It turns out that a dugout conversation with a childhood hero was what gave Joey Votto the final push into retirement.
The Canadian baseball icon, who abruptly announced his retirement last week, revealed that a quick chat after passing up the chance at an at-bat helped him realize it was over.
Votto recounted the story on the Dan Patrick Show on Friday, saying he was offered the chance to pinch-hit in a game with the triple-A Buffalo Bisons, but turned it down.
“The coach was like, ‘Do you want this at-bat?’ and I was like, ‘I don’t, I don’t.’ And I’ve never had that,” Votto said. “I was like, ‘I’m good.’”
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When Votto was sitting on the bench, he was approached by Bisons first base coach and former Blue Jays outfielder Devon White – a childhood hero of Votto’s and a favourite of his late father when he was growing up in Etobicoke.
“We loved the Toronto Blue Jays and our favourite player was Devon White,” Votto said.
As White offered help to Votto, who was hoping to earn a callup to the Blue Jays after signing with them in the off-season, the first baseman came to a realization.
“He said to me, ‘What do you think you’re going to do?’ And he was talking about my hitting style and what adjustments I’m going to make,” Votto said. “And I go, ‘I think I’m done,’ and he goes, ‘You mean retiring?’ and I go, ‘Yeah, I think I’m done,’ and he goes ‘OK.’”
Votto said the moment defied his natural instinct of constantly striving to play great baseball and he said continuing to press on ultimately was taking playing time away from younger players.
“I went into the clubhouse, thanked my minor-league teammates who, in my opinion, deserved a thank you because I took plate appearances from them, I took playing time from them,” Votto said.
Votto also admitted that he probably should not have tried to play this season — and probably should have been done last season.
“I was washed,” he said.
He made his abrupt retirement announcement on Aug. 21 while the Blue Jays were taking on the Cincinnati Reds at Rogers Centre in their series finale. Votto spent the first 17 years of his career with the Reds before signing a minor-league deal with his hometown team this off-season.
“That’s it, I’m done, I’m officially retired from baseball,” he said in the video shot in a parking lot.
Along with the video, Votto gave his heartfelt thanks to the many people who helped him during his career.
Votto ended his career after 2,056 MLB games, during which he had 2,135 hits and 356 home runs. He fell just short of Larry Walker’s record for most career hits by a Canadian, which stands at 2,160.
Votto won the NL MVP in 2010 and was a six-time all-star with the Reds.
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