San Diego

‘The Flyin' Hawaiian' Shane Victorino Plans to Sign 1-Day Contract, Retire as a Phillie

If you didn't know Shane Victorino hadn't already officially retired, you're probably not alone. His time has come, though.

Victorino told KHON-TV early Tuesday morning that he's officially retiring from baseball on Aug. 3. While there is no official word from the Phillies, Victorino said he'll "go back to Philly and probably sign a one-day deal, hang it up and call it a career."

The Phillies host the Marlins on Aug. 3 at Citizens Bank Park as part of their Alumni Weekend.

"It's time to hang it up and call it a career," Victorino, said. "I think I've been blessed with that opportunity as a baseball player growing up in Maui, getting that opportunity to represent my state, represent my people. It's about that time, it's time for me to say … it's time for me to move on. It's time for me to enjoy retirement."

The 37-year-old hasn't played in the majors since 2015 when he played 71 games with the Boston Red Sox and Los Angeles Angels. He signed a minor-league deal with the Chicago Cubs but was released after nine games in Triple A Iowa.

But the Flyin' Hawaiian will forever be known as a Philadelphia Phillie. Victorino was twice a Los Angeles Dodgers castoff. First, the Padres selected him in the Rule 5 draft in 2003, but San Diego returned Victorino to the Dodgers later that season.

In 2004, though, the Phillies plucked him in the Rule 5 draft and Victorino developed into an important piece of the best stretch of baseball in franchise history.

Victorino went on to make two All-Star teams, win three Gold Gloves and his first World Series with the Phillies - his other came with the Red Sox in 2013.

During the 2008 World Series run, Victorino crushed two of the most memorable home runs of the Phillies' championship stretch. The first, a grand slam against Milwaukee Brewers' C.C. Sabathia.

And then this one.

While Chase Utley, Jimmy Rollins and Ryan Howard led the way offensively, Victorino and Jayson Werth were proof in the pudding that great teams need strong complementary players (see story).

Victorino finishes his career with 1,274 hits, 108 homers, 231 stolen bases and a slash line of .275/.340/.425. He became the first player to hit a home run, double and two stolen bases in a single game in postseason history.

As a Phillie, Victorino was .279/.345/.439 with 88 homers, 179 stolen bases and 998 hits over eight seasons.

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