Charlton Calls Off Another Comeback Attempt

Norm Charlton, the veteran relief pitcher who has tried to come back from shoulder injuries the last two years, said Sunday he was retiring.

Charlton, 41, underwent surgery Friday to repair his left shoulder and said doctors told him it would never be strong enough for him to pitch again.

“I’m pretty tired of going back under the knife,” Charlton said at the Seattle Mariners’ spring training facility in Peoria, Ariz.

“If they say my shoulder won’t be strong enough to stand pitching at the major league level, they probably know best.”

Charlton was a member of the Cincinnati Reds’ “Nasty Boys” bullpen, along with Rob Dibble and Randy Myers, that helped the Reds win the 1990 World Series.

He pitched 14 years in the major leagues, including stints with Seattle in 1993, 1995-97 and 2001.

His last healthy season was 2001, when he pitched on the Mariner team that tied the major league record with 116 victories.

He underwent surgery in February 2002 to repair a torn rotator cuff, and had another operation in March 2003 to fix the shoulder. Charlton said he would like to remain in baseball as a coach.

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New York Yankee right fielder Gary Sheffield had an MRI exam on his right thumb. General Manager Brian Cashman said results would not be available until today.

Sheffield jammed the thumb when he slipped during Saturday’s exhibition game against Toronto.

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Pittsburgh Pirate outfielder Daryle Ward will sit out a few games after bruising his right wrist when he was hit by a pitch.