Tracy McGrady retires again, this time from Baseball

Apr 28, 2013; Los Angeles, CA, USA; San Antonio Spurs shooting guard Tracy McGrady (1) on the court against the Los Angeles Lakers in game four of the first round of the 2013 NBA playoffs at the Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 28, 2013; Los Angeles, CA, USA; San Antonio Spurs shooting guard Tracy McGrady (1) on the court against the Los Angeles Lakers in game four of the first round of the 2013 NBA playoffs at the Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports /
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From 2000 to 2008, Tracy McGrady was one of the NBA’s biggest stars and brightest athletes. McGrady’s unbridled athleticism and ferocious dunking ability led him to become a fan favorite over the span of a decade.

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As McGrady grew older, he transitioned into a better shooter as his legs slowly gave out on him. Soon, McGrady was hobbled by injuries and the inability to stay on the court for significant minutes. Even with the odds stacked against him, McGrady gutted it out and played competitively all the way up to his final year in the NBA in 2013 with the San Antonio Spurs.

After his NBA career, McGrady tried his hand as a baseball pitcher for the minor league Sugar Land Skeeters. Although his numbers were less than impressive in four games, notching a total of 6.2 innings while allowing five runs on four hits with zero strikeouts, McGrady was invited to start at the Atlantic League All Star Game. 

McGrady pitched 1.1 innings, striking out the last batter he faced before announcing his retirement according to CBS Houston.

His last batter he faced was the only batter McGrady struck out, and it meant quite a lot to the former seven time NBA All-Star:

"That is definitely going in the trophy case. I told some of the guys that I am going to get a strikeout before I stop playing. I got it in the second inning. Thank you Jesus."

While McGrady’s legacy will never involve his days on the diamond, his personal memento will last a lifetime. We here at FanSided wish McGrady nothing but the best in his retirement.