Garciaparra retires as a Red Sox

FORT MYERS, Fla., March 10 (UPI) -- Nomar Garciaparra, who won two American League batting titles while with the Boston Red Sox, retired Wednesday, ending a 14-year major league career.

Garciaparra, 36, played parts of nine seasons with the Red Sox before stints with three other teams. He signed a one-day, minor-league deal with the Red Sox Wednesday so he could retire as a member of that organization.

Garciaparra said he would join ESPN's team of baseball analysts.

"From the first day I had the thrill of putting on a Red Sox uniform and playing in front of all the great fans at Fenway Park, I have felt at home in Boston," Garciaparra said at a news conference.

"While I had the privilege of playing with other legendary teams, I always saw myself retiring in a Red Sox uniform. Today I am honored to live that dream … ."

Garciaparra was the American League rookie of the year after the 1997 season and won batting championships in 1999, when he hit .357, and 2000, when he hit .372 while with the Red Sox.

He also played for the Chicago Cubs, Los Angeles Dodgers and Oakland A's while building a career batting average of .313 with 229 home runs and 936 runs batted in over 1,434 games.