Monday’s Hot Clicks: Career Minor Leaguer Hits Walk-Off Homer, Then Retires

Cody Decker walked away from his baseball career in dramatic fashion.

Derek Davis/Portland Press Herald via Getty Images

You couldn’t write this

After more than 1,000 games in the minor leagues (and just eight in the bigs), Cody Decker finished his career in the most dramatic way possible. 

Decker, the active career leader in minor-league home runs, stepped to the plate for the Reno Aces in the bottom of the ninth on Friday night trailing by one run with a runner on first and hit a long, long homer to win the game. 

Decker and his teammates knew it was the final at-bat of his baseball career, and he was mobbed when he reached the plate. 

DECKER DOES IT!!!

Reno finest, Cody Decker ends the game with one GINORMOUS blast.

🐈 9️⃣
♠️ 1️⃣0️⃣
FINAL pic.twitter.com/Psk4bISTZB

— Reno Aces (@Aces) July 6, 2019

“That moment coming off the field is something I never knew would happen,” Decker told TahoeOnStage.com. “Getting all those hugs at home, then having a curtain call from the fans. It wasn’t just the fans which is amazing, it was my teammates on the top step both giving me a standing ovation.”

The Aces announced Sunday that Decker would be retiring, and he’ll make the move official in a press conference Monday in El Paso, where he played more games than any other city. His next steps include working at a non-profit in El Paso and hosting a national radio show with his wife, Jennifer Sterger. He also has some experience as an actor, in case anyone wants to turn his storybook ending into an actual Hollywood moment.

Make it four for the U.S. women

It wasn’t easy but the dominant USWNT captured its fourth World Cup trophy with a 2–0 win over the Netherlands in the final of the FIFA Women’s World Cup.

It was amazing to see how many people threw their support behind the team. The scenes from watch parties around the country were absolute bedlam.

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Email dan.gartland@simail.com with any feedback or follow me on Twitter for approximately one half-decent baseball joke per week. Bookmark this page to see previous editions of Hot Clicks and find the newest edition every day. By popular request I’ve made a Spotify playlist of the music featured here. Visit our Extra Mustard page throughout each day for more offbeat sports stories.