Red Sox Honor Nomar Garciaparra with One Day Signing; Nomar Retires

The Boston Red Sox announced today at a press conference in Fort Myers, Florida that Nomar Garciaparra would once again become a member of the organization; if only for a day. In a show of respect for the former Red Sox great and fan-favorite, the team signed Garciaparra to a one-day contract so that he could retire as a member of the team he started with back in 1996.

Back in 2004, the Red Sox found themselves behind the first place Yankees with the deficit in the standings growing each day. Plagued with nagging injuries, Garciaparra had played in just 38 games but was still managed to post an impressive .321 batting average. Despite his struggles to remain healthy, Garciaparra was thought to be a career member of the Red Sox by most fans, which is why his eventual trade to the Chicago Cubs just before the July trading deadline sent shockwaves through Red Sox Nation.

Whether Red Sox fans care to admit it or not, the trade of Garciaparra may have been the decision that helped end the 86-year World Series drought. Defensive specialist Orlando Cabrera took over for Garciaparra at shortstop and utility first basemen Doug Mientkiewicz was brought in to serve as a late-inning defensive replacement. The improved defense helped lead the Red Sox to an improbable and historic World Series Championship, and although the Red Sox sent Garciaparra a World Series ring to honor his contribution to the season, it was obvious to fans that he was heartbroken that he was no longer a part of the team.

Garciaparra would battle injuries the rest of his career. Although he did manage to play two moderately healthy seasons with the Dodgers in 2005 and 2006, Garciaparra never regained the form of his early days in Boston.

In 2009, when Garciaparra returned to the American League as a member of the Oakland Athletics, he received a standing ovation by Fenway Faithful in his first return trip to Boston since the trade. Moved by the gesture, Garciaparra removed his batting help, placed his hand over his heart and thanked the fans of Boston. It was a special moment that brought closure to one of the most abrupt separations between fans and star player in franchise history.

This morning, Garciaparra joined the same front office that traded him back in 2004, as he was introduced. He talked about the need to wrap up his career as a member of the Red Sox, which is something that has been nagging at him since his visit to Fenway last summer. Today the dream finally occurred for Garciaparra, with he and Red Sox Nation finally joined together again, for one last day. Although his playing days are over, Garciaparra now turns his focus to baseball analysis with ESPN's Baseball Tonight.

Sources: MLB.com, , Garciaparra Retires, Nomar Joins Red Sox Nation One Last Time.

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