Long-time St. Louis Cardinals utility man Skip Schumaker, who also spent time as a member of the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Cincinnati Reds, called it a career on Monday. Schumaker was taking part in San Diego Padres training camp and was looking to make the team in a bench role, but instead decided to hang up his cleats. He informed Padres manager Any Green of his intentions via text.
Schumaker began his career in 2001, when he was drafted by the Cardinals. He broke into the broke into the bigs in 2005, and spent eight years patrolling Busch Stadium. His top statistical season came in 2008, which was also the first year he played a full season, when he set career-highs in runs scored (87), hits (163), home runs (8), RBI (46), walks (47), and stolen bases (8). He recorded a .364 on-base percentage and a 1.7 WAR, both also high-water marks for his career.
The erstwhile every-fielder won two rings in his eleven-year career, both with the Cardinals. His first championship came 2006, his second year in the majors, when he played in just twenty-eight games. He won his second title with the club in 2011.
Schumaker moved on from the Cardinals following the 2012 season. He spent a year with the Dodgers before playing what would be his final two with the Reds. Last season, playing in 131 games for Cinci, he .242 with one home run and twenty-one RBI.
Schumaker is a career .278 hitter and never hit for much power; he slugged just twenty-eight bombs during his career. The lefty was known more for his versatility in the field than he was for his bat, and was considered a class act and a good clubhouse presence. His retirement was announced by Andy Green through the team’s official twitter account.
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