Former Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Daniel Hudson knew he was in the twilight of his career entering the 2024 MLB season, and Hollywood couldn’t have scripted a better ending for him.

The 37-year-old, who had often been the subject of retirement rumors in recent years due to his advanced age and injury history, signed a one-year, $2 million contract to return to the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2024. As it turned out, Hudson gambling on himself was the right move; Los Angeles went on to defeat the New York Yankees in the World Series, and Hudson announced his retirement rather offhandedly following the Dodgers’ series-clinching, 7-6 comeback victory in Game 5.

“This was the only reason I came back — to go out on top,”Hudson told Bill Plunkett of the Orange County Register. “And that’s what’s happening.”

Hudson didn’t exactly end on a high note, however. He made seven appearances for the Dodgers in the 2024 postseason and was 0-1 with a 7.50 ERA and five earned runs over six innings. Four of the five runs he allowed came in Game 4 of the World Series, when he gave up a grand slam to Yankees shortstop Anthony Volpe. Unfortunately, that would end up being the final image of the final outing of his MLB career.