Teixeira's career comes to a close: 'I'll always be a Yankee'

Mark Teixeira, one of the greatest switch-hitters in baseball history, played his last game on Sunday after 14 seasons in the big leagues.

The 36-year-old was hitless in three at-bats during the New York Yankees' 5-2 loss to the Baltimore Orioles, in what would be the final appearance of a great career which included three All-Star appearances, three Silver Sluggers, five Gold Gloves, and a 2009 World Series title.

He did make two sparkling defensive plays at first base before being pulled from the game in the seventh inning amid a standing ovation from 32,277 appreciative fans at Yankee Stadium.

"It was huge. I wanted to make sure that I got to say goodbye and thank you one last time," Teixeira told reporters of his final game. "I couldn't have asked for anything more but a win; that would have been nice. But I got a chance to say goodbye, which was very important."

He joined the illustrious company of Mickey Mantle, Eddie Murray, Chipper Jones, and Carlos Beltran on July 3, 2016 as the only switch-hitters in major-league history to hit 400 or more home runs, and he accomplished the feat in Yankee pinstripes, which he wore during the final eight seasons of his career.

"They're the team that I'll always be remembered for, I think," Teixeira said. "In my mind, I'm going to live here for a really, really long time and be coming to Yankee Stadium and take my kids to games here. Hopefully if they honor the 2009 World Series team sometime soon I'll be back with all my old teammates. I'll always be a Yankee."

Teixeira retires with a career slash line of .269/.360/.510 to go along with 409 home runs, 408 doubles, and 1,298 RBIs.

(Video courtesy: MLB.com)