An icon during his time with the Red Sox -- which started in 1996 and ended with an abrupt trade to the Chicago Cubs on July 31, 2004 -- Garciaparra will start a career in broadcasting with ESPN.
Garciaparra flew to Fort Myers to make the announcement so he could retire in ceremonious fashion, signing a one-day Minor League contract with the team with which he had most of his best moments. The Red Sox selected Garciaparra -- a star shortstop until moving to the corner infield spots later in his career -- in the first round of the 1994 First-Year Player Draft.
"The dream to play baseball in the big leagues started here," Garciaparra said at a news conference held at City of Palms Park. "I really wanted to have that be the last uniform I ever put on."
"What this organization has always meant to me and meant to my family, the fans. I always tell people Red Sox Nation is bigger than any nation out there and to be able to say I came back home and to be back to Red Sox Nation is truly a thrill. ... It's good to be back."
In 2009, Garciaparra was a bench player for the Oakland Athletics. He also played for the Cubs and Dodgers, having a rebound season with the latter in 2006 to make the All-Star team for the last time.
Aside from 2006, Garciaparra's post-Boston days were marred by injuries.
He rose through the ranks quickly and was named the American League's Rookie of the Year in 1997. He tasted the postseason for the first time in his career a year later, helping the Wild Card Red Sox get to that stage by hitting .323 with 35 homers and 122 RBIs and finishing second in the MVP race.
Known for his unique batting stance in which he furiously tapped his toes back and forth and repeatedly touched his batting gloves, Garciaparra won his first batting title in 1999, hitting .357 and again leading Boston to the postseason. This time, the Sox came back from a 2-0 deficit in the Division Series to beat Cleveland in five games before losing to the Yankees in a five-game American League Championship Series.
Though the Red Sox didn't make it to October in 2000, Garciaparra produced perhaps his finest season, hitting .372 with 21 homers and 96 RBIs to win his final batting title.
While Garciaparra was traded three months before the Red Sox snapped their 86-year World Series championship drought, he was presented with a championship ring by Jason Varitek and several other former teammates during a private ceremony in Chicago during the 2005 season.
"On behalf of John Henry, Tom Werner, our entire organization and, dare I say, our entire fan base, we welcome you home," Red Sox president and chief executive officer Larry Lucchino said, addressing Garciaparra. "It gives us enormous pride to recognize the respect you have for the organization, the connection you feel to the organization, the connection you feel to our fans and to Fenway Park. I'm here to tell you that the feelings are mutual.
"When the history of the Boston Red Sox is written again, there will be a very large and important chapter devoted to Nomar Garciaparra, and welcome home. We are really pleased to have you back." This was written by Ian Browne and appeared in mlb.com.