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Brett Gibbens, already a member of the British Softball Federation Hall of Fame and the best power hitter that British softball has ever produced, has announced his retirement from all forms of softball due to health issues which have already resulted in multiple knee operations.
Brett emerged from a recreational slowpitch team in the late 1990s to become the pre-eminent power hitter in British softball for nearly two decades. Starting in the 2000 European Slowpitch Championships, when he hit 16 over-the-fence home runs and drove in 43 runs in 10 games, Brett's power hitting led GB to seven of its nine European titles. In the 2004 Europeans, Brett's batting won a tight final against Ireland almost single-handed despite a painful arm injury.
Brett also represented GB in two ISF World Cups, played for Team Europe earlier this year in the Border Battle Tournament in Canada and, in domestic softball, helped three different A-grade teams to win National Championships.
Brett Gibbens has been one of the most watchable and controversial players ever to play British softball and was inducted into the BSF Hall of Fame in 2012. In addition to his batting prowess, he was a courageous outfielder with one of the most powerful throwing arms in the sport, and when he was focused at the plate, it was almost impossible to get him out. But he was an emotional player who demanded much from both himself and his teammates.
Brett said: "Retirement is something I have been contemplating for some time now and I feel it is the right thing to do. With my career path as a chiropractor, I cannot afford to sustain any more injuries and I am also wanting to spend more time with my children and my partner. I have thoroughly enjoyed my years playing and it has been an honour to represent both my country with Team GB and also to finish off my playing career representing my continent with Team Europe."