by Charlie Peters

Andy Pettitte is a lot of things. A World Series champion, the master of a dastardly pickoff move, Roger Clemens’ former best buddy and the owner of 240 career regular season wins. And now, you can add honorable retiree to that list.

The former Yankee officially called it quits Friday, announcing to the press that he didn’t have the “hunger” necessary to chase a 17th season and 14th with New York.

Pettitte was still under contract for one more season at $11.75 million, a healthy chunk of change for a pitcher that had trouble staying on the mound in the second half of the 2010.

The real story lies here: in an age where Curt Schilling signs a one-year, $8 million guaranteed deal despite knowing he wouldn’t earn the money (and Schilling ended up not pitching an inning under the contract), it’s refreshing to see an athlete realize that his time has passed. And in the big Texan’s case, it’s Pettitte’s chance to literally ride away into the sunset.

“It just didn’t feel right for me anymore,” Pettitte told reporters at a press conference at Yankee Stadium. “I didn’t have the hunger, the drive that I felt like I needed.”

For an athlete to admit that the fire had been extinguished, Pettitte’s candor and integrity should be admired.

The ability to pitch was still there, without question. Pettitte would have been New York’s No. 3 pitcher behind CC Sabathia and Phil Hughes and started 2010 by going 11-2 with a 2.88 ERA before an injury forced him out of the rotation on July 18. He felt like he would be able to stay healthy for all of 2011, but that wasn’t enough to sway his decision.

“I know that my body would get to where it needs to be, but my heart’s not where it needs to be,” Pettitte said.

Hear that, Brett Favre?

Though it’s nearly impossible to do in the Bronx Zoo, Pettitte somehow managed to fly under the radar when it came to talking about the game’s best pitchers. The New York media was often times consumed with more magnifying personalities on the diamond, like self-absorbed Alex Rodriguez or the controversial Clemens, and also with the guys who radiated star power, like the understated Derek Jeter and the fiery Paul O’Neill.

But Pettitte never quite got the attention he deserved.

Later in his career, maybe some of his star power diminished when he returned home to pitch for his beloved Houston Astros. Maybe it was just despite the high win totals, fans dismissed him as a consistent non-dominant arm (3.88 career ERA) that happened to throw for a quality team.

Or even more likely, his admission that he had taken human growth hormone hurt his image, though the lefty claimed he used it as an injury recovery tool. Hell, maybe baseball fans forgot about him whenever he’d hide under the bill of his cap while he was taking signs.

Whatever the case, Pettitte blended into the scenery as much as any lefty that averaged 17 wins per season can do.

Gil Meche, the journeyman starter, also retired this offseason rather than make $12 million guaranteed dollars pitching for the cash-strapped Kansas City Royals. “Once I started to realize I wasn’t earning my money, I felt bad,” Meche told the New York Times. “I was making a crazy amount of money for not even pitching. Honestly, I didn’t feel like I deserved it. I didn’t want to have those feelings again.”

While Meche’s feelings were genuine and his retirement was also honorable, the right-hander didn’t possess the talent or have the resume of Pettitte, Meche’s decision hinged largely on his ridiculous contract.

In some ways, the conflict of Meche’s guilt-ridden psyche and his obscene contract may have forced his hand into a decision to retire. But in Pettitte’s case, the desire to retire came from his own doubts that he lacked the necessary fire to compete. And for that admission of what some may incorrectly perceive as a weakness, Pettitte should be congratulated.

The three-time All-Star won 21 games twice and won five World Series titles while with the Yankees. It’s amazing that the man with the most postseason wins, starts and innings pitched in baseball history doesn’t get the credit he deserved.

So now, for retiring with class and grace instead of halfheartedly playing and cashing in another huge paycheck, Pettitte will hopefully finally get the respect he’s earned over 16 years.

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