No More Nomar
Posted by pauliesplatform on March 11, 2010
Nomar Garciaparra retired yesterday and it was a sad day in Red Sox Nation. He signed a ceremonial one day contract in order to retire with the team with which he grew his legend, the Boston Red Sox. Things did not end well for Nomar in Boston. He turned down a 4-year, $60 million dollar contract before the 2004 season and was such a malcontent throughout the entire season that GM Theo Epstein felt he had to trade him away for the team to succeed. Epstein turned out to be right and, looking back, Nomar is lucky that he was. Otherwise, the love shown to him in his return yesterday might have went a lot differently in the hearts and minds of the Nation. Garciaparra is now remembered fondly as one of the great Red Sox. There was a time when he was considered as good as Alex Rodriguez and an even more complete player. But an Al Reyes pitch that broke his wrist had an effect on him for the rest of his career. He was never the same player after that. Yes, he was still productive on the field but never again the superstar he once was as additional injuries began to take their toll. In the end, he gets a pass in the minds of Red Sox fans everywhere because the man he was traded for, Orlando Cabrera, ended up being an important part of ending the Red Sox’ 86-year World Series championship drought. For that reason, Nomar will always be hailed as a great Red Sox. But, just imagine for a minute how his legacy would stand had he whined all of 2004 and then the team not won the World Series. I have a feeling the love-in that took place at his retirement ceremony would have gone on much differently, if it happened at all. I love Nomar, but his is a cautionary tale that athletes who turn down big contracts sometimes come to regret their decision. What was sad about yesterday is not that he was leaving baseball, but that he could have stayed on one of the biggest stages for his entire career and been identified as a Sox lifer but chose not to. He could have been Fisk or Yaz or Dewey but, in the end, money got the best of his legacy. I’m sure Nomar is not asking anyone to cry for him but, from my perspective, he could have been so much more than he was if he stayed in Boston for his whole career. That’s why I’m sad today.
