Former first basemen and designated hitter Jason Giambi decided to call it quits on Monday after 20 seasons in the Major Leagues. Giambi played for the Oakland Athletics, New York Yankees, Colorado Rockies and finally the Cleveland Indians. The retirement of ‘The Giambino’ as he was known during his career, especially his tenure with the Yankees, was first reported by the New York Daily News.

Over the course of his career, Giambi had a .277 batting average with a .399 on base percentage while compiling 405 hits. He hit 440 homeruns with 1,441 RBIs over his 20 year career along with 405 doubles and scoring 1,277 runs over the course of his 2,260 game career.

On September 24th, 2013 Giambi put his name in the record books becoming the oldest player in MLB history to hit a walk off home run at 42 years old. In 2000, he had a .333 average was named to the All-Star team as well as being named Most Valuable Player.

In 2003 when investigating the BALCO facility in San Francisco, the FBI named Giambi as one of the players that received steroids from the facility’s trainer Greg Anderson. He was accused of using steroids early in his career while on the Athletics. On May 16th, 2007 Jason Giambi apologized for using steroids, saying, “I was wrong using that stuff. What we should’ve done a long time ago was stand up-players, ownership, everybody and said- We made a mistake.”

After his tenure in Oakland, he left for a bigger market in New York, profiled in the book and then movie “Moneyball”. After the 2001 postseason in which the Yankees beat the A’s in the ALDS, Giambi left Oakland for the bright lights and big bucks of the Yankees signing a seven year, $120 million deal. As a result of his departure, A’s fans were very upset, even throwing beers and other beverages at him when the Yankees went out west to Oakland.

In 2004, he was sidelined from July 30-September 14 with a benign tumor. In November 2008, the Yankees declined the option on his deal making him a free agent.

After the Yankees let him go, Giambi re-signed with the A’s until the middle of August, where he signed with the Colorado Rockies, to help their playoff push. As a member of the Rockies in 2011 he hit three home runs in one game, the second oldest player to reach the feat at 41 years old, behind Stan Musial.

In 2012 when he was free agent, he interviewed for the Rockies managerial opening, coming up short to Walt Weiss. He then signed with the Indians on a minor league deal. He made the team out of spring training and became an instant clubhouse veteran and leader to the younger guys on the team.

Jason Giambi decided to step away from the game with no regrets, wanting to spend more time at home with his wife and children. In an interview with the Daily News, he said, “I’ve done everything I possibly can in my career, from making the big leagues to superstar to bench player to mentor, I’ve done every role you can possibly do in this game. I have two young ones and I want to get an opportunity to spend that time in their young lives. I want to be there to watch them grow.”

As a diehard Yankee fan, yours truly loved watching Jason Giambi while he was a Yankee. He was a great player that will be missed by fans of every team he played for.