Former Dayton Dragon Adam Dunn retires

Friday, Feb. 29, 2008 Cincinnati Reds outfielders Ken Griffey Jr., left, and Adam Dunn wait to go onto the field during a spring training baseball game against the Tampa Bay Rays in Sarasota, Fla.

Credit: Associated Press photo

Credit: Associated Press photo

Friday, Feb. 29, 2008 Cincinnati Reds outfielders Ken Griffey Jr., left, and Adam Dunn wait to go onto the field during a spring training baseball game against the Tampa Bay Rays in Sarasota, Fla.

The career of an original Dayton Dragon ended last night, not with a bang but with a whimper.

Adam Dunn, who crushed 462 major-league home runs, was on the roster with the Oakland A’s for their wild card playoff game against the Kansas City Royals.  It was Dunn's first career playoff game, but despite the 12-inning extended contest, Dunn spent the entire game on the bench.

Dunn was traded to the A’s from the Chicago White Sox during the season to offer the A’s more power.  But with James Shields starting for the Royals, Dunn was not in the starting lineup, and had no chance to pinch hit in the A’s 9-8 extra-innings loss.

Dunn played in 2,001 games in his major league career.  He was the active leader in games played without a playoff appearance.

He got his start as Cincinnati Reds draft pick in 1998.  He made it to the big leagues in 2001, but not before spending time on the inaugural Dayton Dragons team in 2000.

310 of his home runs came with the Reds before landing with Arizona in 2008.  He also played for Washington before joining the White Sox in 2011.

Dunn is 34.  He played 25 games for the A’s, and hit two home runs. A’s manager Bob Melvin told the media that he wanted more defense in the game, which left Dunn on the bench.