Braves’ McCann to retire after 15-year career

playMcCann announces retirement: ‘This is it for me’ (0:46)Brian McCann says his goal to return to the postseason with the Braves has been accomplished, and following elimination, he plans to retire and be with his family. (0:46)Atlanta Braves catcher Brian McCann said Wednesday that he is retiring after 15 major league seasons.McCann, 35, revealed his plans after Atlanta’s 13-1 loss to the visiting St. Louis Cardinals in the decisive Game 5 of the National League Division Series.”This is it for me,” he told reporters in the locker room, saying he made the decision about a month and a half ago. “I’m going to go home and be a dad and play with those kids.”The Georgia native began his career with nine seasons with the Braves and was named an All-Star seven times before moving to the New York Yankees in 2014. He won the World Series in 2017 after a trade to the Houston Astros.Former teammates Chipper Jones and Alex Bregman were among those who quickly paid tribute to McCann via Twitter.To one of my favorite teammates ever…..congrats on a fabulous career! Thanks for keeping me young and keeping me from retiring a couple yrs earlier. Ur a true pro, a leader of men, a great father and a best friend! Have a great retirement, Brian McCann! Ur the best out there— Chipper Jones (@RealCJ10) October 10, 2019
Brian McCann is one of the best catchers to ever play the game but also the best dude I met in Professional Baseball. Love you bro.— Alex Bregman (@ABREG_1) October 10, 2019 McCann re-signed with Atlanta as a free agent last November to play for manager Brian Snitker, who was his manager at Double-A Mississippi when the Braves first called him up directly to the majors in 2005.”Yeah, he knew,” McCann said of Snitker. “I’ve known him for a long, long time. He was my Double-A manager. Being able to do this with him as my manager is something I’ll always remember.”A six-time Silver Slugger, McCann passed 1,000 career RBIs in his final season. He finished with a career .262 average, 282 home runs and 1,018 RBIs. This season, he hit .249 with 12 homers and 45 RBIs in 85 games.”This is everything that I wanted to do,” McCann said. “I wanted to come back and get a chance at the postseason.”