Goodbyes are often bitter-sweet, especially in baseball.

In an era where the biggest stars hunt for lucrative contracts and championship titles, it’s becoming rare to see a great player spend his entire big league career with a single team. This year, the National Baseball Hall of Fame welcomed two players who had spent their entire careers with a single team. It was quite fitting that Joe Mauer and Todd Helton were able to go into the Hall of Fame together as their legacies and level of play were instrumental in building up a generation of baseball fans in Minnesota and Colorado.

Now, another legend rides into the sunset, this time for the Cincinnati Reds.

Joey Votto announced his retirement on Wednesday via a video on social media accompanied with a longer written post. “I was myself in this sport,” he wrote. “I was able to be my best self. I played this sport with every last ounce of my body, heart, and mind. Thank you for everything.”

He added, “Cincinnati, I’ve only played for you. I love you.”

For 17 years, Votto was a staple for the Reds at the cold corner. Drafted in the second round in 2002, the Toronto native debuted with the club on September 4, 2007, as a pinch-hitter against the New York Mets. He went 27-for-84 with four home runs over 24 games to close out that season and his career was off and running. The following year he was locked in at first base and didn’t look back.

For Reds fans, there is no question that Votto deserves a spot in the Hall of Fame. For 17 years he was the face of Reds baseball and often one of the best overall hitters in the league. Yet, there will likely be debate about his credentials and if he is worthy on a larger national scale but Votto’s body of work will stand up against the naysayers.

Votto was one of the premier hitters of his generation, thanks largely in part to his impeccable vision at the plate. He finished his career with a .294 average, .409 OBP and .920 OPS. Among players with 7,000 career plate appearances, Votto’s .409 on-base percentage is the ninth-best of the integration era (since 1947), trailing six Hall of Famers, Barry Bonds and Manny Ramirez. Of the top 15 (including Votto) on that list, 11 are in the Hall of Fame.

Since 2008, Votto ranks first among all batters in walks (1,360), sixth in hits (2,108) and fifth in games played (2,032). During a peak stretch from 2010-18, he led the league in OBP seven times, walks five times, OPS twice, and slugging once. He was never known for peak power displays, as he passed the 30-mark just three times, but he still managed 356 home runs and a whole lot of doubles.

In his career, Votto hit 459 doubles, which ranks in the top 100 in baseball history. From 2007-2023, Votto ranked fifth in doubles among all players during that stretch. There could be an argument that Votto’s offensive numbers could have been even greater if he hadn’t been so prone to draw walks and get on base.

During his playing career, no player drew more walks during that 17-year stretch than Votto. With 1,365 walks, that was easily the most in the league during his career. Add in the 147 intentional walks issued and you have a player that was getting on base more than anyone in baseball. It boggles the mind to think about how much more damage he could have done if he had been a little more aggressive on certain counts. After all, in his 17 seasons, Votto topped 80 RBI only eight times which is surprising considering his overall prowess at the plate and consistent spot in the heart of Cincinnati’s order at the hitter-friendly Great American Ball Park. However, was never going to sacrifice who he was as a player. It was that patience that also allowed him to be a complete hitter capable of power, average, and the ability to use all parts of the field.

hang joey votto's home run spray chart in the louvre pic.twitter.com/f3xKNHXtlc

— Codify (@CodifyBaseball) August 23, 2024

Votto was a six-time All-Star, a runner-up in the Rookie of the Year voting, a Gold Glover, and the National League MVP in 2010.

During that legendary campaign, Votto was at the top of his game. In 150 games he slashed .324/.424/.600 with a 1.024 OPS, leading the league in those last three figures. He set career highs in home runs (37) and RBIs (113) while also swiping 16 bags. He managed to stave off fantastic seasons by fellow first baseman Albert Pujols of the St. Louis Cardinals and Colorado Rockies outfielder Carlos González, all of whom were fighting for a potential Triple Crown in the NL.

Votto went on to place in the top 10 MVP voting five other times, including a second-place finish in 2017 when he batted .320/.454/.578 with 36 home runs and 100 RBI to post an 8.1 bWAR season.

His body of work is comparable to plenty of other names in the Hall of Fame, including the recently inducted Helton. Across the board, the two players are quite similar in offensive profiles which should hopefully be a notch in favor of Votto and helping him get into the Hall of Fame.

Beyond the player, the character of Votto is what many fans will also remember. There is no question that he was an odd fellow, but that is what endeared him to fans and players alike. His personality and makeup pointed to the fact that he was a funny guy as well as a kind and respectful person the didn’t think of himself as greater than anyone else.

My favorite Joey Votto nugget was the fact that he helped the Reds clubhouse staff clean cleats “every Sunday home game.”

Votto will go down as one of the best baseball personalities in history. pic.twitter.com/YS1oTaJHdf

— Danny Vietti (@DannyVietti) August 22, 2024

It’s that kind of mentality and personality that endeared him to his teammates:

As the only person he @JoeyVotto follows on here, I speak for everyone by saying congratulations. Very few ball players have had the class, respect, and success that you did. I’ll retweet some thanks and well wishes for the next hour or two to fill his barren timeline with love. pic.twitter.com/TQcQBbWdJk

— Devin Mesoraco (@DMesoraco) August 22, 2024

to his coaches:

Joey Votto once beat me in a rapid chess game online and then sent me a selfie of him drinking a smoothie on a park bench to rub it in.

He also paid for my first chess lessons when I started playing in 2020.

Enjoy retirement, Joey. The race to become a titled player is on… pic.twitter.com/VUa9SBx7Ey

— Kyle Boddy (@drivelinekyle) August 23, 2024

and to the youngest of fans:

The game is going to miss Joey Votto 🥹 pic.twitter.com/qNeO3x69W3

— MLB (@MLB) August 21, 2024

While there is going to be a healthy amount of debate about his candidacy to be enshrined in Cooperstown when he’s first eligible in 2029, there is no question that Votto is one of the greatest Reds of all time and one of the best of his generation. When all is said and done, Joey Votto will make it into the Hall of Fame. It may not be on the first ballot, but to refuse his entry would be a grievous mistake by the voters to pass over one of the greater players of the 2010s.

For now, Votto will enjoy his retirement and perhaps take up driving that bus he always talked about.