Though it wasn’t shocking to learn, it’s official now. Veteran infielder Craig Counsell announced his retirement last week, deciding it was time to hang up the bat.
He utilised his talent to its fullest at the very least. Even with a career OPS+ of 79 and never playing in 110 games in a season until he was in his 30s, Counsell was able to take part in some of the most memorable postseason series in baseball history and participate in 1,624 big league games.
Let’s go over his career in a little bit here. The most significant and outstanding games he has ever played, together with his individual high points, milestones, accomplishments, and low points, are included below.
There are also a few peculiarities, noteworthy incidents, and his colleagues’ outstanding performances that he witnessed. He can honestly say that he saw or did all of them.
These are listed in reverse chronological order according to the teams he was a member of at the time.
Sept. 30, 1997: First NLDS Game Counsell leads off with a single as the bottom of the ninth inning of the first postseason game of his career is tied 1-1. After making it to third base, Jeff Conine is forced at home on a grounder to second, giving the Marlins a one-out advantage with the bases loaded. But then Edgar Renteria hits a walk-off single to give the Marlins a 2-1 victory over San Francisco.
October 26, 1997: World Series Game Seven: Counsell fulfils every schoolboy’s dream. In Game Seven of the World Series, with his team down 2-1 and the tying run on third base, he steps up to the bat in the bottom of the ninth. Counsell hits a sacrifice fly off Jose Mesa, the outstanding closer for Cleveland, to tie the game 2-2. Two innings later, Counsell scores the game-winning run and leads Florida to victory after reaching base due to an error.
