Jason Varitek, longtime Boston Red Sox catcher and captain, will annouce his retirement on Thursday, according to a report (via Boston.com). Even after his retirement, it is expected that Varitek will remain with the Red Sox in some capacity.
In a career that spanned from 1997-2011 (all with the Red Sox organization), Varitek hit .256 with 193 homers and drove in 757 runs during the regular season. In 63 postseason games, he had a .237 batting average, 11 home runs and 33 RBI. Varitek was team captain from 2005-2011 and helped the Red Sox win two World Series titles (2004, 2007). Varitek was also a three-time All-Star and one-time Gold Glove and Silver Slugger Award winner.
Varitek's longevity as a Red Sox player put him in elite company.
Only Carl Yastrzemski (23 seasons), Ted Williams (19) and Jim Rice (16) had longer tenures with the Red Sox without playing for another team.
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