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--> --> Buhner to hang 'em up SEATTLE (AP) - Jay Campbell Buhner, who made right field the Boneyard in 14 hard-hitting, fun-loving years with the Seattle Mariners, is retiring at age 37 following a series of injuries. Buhner, the 10th player in major league history to hit 40 or more home runs in three consecutive seasons, confirmed he would make a formal announcement as early as this week, The Seattle Times reported today. "I'm done," Buhner told the Times on Monday at his home in suburban Issaquah. "I need surgery just to retire, on my left shoulder, which froze up on me, and on my left knee," he said, limping out the door. "In fact, I'm headed out to get an MRI on the shoulder. "It's hell to get old." The decision was widely expected after Buhner missed nearly 500 days, close to three full seasons, with four major injuries in the past four years. Buhner's clubhouse antics included vomiting on command. His performance on the field featured a career .255 batting average - rising to .310 in postseason play - with 310 home runs and 965 RBIs. After one three-strikeout game, he said, "They can get me three times. I only have to get them once." Buhner hit 40 homers and drove in 112 runs in 1995, 44 homers with 138 RBIs in 1996 and 40 homers with 109 RBIs in 1997. Known as Bone for his shaved head, he inspired promotions known as Buhner Buzz Night in which the Mariners offered free admission to those who got their heads shaved outside the ballpark. More than 16,000 fans participated in 1994-1999, including 186 women and 1,923 men who were already bald. After a one-year hiatus, the event was revived this year and drew 6,246 participants, including 112 women and 988 who were already "Buhnerful." "We'll miss Jay, day in, day out," manager Lou Piniella said. "We were obviously a better offense and defense with him out there on the field, but more than that we were an immeasurably better team just with him around." Ken Griffey Jr., a close friend, called Buhner "my baldheaded brother with a different mother." The two were Mariners teammates for 11 years before Griffey demanded a trade to Cincinnati. "Now, everyone in Seattle is going to feel the way I have for two years," Griffey said. "I have missed Jay more than I can say. "I've looked over to my left in the outfield and it's never been the same. In Seattle I never knew who'd be in left field on any day, but I always knew I never had to worry about anything to right. Jay would take care of it." Buhner was hoping for a comeback in 2001 but reinjured his left foot in his first at-bat during spring training. "If I had tried to come back again, the only thing I could have done was pinch-hit, and that was questionable, too," he said. Two weeks ago the Mariners offered Buhner salary arbitration, a move that could cost the club about $1.5 million, a 20 percent cut from his salary this year. "We don't expect him to use the offer," assistant general manager Lee Pelekoudas said at the time, "but there's no way we don't give Jay the courtesy, not after all the years he's been with us, not after all that he means to our organization and our fans." Buhner was born in Louisville, Ky., grew up in the Houston area and was Pittsburgh's second-round pick in the secondary draft phase in January 1984. He broke into the big leagues with the New York Yankees in 1987 and was traded to the Mariners the next year. He said he was torn between the wishes of his children, who want more of his time, and teammates who want him back on the field. "I know it's going to be rough missing the game and the spirit of the clubhouse, but I'll get to spend a lot more time with the kids. Brianna's in fourth grade, Chase is in second and Gunnar is in first. I'll get to get on with life. "It's time. You can work and practice and overcome slumps and injuries and all sorts of troubles. But when it's time to go, when it's time to ride into the sunset, you go," Buhner said. "I've had guys calling and asking me to go one more year," he said, "and I see Norm (Charlton) coming back and I'm going to miss him and my buddies on the club and in the game. "But (Seattle team physician) Mitch Storey told me, 'I'm not going to let you play. I can't.' I told him, 'Do me a favor and don't let me talk myself out of it."' Email your... Technical questions & comments to: WebMaster Daily Tidings editorial comments & questions to: Editor Visit our other Oregon Newspapers... | Albany Democrat-Herald | Ashland Daily Tidings | Corvallis Gazette-Times | | Lebanon Express | Newport News-Times | Springfield News | Cottage Grove Sentinel | Ashland Daily Tidings 1661 Siskiyou Blvd. Ashland, OR 97520 Telephone 541-482-3456 © Copyright 2001 Lee Northwest Publishing