Snow flies: First baseman retires after 15 seasons
Snow retires, taking position with Giants
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- First baseman J.T. Snow announced
his retirement Thursday after a 15-year major league career, and he
will rejoin the San Francisco Giants in several roles.
Snow has been hired by the Giants, his team from 1997-2005, for
about 20 games as a radio broadcaster. He also will serve as a
roving minor league coach and an instructor at spring training, in
addition to advising general manager Brian Sabean and making
personal appearances on behalf of the club.
"I'm looking forward to it," said the 38-year-old Snow, a
six-time Gold Glove winner who already lives in the Bay Area. "I
think it will be a fun transition from playing and I look forward
to the next step and the next chapter in my life. I knew this day
would be coming. It's inevitable for all of us."
Snow last played for the Boston Red Sox, who designated him for
assignment on June 19. He was batting .205 in only 44 at-bats when
the club let him go.
Snow owns a career batting average of .268 with 189 homers and
877 RBI in parts of 15 seasons, playing 1,715 games with the
Yankees, Angels, Giants and Red Sox.
A left-handed hitter with an impressive playoff track record, he
thought he might catch on with a contending team for the stretch
run last season, but it didn't happen. Snow reached the World
Series with the Giants in 2002.
"It's a humbling experience when you're talking to your agent
and he says no one's calling," Snow said.
Snow reached the World Series with the Giants in 2002, and they
lost in seven games. During Game 5 against the Anaheim Angels, the
sure-handed Snow made perhaps his most alert play.
Snow had already scored on Kenny Lofton's triple and David Bell
was running home when it became dangerous -- Darren Baker, the
3½-year-old bat boy son of manager Dusty Baker,was standing behind
Angels catcher Bengie Molina, eager to grab Lofton's bat.
In a flash, Snow dashed in and scooped up the boy by the collar
of his oversized jacket, pulling him from harm's way.
When the Giants parted ways with Snow after the 2005 season,
Sabean, executive vice president Larry Baer and owner Peter Magowan
planted the seed about Snow one day working for the club. Most of
his broadcast work will be at home games providing analysis
alongside play-by-play announcer Dave Flemming.
Snow's late father, Jack, a star receiver in the NFL, also went
into broadcasting after his playing career ended. While J.T. has no
experience in the booth, Baer said he has "great insights."
"In the spirit of other great Giants, we'd like to have a
long-standing relationship with him," Baer said. "He has a
winning attitude. You can't get enough of exposing the players
you're very proud of having worn your uniform to your current
players."
Snow will have the freedom to explore his options and see where
he fits in best, and he didn't rule out the possibility of coaching
or managing someday.
For now, he's been enjoying the chance to coach his son's flag
football team.
"I'm really intrigued to work with minor league kids," Snow
said on a conference call. "We all were there once."
He is most looking forward to helping develop minor leaguers --
not to mention guiding good friend Rich Aurilia as he makes the
transition to first base as San Francisco's new starter in Snow's
old spot.
"That would be a challenge," Snow said. "It will be a lot of
fun."
Snow and Hall of Famer Willie McCovey are the only Giants first
basemen to make nine straight starts on opening day since the team
moved west to San Francisco in 1958.
"I can honestly look back and say I gave it all I had," Snow
said. "I have no regrets. I have nothing left to give as a player.
I'm all tapped out. I had fun. If you told me at 21 I would retire
at 38, I probably wouldn't have believed you."