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On this date two years ago Chris Carpenter retired - A Hunt and Peck

Viva el Darth Carp.

By lil_scooter93
Elsa/Getty Images

After missing most of the 2012 season recovering from thoracic outlet syndrome and the surgery to correct it, the 2009 Comeback Player of the Year made yet another return, pitching the Cardinals to win in NLDS Game two against the Nationals, his tenth postseason win. Though that recovery seemed miraculous, it came at a cost. Before the 2013 season began, the last year remaining his contract with the Cardinals, the 2005 Cy Young winner informed team officials that he was experiencing the numbness and tingling in his right shoulder, the same discomfort that had plagued him before the surgery that removed one of his ribs. Not content to just give up, Carp made one final comeback attempt. He pitched a total of two games: one for the AA Springfield Cardinals and the other for the AAA Memphis Redbirds. He would not appear in another game.

Chris Carpenter has always been a fighter. It is why we love him. It is why opposing fans hate him. That same attitude that refused to surrender to injury was exactly the reason he was the perfect Big Game Pitcher, the reason we wanted him to pitch Game Five of the 2011 NLDS, the reason we wanted him to pitch Game Seven of the 2011 World Series on short rest. He is six-feet, six-inches of garlic salt and red wine vinegar. I miss him terribly.

Hope retirement is treating you well, Darth Carp! Thanks for the memories!

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