Hunt and Peck

Jaime Garcia is retiring from baseball - A Hunt and Peck

It has been real

By lil_scooter93 Jan 10, 2019, 4:00pm EST

Jaime Garcia made his debut for the St. Louis Cardinals on July 11, 2008. It was fine debut, two innings pitched, no runs allowed on one hit and one walk with two strikeouts. For the next eight seasons (nine years - Garcia missed the entirety of the 2009 season for Tommy John surgery) wearing the Birds on the Bat, Garcia did his best to compete. His beautiful pitching came at a cost, and the cost appeared to be the health of his shoulder and elbow. Injuries plagued his career, but each time he would return. He was not always stronger than he was before, but he was stronger than he should have been. Fans and the media alike often questioned his mental toughness, but time and time again, he would return from injury, ready to play. He was one of the toughest Cardinals of all time.

After a decade of pitching through pain, undergoing surgery, and giving it all he had, Jaime Garcia has decided to retire from baseball. He leaves the field with a 70-62 record, a 3.85 ERA and 3.77 FIP. In 1135 innings he has struck out 925 batters and pitched four shutouts, all with absolutely perfect facial hair.

And now, my favorite Jaime game: