Pitcher Barry Zito, a beloved player on both sides of the Bay for more than a decade, formally announced his retirement Monday in what can be described as a heartfelt first-person article in the Players Tribune that details the many highs and lows of his career.
“I’m retiring from baseball, but I’ll never be to far away from the game that made me who I am,” Zito wrote. “I am beyond thankful to be at peace with walking away, thanks in large part to my year of renewal in Nashville with the Sounds.”
“My return to Oakland last month was a ‘cherry on top’ moment in my life that my family and I will never forget. I will no doubt be in the stands on both sides of the Bay in the years to come.”
Zito of course was referring to his 2015 season, spent with the Oakland Athletics Triple-A affiliate, the Nashville Sounds, before the A’s recalled him to the majors in late September. He made only three appearances, two of which were starts. One of those starts came against his former Oakland “Big Three” teammate Tim Hudson at the Coliseum.
Music has always been a big part of Zito’s life. Both of his late parents were in the music industry. This past season playing in Nashville helped Zito reconnect with his roots and quite possibly send him into a new career.
“Today, I am very excited to be a rookie all over again in a new field: song writing, ” Zito wrote in the Players Tribune. “I am sure the lessons that baseball has taught me will help me develop the thick skin I’ll need for this new endeavor. If one day you ever happen to hear a song of mine, I hope you’ll be honest about what you think. I have been building a skill set of handling adversity for years, so fire away!”
Zito faced adversity with the San Fransisco Giants, with whom he signed a seven-year, $126 million contract just before the 2007 season. When he pitched poorly, the fans let him know. He even wrote that some of his own fans “yelled obscenities to my face while I was in the dugout.”
Well before those rough days in San Francisco, Zito, who was known for his round-house curveball, established himself as one of the best pitchers in the majors for the Oakland A’s. He debuted in 2000 and two years later won the American League Cy Young Award with a 23-5 record and a 2.75 ERA.
Over seven years with the A’s, Zito put up exceptional numbers, going 102-63 with a 3.58 ERA. He ended his career with a 166-143 record and a 4.04 ERA.
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