Andy Tracy to Retire – 4/1/2010

***THIS WAS AN APRIL FOOLS JOKE***

Last September, a few days after the Ironpig’s season came to an end, I ran into Andy Tracy and asked the question on everyones mind.. “Will you be back here next year?” Andy chuckled and said, “Free agency is a crazy thing.”

Well Andy did sign a contract with the Phillies for 2010 but after limited playing time and his role with the Ironpigs being relegated to Designated Hitter, Andy Tracy has decided to retire. I ran into Andy last night when he stopped to grab something to eat on his way home from the airport, flying back to the Lehigh Valley from his last spring training. We talked about his career and the 2008 season where he received a World Series ring. He doesn’t have any regrets and thanks the fans for making his dream of playing pro ball a reality.

So what’s next for Andy Tracy? Well growing up in Kentucky, he saw his fair share of work on farms and he plans to return to that life with just a slight change. In Kentucky, he mostly worked on tobacco farms and he decided that wasn’t the plan for him.

“Tobacco is just so dangerous. It hurts your body, it hurts your breath.. it becomes an inconveniance…”

He did mention he will miss the traveling and seeing new cities and fans. One of those cities in particular has drawn his family’s interest and that would be Scranton, Pennsylvania. An avid fan of the TV show, “The Office” Andy set out on the last road trip looking for the real Dunder Mifflin and instead found a new passion. Like Dwight Schrute in his favorite show, Andy found that Scranton soil is perfect for farming beets. He purchased a farm there and said he would consider coaching for the SWB Yankees after a few years away from the game.

When I asked him how he came to this decision he answered simply,

“Dwight Schrute has a bobble head of himself… when I realized I had a bobblehead day this season, I knew I had accomplished everything.”

We’ll miss you Andy and Best of luck to you!