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Three-time World Series champion and 200 game winner Jon Lester is retiring.
The body of the man is not up for the 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 During his career, he made 30 or more starts 12 times and 28 times in his final season.
His resume includes five All-Star appearances and a 2.51 postseasonFIP.
"It's kind of run its course," he said. It's getting harder for me. The little things that come up throughout the year can affect your performance.
I would like to think I'm a decent self-evaluator. I don't want someone telling me I can't do this anymore. I want to be able to say thank you to my friends and family when I hand over my jersey. That's probably the most important factor.
There is a legacy of success left by Lester. He won three World Series rings with the Cubs in 2016 and 2007, and two with the Red Sox in 2013). He made an October fixture after additional playoff appearances.
Those memories will bring joy to Lester.
He said that he had a nervous feeling before the fourth game of the World Series in 2007. An airplane was thrown from the upper deck and landed right behind the mound in the Game 5 of the 2013 tie series. I remember looking at that.
The turmoil of Game 7 in 2016 when the Cubs won.
In his prime, the 6-foot-4 Lester dominated with a nasty cutter and intimidating presence on the mound, which included his patented look: glove resting just under his chin as he stared in for signs from the catcher.
"The cutter is what makes me vulnerable against him," said Mark Teixeira, who has struck out more times against the left-handed pitcher than anyone else. He would come in with the cutter and I would dive over the plate.
He didn't give in, that's why he was a bulldog. He wasn't afraid to walk. He knew how to throw the ball.
One of only nine modern left-handed pitchers with 200 wins, a.600 winning percentage and a career ERA under 4.00, is Jon Lester. One of the eight is not eligible for the Hall of Fame yet.
After 16 major league seasons, Jon Lester has retired from baseball.
The teammate who united the group was known as Lester.
"If you're building a baseball player, as far as how they treat other people, what their goals are, how you want them to compete and act on and off the field, he's the model," said Cubs manager David Ross, who was Lester's personal catcher during
The Cubs signed a $155 million free agent to a contract. Signing with a last-place team wasn't easy.
When he set the stage for everything that came, he took a chance on us. Everyone knew he was coming for one reason.
The signing with the Cubs was the most important decision in his career, though he struggled in his first few weeks in Chicago, with a 6.23 earned run average.
He said that you're expected to bring the World Series. I felt that in 2015. I was trying to win the World Series in the first month of the season. David Ross pulled me aside and told me to be myself. You don't need to do anything else than what you've done. Relax and pitch.
His career in Chicago took off after he dropped his ERA to 1.76 in the next month. One online poll of Chicago fans named him the greatest free-agent signing in the city's history, because he was used as a recruitment tool to bring other stars to the Cubs.
"I knew they had a chance to win a championship because Jon Lester went there," said former big leaguer John Lackey, who signed with Chicago in 2016 He changed the organization, but that was a sign that the baseball world was serious. That made them known to veteran guys.
In his second year in Chicago, Jon Lester went 19-5 with a 2.44 ERA and was named National League Championship Series co-MVP. He pitched three times in the World Series against Cleveland, including a relief appearance in Game 7, on his way to a third World Series ring.
I don't want someone telling me I can't do this anymore. I want to be able to say thank you to my friends and family when I hand over my jersey. That's probably the most important factor. On his decision to retire.
It was the beginning of a long stretch. In 10 playoff appearances, the left-handed pitcher compiled a 1.93 earned run average.
Ross said that he worked harder than anyone he's ever been around. He was going to work when it was time. He was going to make sure everyone had a good time when it was time to play. That's probably the biggest compliment I could give him.
In June of 2006 he made his big league debut for the Red Sox.
After back pain sent him to the hospital, he was diagnosed with anaplastic large T-cell lymphoma. He was able to return to the team midway through 2007.
"I was in Triple-A for a while after I was diagnosed with cancer," he said. I told my parents that they had to change their flight because I was starting the next night in Cleveland.
That is one of the top moments of my career. It was cool to see their faces. I didn't take anything for granted once I got back to baseball, and I really appreciated being around the guys.
The experience led to the creation of the charity, which helps raise money for cancer research. He will continue with the foundation after he stops working.
The time in Boston left an impression on him.
It makes you grow up fast, and it's an awesome place to be. It made me more accountable.
The Colorado Rockies and the World Series were tied at two games apiece. In the World Series, he went 2-0 with a.9 ERA.
"Any time he had the ball, it was a different feeling as a teammate," Pedroia said. The will to win, the power, and the way he worked. He had a lot of stuff, but he found a way to win. You can't teach it, you can't coach it. A special player has that. There's not many.
The A's lost to the Cubs in the wild-card game after starting with Jon Lester, who was traded to Oakland.
After the 2020 season in Chicago, he joined the Nationals. He was dealt to the Cards at the trade deadline and went on to win his 200th game.
"Adam and Yadi were awesome," said Lester. It was cool to play for that organization. They're successful every year.
The wild-card spot allowed for one last chance for Lester. After a COVID-19Quarantine in 2020, Lester knew it was time to go.
"I was okay with that because of theQuarantine," he said. I was home at a time when I wasn't normally. That made me open my eyes. It's time to reexamine where you're at when the work outweighs the joy.
While full-time coaching isn't in the cards, he might consider television work and possibly come to Cubs spring training to tutor young pitchers. He said he will miss a lot of aspects of the game, but that he lived up to a commitment he made to himself.
I didn't want fans to leave a game and ask if the effort was worth it. "I said that." I think I always gave it.
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