Behind the Badge
Former relief pitcher Anthony Varvaro traded his glove for a badge after announcing his retirement from baseball in June and taking a job with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Police Department.
The 32-year-old had been looking into a career in law enforcement even while playing in the majors. Varvaro played six years in the league for the Atlanta Braves, Boston Red Sox and Seattle Mariners, according to Yahoo Sports. He was pitching for the Pawtucket Red Sox, Boston’s AAA affiliate, when the Port Authority came calling.
“I kind of felt like my body was breaking down a bit; I felt like my career may have been coming to an end,” he said. “I probably could have played a little longer, but that’s when an opportunity with the Port Authority Police Department arrived.”
Varvaro, who earned a criminal justice degree in 2005 from St. John’s University, is a New York native and considers joining the Port Authority returning home.
He graduated from the academy Dec. 8, and yes, it was tough — even for a pro athlete.
“The [Major League Baseball] season is 162 games plus a 30-game spring training schedule, you’re traveling, that lifestyle is tough,” Varvaro said. “Trying to compare that to this lifestyle these past six months at the academy, I don’t want to say it was hard, but it was challenging because it was different. It was something that I had never experienced.”
