This, Jim Leyland insisted, was it.
After leading the United States to its first World Baseball Classic title on Wednesday night, Leyland said the triumph would be the final act of his long career.
"I'm not wearing any baseball uniform anymore, I can tell you that," Leyland said on Wednesday night. "I guess people have heard it before. But, you know, I'm done. When I say that, if I went to the rookie league somewhere and hit some ground balls or fungos or something . . . but there is a good chance this is the last time I'll every wear a baseball uniform.