On February 18 2011 — St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Jim Edmonds announced his retirement Friday at age 40. Edmonds, who played for the Milwaukee Brewers last season before he was traded to Cincinnati on Aug. 9, injured his right Achilles’ tendon while rounding the bases after a home run last September 21st and never played again.
Edmonds signed a minor league contract with the Cardinals this month and was still undergoing treatment. But team doctors told Edmonds the injury was so severe he would not be medically cleared to play, and that he could hurt himself even more. “Although I feel that I can still play and contribute, the risk of permanent injury is too much for me to chance,” Edmonds said in a statement released by the club. “As much as I regret this announcement, I feel it is for the best.”
He had first retired after the 2008 season, then came back last year to play with Milwaukee and Cincinnati when he hit .276 with 11 home runs and 23 RBI.
The popular center fielder was a four-time All-Star and eight-time Gold Glove winner in 17 seasons, winning a World Series with the Cardinals in 2006.
“I saw him in early January and I saw that he was a long way away physically – he had to work,” Cardinals manager Tony La Russa said. “I was not optimistic.”
Edmunds played 73 games for the Brewers, hitting .286 with eight home runs and 20 RBIs. “He was just an unbelievable clubhouse presence and an unbelievable player – the best center fielder I’ve ever seen,” Cardinals pitcher Chris Carpenter said.
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