Jeff Conine ended his most recent stay in Baltimore in fitting fashion.
The veteran doubled home the tying run Sunday, settling for the passenger?s seat as superstar Miguel Tejada drove home the winning run in the Orioles? 5-4 win over Tampa Bay.
“That?s great, you know,” said Conine, who learned of the trade from Orioles vice president Jim Duquette at the end of Sunday?s game. “You contribute to a win, and that?s what I try to do every time I take the field.”
The Orioles announced after the win that Conine was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies for a player to be named later. The Orioles will also send cash consideration with Conine, who will be under contract for the 2007 season with Philadelphia.
“I?m going to miss it here in Baltimore, but on the flip side, I get to go play in a pennant race and try to make it to the postseason one more time,” Conine said.
The Phillies are currently 1 1/2 games behind wild card-leading Cincinnati. During his 16-year career, Conine won a pair of World Series rings with the Florida Marlins.
“Once you?ve been there you want to go back every year,” Conine said. “It is the most satisfying, enjoying, exciting time of an athlete?s life.”
Conine was batting .265 with nine home runs and 49 runs batted in.
“We?re going to miss him,” manager Sam Perlozzo said. “He was everything that we had anticipated and expected on our club as a gentleman and a player.
“We certainly wish him the best of luck.”
The Conine File
» In 2001, Conine batted .311 for the O?s and hit 14 homers with 97 RBI.
» Conine is the only player to appear in the opener of the Marlins? inaugural season, as well as both their World Series titles.
