St. Louis Cardinals: Skip Schumaker announces retirement

Apr 22, 2014; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Cincinnati Reds infielder Skip Schumaker (25) throws on the field before playing the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 22, 2014; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Cincinnati Reds infielder Skip Schumaker (25) throws on the field before playing the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

The St. Louis Cardinals former utility man is retiring after 11 seasons, eight of them with St. Louis.

Former St. Louis Cardinals utility man, Skip Schumaker, announced today that he will officially be retiring from baseball. The San Diego Padres released the news via Twitter.

Schumaker will hang up his cleats after 11 seasons in the majors, eight of them with the Cardinals. He also played for the Cincinnati Reds and Los Angeles Dodgers.

The second baseman and outfielder compiled a .288/.345/.377 slash line and a .722 OPS in his eight seasons with the Cardinals.

Schumaker’s best season with the Cardinals arguably came in 2008 when he slashed .302/.359/.406 with eight homers, 22 doubles, five triples, 163 hits and 46 RBI in 153 games as an outfielder. During that 2008 season, Skip logged most of his games in center field, playing 73 games there.

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While Schumaker had a solid season for the Cardinals in 2008, he will likely be most remembered around St. Louis for his heroics in the 2011 National League Division Series against Roy Halladay and the Philadelphia Phillies. Schumaker delivered what would be the game-winning RBI in the first inning of Game 5 against the Phillies after smacking a double down the right field line off Halladay to score Rafael Furcal (who tripled in his first at bat). The Cardinals, of course, went on to win the game 1-0 thanks to a shutout effort by starter Chris Carpenter, advancing St. Louis to the NLCS.

But for all of the amazing moments in that magical 2011 postseason, if Schumaker doesn’t get that RBI in Game 5 of the NLDS, who knows if the Cardinals go on to advance. For that, Cardinals fans will always be grateful.

Schumaker was a joy to watch in a Cardinals uniform. He always did whatever he could to help the team, including a switch from the outfield to second base in 2009 — a feat that is far easier said than done. He was one of the “little guys” who worked his tail off and always gave 100 percent on the field, and it was evident throughout his career.

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Schumaker’s scrappy play and effort often reminded me of former Cardinal David Eckstein, and that is great company to be in. Here’s to No. 55.