2/27 Bob Howry retires

When reliever Andrew Cashner was first called up to the Cubs on May 31 in Pittsburgh, his locker was next to veteran Bob Howry.

“I was real quiet when I first came up,” Cashner said Sunday, “and [Howry] was talking to me and the first thing he said was that he liked my boots and it kind of went from there.”

On Saturday night, Cashner was among several players who went to a surprise party for Howry, 37, who has retired after 13 seasons in the big leagues. The right-hander started in 1998 with the White Sox, and pitched for the Red Sox, Indians, Cubs, Giants, and Diamondbacks.

“He worked hard and I just tried to listen and watch and see what he does,” Cashner said. “He’s been in the game long enough to stay in it. He had a lot of advice and a lot of wise words and he was a good friend.”

Howry’s last game was July 28 at Houston with the Cubs. He finishes with a career 3.84 ERA, 66 saves and 787 2/3 innings over 769 games. Cashner and Cubs reliever James Russell bought a pair of boots as a present for Howry.

“He was nothing but nice to all of us,” Cashner said.

– Carrie Muskat