Less then one week ago former Angels slugger Garret Anderson announced his retirement from baseball to the entire world. The Anderson announcement came after outfielders Jody Gerut and Gary Sheffield also decided to walk away from the game. You can add the name Gregg Zaun to the list of players who have decided to hang up their cleats prior to the 2011 season.

The 39-year old catcher, who has spent 16 seasons in Major League Baseball, called it quits today. Zaun was in the middle of competing for the back-up catching position in San Diego when he made the decision. He was signed to a minor-league contract in the off-season and was the favourite to mentor Nick Hundley behind the dish for the Padres.

Yesterday, the switch-hitting Zaun played against the Oakland Athletics going 0-2 in the process. After the contest was complete he walked into manager Bud Black’s office and officially announced his retirement. The decision had a great deal to do with his surgically repaired right shoulder that was injured last season with the Milwaukee Brewers. The shoulder was in working form, but the endurance and stamina was not there for the veteran.

“After three innings yesterday, I was totally gassed. The amount of time for me to get ready to play at a high level, it just saps the fun out of it” stated Zaun.

The catcher was well-travelled in his career spending time with the Baltimore Orioles on two occasions as well as the Florida Marlins, Texas Rangers, Kansas City Royals, Houston Astros, Colorado Rockies, Toronto Blue Jays, Tampa Bay Rays & Brewers; winning a World Series ring with the Marlins in ’97.

He is the owner of a .252 career batting average to go along with 88HR & 446RBI. His best years in the big leagues came with the Blue Jays from 2005-2007 where he combined to hit 33HR & 153RBI across three seasons, while getting on-base at a fairly decent clip and playing well behind the plate.

The nephew of former ball player Rick Dempsey will now turn to broadcasting. He has experience with Toronto sports station Sportsnet covering the baseball playoffs on more then one occasion and should not have a difficult time finding a position.