Pat Burrell: “I don’t think I can play anymore”

THE BAT STANDS PAT: Burrell's career is likely over, he acknowledged Thursday. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)

Short of taking the podium and holding an all-out news conference announcing his official retirement, former Giants outfielder Pat Burrell acknowledged today that he may have seen his last Major League pitch.

The popular outfielder known as “Pat The Bat” told the Associated Press that his career is likely over due to a foot injury.

“I don’t think I can play anymore. It hurts me to say that,” Burrell told the AP.

Burrell, 35, had a resurgent second half of the 2010 season, helping the G-men win their first World Series in San Francisco.

After batting just .202 with 2 HR and 13 RBI in 24 games for Tampa Bay, the Rays cut him loose. Giants GM Brian Sabean took a chance on him and it paid off as Burrell went on to hit .267 with 18 HR and 51 RBI in 96 games for the Giants that year.

He was a constant presence in the Giants’ locker room and dugout, where he and Aubrey Huff became like frat brothers in a college dorm. He roommated with Brian Wilson and is believed to be the man behind the getup in an unforgettable appearance by “The Machine” in a Cheap Seats video interview with Chris Rose. That sense of fun and camaraderie was a huge reason for the Giants’ magical run in 2010 and Burrell will surely be remembered fondly by Giants fans — especially the female ones.

The Bay Area native (who went to high school in San Jose) battled a foot injury that limited him to just 96 games in 2011 and he struggled to a .230 batting average with just 7 HR and 21 RBI.

He played for nine seasons in Philadelphia, after the Phils took him in the first round of the 1998 draft.

If this is indeed the end of the road for Pat The Bat, the final numbers on the back of his playing card will look like this:

• 12 seasons
• 1,640 games played
• 6,520 plate appearances
• 5,503 at bats
• 767 runs scored
• 1,393 hits
• 299 doubles
• 16 triples
• 292 home runs
• 976 RBI
• 7 stolen bases
• 932 walks
• 1,564 strikeouts
• .253 career batting average
• .361 career on-base percentage
• .472 career slugging percentage
• .834 career OPS
• 31 postseason games
• 2 World Series rings