Retired Pitcher Robs Jewelry Store
The odd story of the day is ex-pitcher Jeff Reardon arrested in Florida for robbing a jewelry store:
The 50-year-old Reardon, retired since 1994 and sixth in career saves, walked into Hamilton Jewelers at the Gardens Mall on Monday and handed an employee a note saying he had a gun and the store was being robbed, police said Tuesday.
Reardon, who starred with the Montreal Expos, Minnesota Twins and Boston Red Sox, fled the store with an undisclosed amount of cash. Police found him at a nearby restaurant, recovered the stolen money and charged him with armed robbery.
Lt. David O’Neill said Reardon did not have a gun and offered no resistance when handcuffed.
“He said it was the medication that made him do it and that he was sorry,” O’Neill said.
He said Reardon has lived in the city for more than 20 years and has never caused any problems.
I don’t like his “the pills made me do it” excuse. But he’s been dealing with the death of his son and heart problems. I wonder if he was contemplating “suicide by cop” but then changed his mind when the police actually arrived.
James Joyner and Deadspin comment.
“Former Pitcher Reardon Arrested on Robbery Charge”
Well, it seems somehow fitting that Reardon would rob a jewelry store given that his gopher ball robbed the Braves of World Series rings back in 92! (Back in the day when we actually reached the World Series before our annual collapse.)