Adam Dunn Set to Retire After 14-Year MLB Career

Not long after watching from the bench as the Oakland Athletics were eliminated from the postseason, Adam Dunn has decided to retire.

SportsCenter's Twitter feed, via ESPN's Pedro Gomez, provided the news of the 34-year-old's decision:

MLB.com's Jane Lee added some more details:

It really is a sad ending for Dunn. In his 14th year in the majors, he suited up for his first-ever postseason game Tuesday night but never got an at-bat from manager Bob Melvin in the 12-inning affair.

ESPN Stats & Info put it into perspective:

While it's a decidedly harsh way to go out, it doesn't do anything to tarnish what has been a thoroughly entertaining career for the big man. One of the most unique players over the last decade-plus, the 6'6", 285-pound first baseman and outfielder was typically either hitting a home run, drawing a walk or striking out.

Of his 8,328 career plate appearances, almost half (49.93 percent) ended in one of those three results.

Craig Calcaterra of Hardball Talk discussed what a unique talent Dunn became in his career:

Although he never led the league in home runs, he had six seasons of 40 or more, four of which came with the Cincinnati Reds (and a fifth was split between the Reds and Arizona Diamondbacks), and another three with at least 30. He finishes his career with 462 long bombs, which puts him 35th on the all-time list in a tie with Jose Canseco.

Tony Tribble/Associated Press

Of course, the career .237 hitter is also third on the all-time strikeouts list, as he led the league in that category in four seasons.

Still, although he wasn't always the model of efficiency or a player who graded out impressively via sabermetrics, Dunn won't soon be forgotten. A fan favorite who carried a big stick, he made a significant impact on the game playing with the Reds, Diamondbacks, Washington Nationals, Chicago White Sox and finally the Athletics.

It's disappointing he won't get to do the same in the playoffs, but he has assuredly earned the right to an extended vacation.