Brian Giles Calls It A Career

Brian Giles has joined Nomar Garciaparra on the list of players deciding to retire this week.

Giles called a 15 year career to an end Thursday, citing the inability to play the game at the level he expects of himself, a decision that is not heard of enough in professional sports today.

Drafted at the age of 18 by the Cleveland Indians in 1989, Giles would first reach the major leagues in 1995 with a six game cameo appearance for the club.  By 1997, he had become a regular in the Indians’ lineup and was beginning to develop as a reliable outfielder and hitter.  Playing all three outfield positions and DH over the next few seasons, it was his arrival in Pittsburgh (via trade for Ricardo Rincon)  in 1999 that was a turning point in his career.

Giles would thrive as a member of the Pirates from 1999 through August of 2003.  Becoming one of the best hitting outfielders of that time frame, he would reach two all star games and solidify his offensive numbers.  In 1999, Giles broke through at the plate posting a career high .315 Batting Average while clearing the fencing 39 times (another career high) and driving in 115.  The following season in 2000, he would post 123 RBI, the most of his career, while tying a career high Batting Average of .315 and hitting 35 home runs.  He would continue that level of play in 2001 hitting .309 with 37 Home Runs and 95 RBI.  Showing that his offensive output was not a fluke, he would hit .298 with 38 Home Runs and 103 RBI in 2002.

2003 would bring change to Brian Giles career and the ballpark he would call home for the remainder of his major league career.  In August of 2003, Giles would be traded to the San Diego Padres.  Many fans have forgotten the details of the trade or just how highly sought after Giles was at that point in his career.  On that day, the Padres would send Oliver Perez, a player to be named later (Corey Stewart) and Jason Bay to the Pirates in exchange for Brian Giles.  Giles would patrol the outfield for the Padres for the remainder of his career, from August 2003 until 2009.

His numbers never quite reached the level that they did in Pittsburgh.  He would consistently hit in the high .200′s and post home run totals between 12 and 23 home runs as a member of the San Diego squad.  In 2009, he would be limited to only 61 games due to injuries to his knees.

He accepted a non-roster invitation to the Los Angeles Dodgers’ spring training in 2010 and stated immediately that it would not take long for him to determine if his knees would allow him to continue his career.  On March 11, 2010, Giles decided that he could not compete at the level that he holds himself to, and would retire from major league baseball.

His career numbers feature a .291 Batting Average, 1897 hits, 287 Home Runs, 1078 RBI, and three all star appearances.  Giles path from here will not lead him into Cooperstown, but for Pirates and Padres fans, he will remain in stories from father to son to grandson for years to come.

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Bill Ivie is the Content Editor for the St, Louis Cardinals on BaseballDigest.com. Follow him on Twitter — twitter.com/poisonwilliam

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Topics: Batting Average, Brian Giles, Cameo Appearance, Cleveland Indians, DH, Fluke, Jason Bay, League Career, Los Angeles Dodgers, Nomar Garciaparra, Offensive Numbers, Offensive Output, Oliver Perez, Outfield Positions, Outfielder, outfielders, pittsburgh pirates, Professional Sports, Ricardo Rincon, San Diego Padres, Star Games, Turning Point

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