPN, TBS, MLB network or Fox in the next couple years.

Yeah, I could see that.  In fact, unless he doesn't want to do it, I think that's exactly what happens.

[Secondary User]

 

Yeah, I could see that.  In fact, unless he doesn't want to do it, I think that's exactly what happens.

Hasn't he expressed front office aspirations?

[RedBull34]

I'm happy for Torii.

 

I'm also happy that the temptation is gone.

[AlwaysinModeration]

Wow, this is great. Makes me really happy for him to end on good terms. Good season, got to be a part of a last pennant race, had fun, and now clears the way for the kids (or Der Kid?)

 

Was not expecting this, but pleasantly surprised.

[Craig Arko]

I wonder if the number 48 follows suit.

[Vanimal46]

Honestly, he is so good on TV and in any interview, I wouldn't be surprised if he ended up on ESPN, TBS, MLB network or Fox in the next couple years.

If Curt Schilling can be employable as a baseball analyst, Torii has that gig in the bag....

[SwainZag]

 

I wonder if the number 48 follows suit.

 

I would say there is a decent chance that's the Twins end up retiring it in the next couple years.

[spinowner]

I'd think if they retired 28 for Blyleven they'd retire 48 for Hunter.

[Vanimal46]

I am too young to remember and appreciate the Kirby days, so Torii was the first impact player I have followed as a Twins fan. I remember watching Baseball Tonight, and most every night, Torii made a Web Gem play in CF. Whether it was robbing a HR, making a diving catch, or throwing someone out at home plate, he was a lot of fun to watch growing up. Not a lot of players can say they played at the highest level of their sport for 19 years and leave on their own terms. Congrats on a great career.

[Willihammer]

An amazing career really. I only wish 100% of it was as a Twin.

 

[Shaitan]

It's cool to see a real retirement with his first team instead of those silly one-day contracts.

[USAFChief]

I'm happy I got to watch his last season.

 

I've said this before, but I'll repeat myself...Hunter is one of my favorite Twins of all time. He never once gave me the impression he wanted anything more than to win, and he was willing to do whatever he could, each and every day, to make that happen. Kept himself in top shape, would run through a catcher or into a wall, ran out every ground ball, and genuinely seemed to appreciate his good fortune to play baseball for a living.

 

He can retire knowing he left nothing on the field.

 

I'm sure he'll be good at whatever he chooses to do. I think he'd be great on TV.

[Ultima Ratio]

There was never any doubt that he loved playing the game and played hard at it every day. His attitude and passion, saying nothing of his skill, made buying in to the team so easy. I'm very glad to have seen him play so many times.

[Reider]

Clutch, consistent, and classy.

 

It would have been great if Torii Hunter played his entire career in a Twins uniform, but at least he came back to the Twins for his last year.

[Jerr]

He gave us so many great memories and now another in going out on his terms.

 

I hope he just takes some time to relax with his family. If, he wants to work something later he will be a star at whatever he does!!!

 

Thanks Torii !!!!

 

[nowheresville]

Torii was a fun player to watch, but can we please shut down any hint of retiring his number. Admittedly, I'm biased towards only retiring the numbers of the best of the best, and think the Twins have already gone overboard with retiring numbers, but Hunter really shouldn't even be in that discussion.

 

The comparison to Blyleven isn't valid, as 28 was only retired because Bert made the HoF, and we can all agree that Torii will never be anything more than a spectator in Cooperstown.

 

If Torii had spent his entire career in Minnesota, and was part of a World Championship team or two, I could see retiring his number, in the same way that Hrbek's number was retired, but a very good player who spent half his career elsewhere shouldn't be considered one of the best of the best in franchise history.

 

If you're going to retire 48, then you have to look at retiring #4 (Allison), #2 (Versalles), #16 (Viola), #22 (Radke), and #33 (Morneau) who all had just as important of contributions to Twins History. 

 

Torii should be remembered for his place with the team, but the place to do it is with the Twins Hall of Fame, where I have no doubt he'll be a first ballot addition.

[Squirrel]

 

It's cool to see a real retirement with his first team instead of those silly one-day contracts.

It's also cool to see someone with impact retire in the off-season and not announce this will be their last season and every game and event becomes 'the last time' all throughout a season.