Unless you are a professional athlete, you aren’t having a retirement from work party at the age of 36. Most people have retirement parties after the age of 50 (if they’ve taken early retirement), in their 60’s and maybe even in their 70’s depending on their circumstances.
So if you’re wondering what some of the Boston Red Sox players are doing on Saturday night, the day before catchers and pitchers report to Ft. Myers, they are currently in Miami Beach, FL celebrating the retirement of former Red Sox third baseman Mike Lowell, who turns 37 in 12 days.
Lowell retired after the 2010 season, a season that saw him without a position for a good part of the season. And in case you’re wondering if Mikey LOL has a Roger Clemens or Brett Favre retirement in mind, I’m sorry folks but that’s not going to happen.
Earlier in the week, Lowell told WEEI.com’s Rob Bradford that he is definitely retired and actually has to undergo another surgery on his hip.
“I went to New York last weekend, got an X-ray and they told me it has gotten progressively worse, so I got another cortisone shot and I think I might have to have a resurfacing surgery around September,” explained Lowell, who underwent surgery on his torn hip labrum following the 2008 season.
“Without medication or pain management I don’t think I can run 50 yards right now, I know I can’t. I don’t want to be taking meds to go about my day-to-day life. I feel like my quality of life is going down a little bit. I want to teach my kid how to run the bases in Little League instead of just standing there. It seems trivial but it bothers me that I can’t do it.”
Lowell was a true professional in 2010 and handled the situation with the utmost grace and respect. And from the sounds of it, it appears he’s enjoying retirement as well.
Best of luck Mikey LOL in whatever you decide to do in retirement.
Video: Mike Lowell’s Final MLB Hit
Video: Mike Lowell Talks About Ceremony, Red Sox Career
Video: Mike Lowell Talks With Peter Gammons
Video: Mike Lowell Mic’d Up For Thanks Mike Ceremony
Video: Former Teammates Wish Mike Lowell The Best In Retirement
Photo credit: Getty Images
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