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Former A’s fan favorite Nick Swisher announces retirement

By Jennifer Rainwater

Mar 12, 2016; Lake Buena Vista, FL, USA; Atlanta Braves left fielder Nick Swisher (23) walks onto the field during the first inning of a spring training baseball game against the Washington Nationals at Champion Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 12, 2016; Lake Buena Vista, FL, USA; Atlanta Braves left fielder Nick Swisher (23) walks onto the field during the first inning of a spring training baseball game against the Washington Nationals at Champion Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports /
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It’s been two years since Nick Swisher has appeared in a big league ball game.

On Friday the former Oakland Athletics‘ first baseman and outfielder did what many players have been doing over the past couple of years. He told his story via The Player’s Tribune, a website where athletes can tell their own stories and make their own announcements.

In fact Hannah Jeter used the blog/site last week to announce that she and “The Captain,” also known as the great Derek Jeter, are expecting a baby girl.

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Swisher’s piece on the blog wasn’t as exciting or happy as the Jeter’s happy announcement but he made it seem like one, the way only Nick Swisher could.

If you have ever met “Swish,” as he was affectionately referred to, at least in Oakland, you know exactly what I mean.

The always happy and always positive Swisher formally announced his retirement from baseball at the age of 36, beginning with a silly story about playing softball with his brother-in-law while using the headline, “The Dream is Over Baby!” only the way a guy like Swisher could.

Selected 16th overall in the 2002 draft by the Oakland Athletics, Swisher, played in Oakland for four years from 2004 through 2007 before being traded to the Chicago White Sox for Fautino De Los Santos, Gio Gonzalez and Ryan Sweeney.

Swisher went on to play a year for the White Sox before being traded to the New York Yankees.

He won a World Series Championship with the Yankees in 2009 and was an all-star in 2010.

In 2010 Swisher hit a career-high 29 home runs, drove in 89 and averaged another career high .288 at the plate.

He was granted free agency in 2012 and signed with the Cleveland Indians.

Oakland Athletics
Mar 22, 2016; Kissimmee, FL, USA; Atlanta Braves outfielder Nick Swisher (23) catches a fly ball in the fourth inning of the spring training game against the Houston Astros at Osceola County Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Dyer-USA TODAY Sports /

His first year with Cleveland went well. Swisher played in 145 games and hit 22 long balls, but he began being hindered by knee injuries.

He was limited to 97 games in 2013, and in 2014 was traded to the Atlanta Braves after playing in just 30 games.

He played in another 47 with the Braves and was released after the season.

Swisher signed a minor league contract to return to the Yankees but never played another big league game again, spending what time he could at the Yankees’ Triple-A affiliate Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.

Swisher was released by the Yankees in July of 2016.

Swisher, as always, kept a good attitude about his retirement saying,

"“Your body tells you when it’s time to call it quits. And this offseason, my body was screaming, ‘The dream is over, baby!'”"

However, not-surprisingly, the charismatic now-former ballplayer plans to stay in the game as a studio analyst for FOX Sports beginning this season. So perhaps the dream isn’t really over for Swisher after all.

Next: A's pre-spring training third base preview

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