Former Major League Baseball Gold Glove center fielder Jim Edmonds saw his illustrious 17-season career come to an end due to persistent physical injuries, specifically lingering inflammation and pain from a strained Achilles tendon. After attempting a comeback by signing a minor league contract with the St. Louis Cardinals in early 2011, the chronic physical limitations of his Achilles injury prevented him from playing at peak major league levels, leading to his official retirement announcement.