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Dodgers utility man Jerry Hairston tweeted today that he is finished as a player after 16 years and nine teams. According to Steve Dilbeck and WSCR-AM in Chicago, Hairston will join the expanding Dodgers broadcast team. The Dodgers have recently added Nomar Garciaparra, Orel Hershiser and Alanna Rizzo, although no formal announcement has been made from the stadium. "I’m thinking they’re not all going to fit into the broadcast booth at one time," Dilbeck quips. He presumes that Charley Steiner will do TV play-by-play on TV games when Vin Scully does not travel, with Hershiser doing the color commentary. Rick Monday would then do play-by-play on radio with Garciaparra available for color work.
After 16 seasons decided retiring is my best opportunity. Game will not miss me but I will miss it and teammates immensely! #NextChapter
— Jerry Hairston, Jr. (@Therealjhair) December 11, 2013Jerry Jr.'s retirement leaves his brother Scott as the last member of the Hairston family still playing. Their father Jerry Hairston played 14 years, mostly with the White Sox. His brother John played a few games with the Chicago Cubs in 1969. Their father Sam Hairston played in four games with the White Sox in 1951.
Jerry Hairston Jr. was born in Des Moines and went to high school in Naperville, Illinois. He goes out with 1,442 games on his baseball card: 1,126 hits, an average of .257 and six at-bats in a World Series (2009 with the Yankees.) Hairston played seven different positions plus DH. He spent the last two seasons with the Dodgers.
