Two-time all-star Melvin Mora is retiring from

CARACAS, Venezuela -- Two-time all-star Melvin Mora is retiring from baseball, five weeks shy of his 40th birthday. Kareem Jackson Jersey. Mora played 13 seasons in the big leagues, 10 of them with the Baltimore Orioles. He began last year with the Arizona Diamondbacks, was released on July 1 while hitting .228 with no home runs and did not play again in the majors. "Its a very difficult decision because this has been my life, but its time to do it," Mora said Thursday at a news conference in Valencia, Venezuela. "Ive been in this for many years and its time to dedicate myself to my family," he said. Mora and his wife had quintuplets in 2001. Mora was a career .277 hitter with 171 home runs and 754 RBIs with Baltimore, Colorado, Arizona and the New York Mets. His best season was 2004, when he hit .340 with 27 homers and 104 RBIs for the Orioles and led the American League with a .419 on-base percentage. Versatile with his glove, he played every position in the majors except pitcher and catcher. After a solid season for the Rockies in 2010, he signed a US$2 million contract with Arizona for the 2011 season. But Mora injured his neck in a car accident during spring training and later missed time while on the bereavement list. Late in June, the Diamondbacks said they planned to cut him. Born in Venezuela, Mora began his pro career in 1992. He was in the minors until 1999, when he made his big league debut and became a post-season sparkplug for the New York Mets. That was the only year Mora reached the playoffs. "Ive had a beautiful career that I will always remember," he said. Johnathan Joseph Jersey. -- On the hottest day this year in Kansas City, dehydration was starting to become a concern. Bradie James Jersey. as a candidate to become manager of the Cleveland Indians. http://www.nflofficialhoustontexans.com/chris-myers-jersey. IndyCar announced the penalty Sunday morning. Jakes was set to start in the 19th spot, but will drop into the back of the 25-car pack for the race later Sunday. J.J. Watt Youth Jersey. Ellis walked, drove in two runs and extended his hitting streak to 12 games, while Cust went 2-for-4 for the Athletics, who have taken the first three games of the set after a six-game slide. Anderson (7-6) yielded two runs -- one earned -- on eight hits while walking one and striking out six to end the season with his 18th career victory, the 3rd most wins by a pitcher before the age of 23 in Oakland franchise history. Antonio Smith Jersey. Paul had 25 points and 10 assists on Monday night in a 97-85 win against the team that first tried to trade him to the Lakers -- a deal that was rejected by the league -- before shipping the All-Star point guard to the Clippers shortly after the lockout ended.SAO PAULO, Brazil -- Kaka admits he was surprised to be called up to the Brazil squad again after failing to secure a regular start for Real Madrid. The playmaker was one of 23 players summoned by coach Mano Menezes on Thursday for Brazils friendlies against Iraq and Japan in October, and will be making his return to the national team for the first time since the 2010 World Cup. "It was a surprise, I didnt expect it," Kaka told Brazils Radio Bandeirantes. "People started messaging me that there could be a surprise in the list and the expectations grew a bit. I was on alert at the time of the announcement and when it came out and I saw my name in the list everyone was really happy here. The kids, my wife, everybody really enjoyed that I was back." Menezes had said recently that he didnt intend to summon Kaka again until he started playing regularly, but the coach said that the players determination to regain his form and his place as a Real Madrid starter played a role in his decision to bring him back now. Kaka said he was glad that his hard work has paid off. "I didnt talk to (Menezes), its been a while since I last talked to him," Kaka said. "I think he got information about me from other people, for sure. What Ive been doing is work hard to get myself ready, practicing a lot to be able to take advantage of the opportunities that may appear with Real Madrid and now the national team." Kaka played for Madrids reserve team in a friendly against Millionarios of Colombia on Wednesday, scoring three goals in an 8-0 win, but Mennezes said he had already made up his mind about getting Kaka back in the team before the friendly. Brian Cushing Jersey Menezes said that having an experienced player like Kaka will be important in a team filled with young promising stars. Kaka agreed. "I know that from personal experience," the 30-year-old playmaker said. "These players are fundamental. In 2002, when I was in the team which won the World Cup, my references were Rivaldo, Ronaldo and Ronaldinho, who were older. I was only 20 years old at the time and I learned from them. It was key to be with them and watch them." Kaka also played in the 2006 World Cup and the 2010 tournament, which marked his last appearance with the national team. He was a starter in the teams quarterfinal loss to the Netherlands. Menezes had picked Kaka in a squad for friendlies last year, but the player didnt join the team because of an injury. Newly Chelsea signing Oscar has become Brazils starting playmaker at midfield, but Menezes has already said that he can play alongside Kaka in midfield. The coach has already said that Kaka and Oscar will likely start together in at least one of the upcoming friendlies. Brazil will play Iraq in Sweden on Oct. 11 and Japan in Poland on Oct. 16. Menezes has been heavily criticized recently in Brazil as he tries to prepare the team for the 2014 World Cup and next years Confederations Cup, and if Kaka performs well again, the former star hopefully will help fend off some of the current critics against the national team. "I think Im ready," Kaka said. ' ' '