Biggio calls it a career

Astros legend Craig Biggio announced his retirement for the end of the season before yesterday's game with the Dodgers, then added a little flourish during the game.

They stood throughout Minute Maid Park in the sixth inning Tuesday night, focused on Craig Biggio at the plate. In the home dugout and in the stands, they craved one of those storybook moments that rarely materialize the way fans and players envision.

Only six hours after Biggio had shown gratitude for being able to write his own retirement script and announcing this will be his last season as a major league player, the Astros icon added the perfect ending to his monumental day.

The bases were loaded, and the score was tied. The crowd of 38,247 was on its feet and sending a raucous echo through Minute Maid Park. Biggio rewarded his fans with a grand slam into the Crawford Boxes.

With that homer off righthander Rudy Seanez, Biggio pushed the Astros to a 7-4 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers that tied their three-game series heading into tonight's finale.

"I didn't even feel like I was touching the bases at times," said Biggio, 41, who will retire after his 20th season, all in Houston. "It was just a magical, magical day.

"I topped it off with an unbelievable ending."

Now that's how you announce a retirement! If you've never seen Biggio play before, better get a move on while you still can. If not, well, at least you'll get to see him again in another five or so years when he gets inducted into Cooperstown. Richard Justice and John Lopez have more.

Posted by Charles Kuffner on July 25, 2007 to Baseball