Shawn Green recently announced his retirement, and while only a Met for a short time, he endeared himself to many fans. Shawn joined the Mets at the end of 2006, and was expected to have a tough time surplanting Lastings Milledge who was thought to be taking over right field in 2007.

Shawn had a torrid spring training and secured his place in right for a majority of the season, finishing with a .291 batting average. He was batting .315 until May 15th, when he fouled a ball off his foot, fracturing it and putting him on the disabled list for the first time in his career.

His career was an impressive one. He hit 40 or more homers three times, drove in and scored 100 runs four times, and holds the following major league records: most home runs in a game (4), most extra base hits in a game (5), most total bases in a game (19), most runs scored in a game (6), most home runs in two consecutive games (5), most home runs in three consecutive games (7), and most consecutive home runs (4).

In his first at bat as a Met, Green was greeted with a standing ovation.

Bugs and Cranks sends Shawn off, extolling his virtues, including this passage from a show Shawn will be appearing on called “Real Sports Hero”

In that vignette, I say that what he has done off the field may be more significant. While playing in Los Angeles, Green donated one and a half million dollars in six years to support the development of four baseball fields in the city. The money also went for the purchase of books for local elementary schools and youth community programs.

Before that, after receiving a large signing bonus from the Blue Jays, Shawn gave money to provide breakfast for Toronto youngsters who otherwise normally would go to school hungry. Green has also given his time and contributed to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, Special Olympics, Parkinson’s Foundation, and the United Jewish Foundation. And, he wrote a check for 75-thousand dollars to a charity for survivors of the 9-11 attack. He’s also been a worthy winner of the Bart Giamatti Award for his involvement in the community.

And who will forget how Shawn would throw his batting gloves to a child each time he hit a home run in his home park.

So long Shawn. You are one of the true gentlemen of the game.

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