Molitor calls it quits
After 21 seasons, Twins star says he won't return in '99
Posted: Friday December 04, 1998 11:53 AM
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From a dugout to an office? Paul Molitor, who hit .281 in 1998, has talked with the Brewers about a front-office job AP |
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- Paul Molitor
couldn't bring himself to say the word: retirement.
That's what he meant, he just wouldn't say it. Linda Molitor actually was
the first to use the precise word, letting it slip out between sips of
expensive champagne Thursday long after her husband had announced the end
of his 21-year playing career.
The word eventually settled on Molitor, though, but he admitted it will
take longer to get used to the idea.
"When you stop playing is one thing," he said. "When you emotionally let
go of the game usually is another time removed."
At 42, Molitor reluctantly put an end to a sparkling career that spanned
exactly half his life and left him to be remembered as one of the greatest
hitters in baseball history.
His wife wanted him to play another year. His agent tried to convince him
to play another year. But Molitor decided to take his 3,319 hits -- eighth
on the career list -- and find out what else the game has to offer someone
who appears certain of election to the Hall of Fame.
"My heart tells me I've done what I can do on the field and in this
game," Molitor said. "I'm happy to leave it playing my last season in a
Twins uniform. ... Now I'm going to redirect my efforts to find out what
else the future holds."
One of three St. Paul natives to star in the majors at the same time --
Dave Winfield and Jack Morris were the others -- Molitor turned down
playing offers from Milwaukee and Toronto before deciding to retire.
Now he is weighing front-office offers from the Brewers, the team he
spent his first 15 seasons with, and Minnesota, where he played his final
three years after spending three in Toronto.
Whatever job he takes for 1999, Molitor wants to try a little bit of
everything.
"Almost an apprentice-type situation," he said, comparing it to the role
Minnesota native Kevin McHale filled with the NBA's Timberwolves before
taking over the team's basketball operations in 1995.
"That just makes a lot of sense to me," Molitor said, "to be in a
situation where you can have somebody teach you the roles, so to speak, and
then climb if you desire."
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Twins general manager Terry Ryan has drawn up a monthly breakdown of
duties Molitor would handle. If he stays home, Molitor would join another
retired Twins star -- executive vice president Kirby Puckett -- in
specially tailored front-office jobs.
Molitor has no time frame for his decision, although he said he might
wait until next season is underway, giving the Twins time to sort out their
uncertain future. Molitor also said his wife has casually started to look
for a home in the Milwaukee area.
The Twins want a new stadium and agreed last summer to a new lease at the
Metrodome that could expire after the 2000 season. If the Twins can't
resolve that uncertainty, Molitor said he probably would go elsewhere.
"Maybe if all things were equal, I would decide to stay here," he said.
"But the vulnerability and the possibility of that breaking down in the
next few years is a concern."
For most of his career, it seemed it was Molitor's body that was on the
verge of breaking down.
He missed more than 500 games during his career, nearly all of them
during his years with the Brewers. But he finally won a World Series with
Toronto in 1993 -- he was the Series MVP -- and retires alongside Ty Cobb
and Honus Wagner as the only players with 3,000 hits, 600 doubles and 500
steals.
Fittingly, Molitor singled in his final at-bat last season.
"I think I've done what I can do on the field in terms of fulfilling
everything I possibly could have dreamed of in major league baseball," he
said.
Although Molitor came to announce his retirement -- and although he
eventually even allowed himself to use the word -- he still joked about
returning.
Asked one last time if it could accurately be reported that he said he
had retired, Molitor said, "As long as you don't rip me if I come back next
September for a contender."
Still, he did what he intended to do Thursday. He said goodbye.
"It's been a great ride," he said. "I'm thankful, and thanks for the
memories."
Copyright 2003 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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