Nomar Garciaparra said his treatment by Red Sox Nation made him feel special. (AP)

Nomar Garciaparra appeared on the Dale & Holley show Wednesday morning to discuss his reasons for retiring, his next career as a member of the media (following a sometimes-frosty dynamic with reporters during his playing days) and the events that allowed him to resume a strong relationship with the Sox following a departure in 2004 that was, at times, acrimonious.

Highlights are transcribed below. To listen to the complete interview, click here.

How did you decide on this?

I said there was one uniform I would love to wear. I talked about this when I came to Fenway this past year with Oakland. I always had this recurring dream, to put on that uniform. It was the first uniform I’d worn, and I dreamt it would be my last. Today that dream comes through, thanks to Mr. Werner, Mr. Henry, Mr. Lucchino, Theo and the whole Red Sox organization. I can’t thank them enough for allowing me to fulfill that dream. My first dream came true in a Red Sox uniform, and that was playing in the big leagues. Another dream gets to come true as well, finishing my career and retiring as a member of the Red Sox.

There are so many emotions going through me right now as I try to take it all in, but I think the way Red Sox Nation — the fans — have just embraced me throughout my career, not only as a member of the Red Sox but after being a Red Sox as well, I can’t tell you how many times I had people come up and say, “Thank you. We love you. We appreciate you.” That has stuck. The feeling has always been mutual. Hopefully, with today, I really show them that I was sincere when I told them that the same feeling was always there and I love them just as much.

A lot of athletes have a hard time knowing when it’s time to go away. When did that happen for you?

I stole a quote from a teammate and friend of mine. One time, he told me that he sat at his locker and he knew his tank was empty. For me, I thought, that’s got to be the coolest thing, and the greatest thing I’ve ever heard, because he knew he gave everything he had. There was a time in this offseason, I was training, I was working out this offseason getting myself in shape, and I came home and looked at my wife and said, “My tank is empty.” I just physically couldn’t do it. I couldn’t work out the way I like to, what it takes to prepare myself to play at this level. Both at a physical standpoint and mental, I knew the tank was empty. I’ve given everything I had. I know, finding out so much about myself physically from this genetic condition I have, that I’ve been battling and will continue to battle, at the same time knowing that, the grind of taking care of that mentally and physically as well, what it takes, I said I can’t take this anymore at this level, and I said it’s time to move on.

It’s good to be able to say that. For me, it’s a real thrill to be able to say, “It’s empty, and I’m OK with it,” obviously, to be able to look in the mirror and say I’ve given it everything I possibly could.

Is it true that you talked with Theo in the last couple of years about returning as a player?

We’ve talked to each other. We’ve kept a good relationship throughout my tenure away from the Red Sox, which is special. I think that’s great, that we were able to keep that relationship as well. Obviously, because of that relationship, it’s come to a day like today, where we were able to have this wonderful day.

We definitely had chatted. We definitely have talked. Being a free agent, it was more to just keep those lines of communication open as well. Theo’s done a phenomenal job, obviously, here with the Red Sox. He’s always been a true professional and class act. I think that’s where there’s such a mutual respect here as well.

How difficult was it to get to this point, where you could have a good relationship with the Sox, given the attempts to trade you after the ’03 season and the fact that you were traded in 2004?

I think, obviously all of that was shocking. There’s shock for any player who goes through a trade. I think there’s a time when you really understand that baseball is a business as well. There’s a business part of this game. The business part isn’t always pretty. It might not be what you like or what you want to hear. That exists. You eventually realize that there’s something bigger, bigger than all of us. There’s stuff bigger than the owners right now, who have always been here. That’s the Red Sox. The Red Sox organization, the tradition here in Boston, the fans, the people who really make the tradition and what this place is all about. I’ve realized that and I’ve always realized it, but even more so being away from it, just seeing all the fans who have come up to me over the years. With those fans coming up to me, and the great things that they’ve said, I think it really helped me go, “You know what? That could have been a business decision. It was made. It’s over.” There’s a bigger thing here than me and them to feel any animosity or bitterness. Really, I think I might have felt that just that one day, because it was time to move on, put on that Cubs uniform and try to win a World Series. As a professional and person, you feel it and you move in.

You always played the game the right way. How do you want to be remembered?

I appreciate you guys saying that. Thank you. Thank you for believing that. As a player, that’s all you can ask. Numbers and all that stuff, in this game, what you accomplish, it will come and go, and be talked about. It’s irrelevant. Ultimately, what you want to say is, “Hey, did you play the game the right way?” If people can say that about my career, I can look in the mirror and be proud of what I’ve done. That’s really what you want to walk away from this game about, to be looked at that way, not only from the fans who were gracious enough to come watch you every day at the field or on TV and follow you, and your teammates as well.

You made kids all over New England fiddle with their batting gloves.

It works, right? Everybody always asked me about that. They’d say, “Why do you do that.” Because it works! The batting glove contract I had was great. They loved it, because all the kids were doing it.

What can you do? It’s part of that whole routine to get focused and do what I need to do.

You seem mellow now.

It’s definitely an emotional day for me, because of what this day means to me, not only walking away from the game but to be part of the Red Sox once again. I think that mellowness is just that ease. I’m content with my decision. I’m content that I get to spend more time with my family, and spend time with my lovely wife and two lovely daughters. The other great thing is that I’m moving on. I’m going to be working for ESPN. That’s my next line of work. So I joined a whole new team. So I don’t walk away totally from this game that I love so much, that’s been a part of my life for so long. I still get to be around it and be associated with it, so I’m looking forward to that as well.

If someone said while you were with the Sox that you would end up in the media, I wouldn’t have believed it.

I know there’s a big misconception about that.

I always had respect for all of you guys. For me, it was more that I just didn’t want to take away from what I had to do on the field. I was so focused. Baseball consumed me 24-7. It really did. I think you could tell from my routines and all that stuff. I just didn’t do it just on the field. It was there all around when I went home, from the minute I woke up to the minute I went to sleep. It took that much of me to feel like I could play at that level. So I think that’s where it came. I’m sorry if it came off that way. I always respected it.

I didn’t know what the next line of work would be for me. But obviously, from the knowledge and experience I’ve been lucky enough to have in this game, hopefully I can continue to pass that on and do that in the form of the media as part of that ESPN team. We’ll get to have fun together now, guys.

Do your daughters understand what this day means?

I don’t know if my daughters have a clue just yet, but they did add to it. When you’re signing your retirement papers, you have to put a reason why you’re retiring. So I go, “Why am I retiring?” She’s like, “They wanted Daddy to be home.” So I actually put that as the reason: “Daughters want Daddy home.” That was great. From that standpoint, I think it was great.