PHOENIX, Sept. 15 (UPI) -- Colorado Rockies infielder Todd Helton told The Denver Post he would retire at the end of the season.
Helton told the newspaper that he bring his career to an end after 17 seasons even though he felt he was physically capable of carrying on a little longer.
"If I could play 81 games at home next year, I could do it for a couple of more years," Helton said.
Helton, 40, said off-season back and knee surgeries convinced him in the spring he could play the current season; however he had concluded since then that it was time to move on.
"It's a young man's game," Helton said. "I am 40 years old. I am looking forward to doing something else besides baseball."
Helton said he wanted to make the announcement before the end of the season so he could say goodbye to the Rockies faithful during their final home stand of the season.
Helton had a career .317 batting average heading into Sunday's game in Phoenix. He was hitting .244 this season with 13 home runs and 52 RBI.
