World Series hero Howie Kendrick calls it a career

Howie Kendrick has called it a career after 15 seasons in professional baseball.

Kendrick’s most recent, perhaps vital role was his clutch hit to help down the Houston Astros in the 2018 World Series. Houston, since deemed an undeserving World Series champion in 2017 thanks to the sign-stealing scandal, received the justice they deserved thanks to Washington, and an unlikely hero in Kendrick.

Kendrick’s spent the last four seasons in Washington. Heck, he even considered retiring before last year, but didn’t want to go out in a pandemic-shortened year. Seriously, he didn’t want to give 2020 anything else to prey on.

“This year was going to be my last year before COVID to be honest with you,” Kendrick told reporters towards the end of the 2020 season. “I was thinking about retiring after this year, but because of COVID it kind of raised the question of like, ‘Man, do you want go out like this? Do you want 2020 to be any worse?’”

Kendrick’s numbers aren’t Hall-of-Fame worthy, but he won’t be forgotten anytime soon in D.C.

Kendrick made one All-Star Game in his career, and hit .294 over the course of his 15 campaigns. Not known as a power threat by any means, he had 124 home runs, reaching a peak of 18 in 2011.

He thanked his wife, children, parents and coaches in an Instagram post, without giving much of a hint as to where his pursuits will lie post-baseball. Kendrick was a fan favorite not just in Washington, but also with the Dodgers and Angels in Los Angeles. After a brief stop in Philly, he finished his career in the nation’s capital.