Tracy McGrady retired from professional baseball on Wednesday after recording the first strikeout of his career.
McGrady, who was a 7-time All-Star during a 15-season NBA career, began a secondary career as a pro baseball player this year. A high school pitcher who called baseball his first love, T-Mac worked with coaches on his pitching and even trained with Roger Clemens. He made his debut for the independent Sugar Land Skeeters in April and started four games for the team.
McGrady started the Atlantic League All-Star Game on Wednesday and told the team that would be his last game.
“It has been a tremendous ride,” McGrady told CBS Houston. “It is my last game today. I informed the team this would be my last outing and I appreciate them giving me this opportunity to start the game and enjoy this great mid-summers classic.
“This has been an awesome year. Not having my basketball career end the way I wanted but having the opportunity to be friends with some of the guys and get to know them and compete with them, learn from them every day, it’s been an honor.”
McGrady gave up a hit, walk and run in 1.1 innings. He struck out All-Star Bryan Pounds for the final out of his career and only strikeout he recorded in pro ball. McGrady went 0-2 with 4 hits, 10 walks and 5 runs allowed in 6.2 innings for the Skeeters.
When you figure how little training and preparation McGrady had compared to everyone else in pro ball, he put together a respectable career. Good for him that he got to enjoy a second career.
