More than one Major League Baseball player, teammates and otherwise, have suggested that if you want to mimic a true professional, you do whatever John McDonald happens to be doing at the time.

And now the man they call "Pro," the East Lyme native who carved a 16-year career with eight different teams, has announced his retirement.

McDonald, who learned at UConn Avery Point and Providence College, released the announcement Wednesday afternoon as a joint venture among the Indians, Angels and Blue Jays, the teams with which he began, ended and play the longest, respectively.

"It's time," McDonald said Wednesday afternoon in a telephone conversation. "I accomplished everything I ever wanted to and then some. So many things I never thought possible. From two years ago winning the World Series (with Boston) to finishing this year at 40 years old. I don't feel like there's anything left to play for."

The Indians took McDonald in the 12th round of the 1996 draft. He made his debut July 4, 1999 with Cleveland, later playing for Detroit, Toronto, Pittsburgh, Arizona, Boston, the Angels and Phillies. He hit .233 with 568 hits in more than 2,600 plate appearances.

"I have so many memories," McDonald said. "But the one that comes to mind the most is the Father's Day home run."

McDonald alluded to June 20, 2010, when he homered in his first game back after his father's funeral. Jack McDonald, a popular football and basketball official in the region, died of cancer a few days earlier.

Jack McDonald was at the center of many great stories about his son, not the least of which was one July day at Yankee Stadium where he watched his son take out Derek Jeter while attempting to break up a double play. Jack McDonald, a Yankee fan, remembered mouthing the words, "Holy (expletive)," at the thought of the Stadium crowd holding its breath.

John McDonald also recalled his first major league hit in Cleveland. His parents hadn't yet arrived when he singled to center off Scott Service.

"Center field," he said. "I can still see myself yelling 'Yes!'" McDonald said. "It's still really vivid. I had just accomplished the one goal I never thought possible and remember thinking, 'What's left now?' Now it's 16 seasons later."

The respect he earned in those 16 seasons was enviable. Peter Abraham, a former writer at the Norwich Bulletin who covers the Red Sox now for the Boston Globe, said once, "I saw (John) a few weeks ago and we talk for a few minutes and as he walks away, (Red Sox coach) DeMarlo Hale comes up to me and says, 'You know Johnny Mac? My favorite player in the league.' Then he tells me how he managed against him in the minors and how much he respects him, etc. Marco Scutaro basically said the same thing a minute later.

"I realize I'm biased because I know the guy," Abraham said, "but there is really not another bench guy in the game who more people have genuine regard for as a player and person than Johnny."

McDonald said he has no immediate plans for retirement, but sees himself in baseball.

"So many things interest me," he said. "Front office, potentially. TV or radio. It's a new chapter."

m.dimauro@theday.com

Twitter: @BCgenius