After it was announced on Wednesday that former MLB All-Star and World Series champion Pat Burrell will throw out the ceremonial first pitch at the San Francisco Giants game against the Philadelphia Phillies, the Phillies made an announcement of their own on Thursday.
Pat the Bat will officially retire a Phillie according to sources, to which he'll have a ceremony at Citizens Banks Park in early May to commemorate.
Burrell wasn't coming back to the Giants after a foot injury held him in check for most of 2011, but wasn't ready to make it official back in October. He still wasn't sure at the end of January when he told the AP "I have not decided yet, but I don't think I can play anymore [due to a chronic foot injury]." He signed on as a scout with the Giants earlier this year.
He will sign a one day minor-league deal to put it in writing, but when you spend the first nine seasons of your 12 year career with a team, I'd say that's the one you retire with. He will finish with a lifetime .253 average, 292 home runs and 976 RBI.