3-Time World Series Winner Gets Standing Ovation As He Walks Into Retirement

After a 15-year career that included three World Series championships as a key bullpen piece for the San Francisco Giants, 40-year-old former closer Sergio Romo walked to the Oracle Park bullpen one last time Monday night, and the fans showed him the love.

Sergio Romo gets a standing ovation as he walks to the bullpen at Oracle Park for the last time after announcing his retirement 👏

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— The Athletic MLB (@TheAthleticMLB) March 28, 2023

Romo had signed a contract with San Francisco a week ago just so that he could retire as a Giant, and this was the moment he'd been waiting for. A standing ovation from the Bay Area fans for the man who spent nine seasons with the team, including all three World Series championships a decade ago.

Romo notched a 2.58 ERA and 84 saves for the Giants from 2008 to 2016, saved 38 games in an All-Star 2013 season, and was a key cog for the team in its 2010, 2012, and 2014 championship years.

In 2012, he struck out Miguel Cabrera for the final out of the World Series. Former teammate Hunter Pence shivers when he recalls the moment, as told to Andrew Baggarly of The Athletic.

“To close the World Series, you have to end a team’s season,” Pence told Romo. “It takes a powerful soul and a powerful pitcher to say, ‘Your season, all the effort, every energy you’ve put on the line, I’m going to end it.'”

Pence recalled Romo’s reaction. “He just kind of nodded and said, ‘I’ll end everyone’s season. I’m gonna be that guy.’ He said it and he did it. And he said it with such conviction, it hit me in the depths of my soul."

And it was Pence who came to get the ball from Romo for the last time on Monday night.

Hunter Pence comes to take Sergio Romo out of his final game.

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— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) March 28, 2023