Doolittle thanks Oakland, fans in retirement announcement
Sean Doolittle, the wildly popular former A's reliever, has announced his retirement from baseball after more than a decade pitching in the majors.
Doolittle played for the A's from 2012-17 before he was traded to the Washington Nationals. He helped the Nationals win the World Series in 2019.
Doolittle announced his decision Friday in a lengthy social media post. He later held a news conference before the Nationals hosted the Atlanta Braves.
On his post, Doolittle thanked the A's organization for giving his career a second chance. Doolittle was drafted as a first baseman and hit 22 home runs in 2008, but his career appeared to be at a dead end because of injuries before the organization suggested he convert to pitching before the 2011 season. A year later he made his debut with the A's, and quickly won over the fan base.
Doolittle noted his strong
connection with A's fans, writing, “in six seasons in Oakland I formed a bond with A's fans that meant the world to me.”
Doolittle, whose entrance music was “For Whom The Bell Tolls” by Metallica, was an All-Star in 2014 when he saved 22 games. He was traded to the Nationals in a deadline deal during the 2017 season with Ryan Madson for Jesús Luzardo, Sheldon Neuse and Blake Treinen.
“Thank you for bringing the energy and head banging to East Bay thrash metal with me,” he continued. “For a kid who fell in love with baseball going to A's games at the Coliseum, it was an honor to wear the green & gold in Oakland. I know things have been difficult lately for A's fans, but I'm with you. Stay strong.”
The left-handed reliever spent the bulk of his career with the A's and Washington,
earning his second All-Star selection in 2018 with the Nationals. He also thanked the Cincinnati Reds and Seattle Mariners for his brief time there.
Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo said the team knew it was getting a tremendous reliever and person with the trade for Doolittle in 2017, adding that proved to be correct.
“A World Champion, AllStar, and leader in the clubhouse, Sean set an example of what it means to be a pillar of the community,” Rizzo said in a statement. “He was as fierce as they come on the mound and took the ball whenever he was called upon.”