Former Major Leaguer Mark Prior held a tearful press conference outside Wrigley Field to announce his retirement from baseball.
While he hasn’t pitched in the major leagues since 2006, Prior thought it worthy of holding a retirement event because of his role as the pitcher who blew Game 6 of the 2003 NLCS playoff against the Marlins.
The announcement was made near the home plate entrance of the 100-year-old ballpark rather than inside the Cubs media center. Prior hoped to sign a one-day contract with the team with whom he signed his first pro contract, so he could officially retire as a Cub. However, the club refused to take his phone calls or answer emails.
While Prior invited the press via his Facebook page, no one from the media attended. That is unless you count as media a guy who works at the auto body shop across from the ball park who tweeted a picture of the teary-eyed right-hander, and Ronnie Wickers, whose shouts of “Woo Prior, Woo Dusty” could be heard all the way to Uptown.
Prior said he is planning next summer a retirement tour of ball parks from where he was removed in the 5th inning from games after experiencing arm trouble.
