Longtime New York Yankees broadcaster Ken Singleton has decided that 2018 will be his final season in the booth.
Ken Singleton, a three-time MLB All-Star and current New York Yankees analyst and play-by-play announcer on the YES Network, took to Twitter to announce that the 2018 season will be his last.
LOOKOUT! ? This will be my final season of calling baseball games. I’ve been playing or talking baseball ever since I was 4 years old. It’s time for this enjoyable ride to end. Thanks fans for allowing me into your homes & businesses. It’s been my pleasure. #Thisoneisgone
— Ken Singleton (@29alltime) March 12, 2018
Singleton began announcing games for the Yankees back in 1997 when the Bronx Bombers had their regional games played on the MSG Network.
When the Yankees moved over to the YES Network in 2002, Singleton followed and joined Michael Kay as the Network’s most used broadcast duo.
Kay took to Twitter after Singleton’s announcement, saying he knew about his long-time partner’s decision for while and is still trying to get Singleton to reconsider leaving at the end of the season.
I'm finding this hard to accept. I've known about it for awhile but I've been trying to change his mind. I'm not giving up in my quest. Twitterverse, please tell Kenny he should not step away following season. Too much more to give! https://t.co/YiZ20bG7Nr
— Michael Kay (@RealMichaelKay) March 12, 2018
Singleton is the longest-tenured Yankees analyst. Other analysts for the Yankees on the YES Network include Al Leiter, David Cone, Paul O’Neill and John Flaherty.
After a 15-year MLB career that saw him play for the New York Mets, Montreal Expos, and Baltimore Orioles, Singleton began his broadcasting career with The Sports Network (TSN) as a color commentator for Toronto Blue Jays and Expos games. He left TSN to join MSG to broadcast Yankees games at the end of the 1996 season.
Singleton, 70, is native of Mount Vernon, N.Y. He attended Hofstra University and was drafted by the Mets with the third-overall pick in the 1967 MLB Amateur Draft.
Singleton finished his career hitting .286 with 2,029 hits, 286 home runs, and 1,065 RBI.
Twice, while with the Orioles, he finished in the top three of the AL MVP voting. In 1977, he finished third behind winner Rod Carew and runner-up Al Cowens, while finishing as runner-up to former Yankee Don Baylor.
He was also a key piece of the Orioles AL Pennant-winning team in 1979 and their World Series championship squad of 1983.
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