NEW YORK — Aaron Boone has ended his 12-year major league career and will become a baseball analyst for ESPN.

He announced his retirement on Tuesday, saying it was "a privilege and honor" to have played for six different clubs in the majors.

Boone was a member of the Houston Astros in 2009, when he is believed to have been the first player to return to Major League Baseball after open-heart surgery.

The third generation major leaguer had his best season in 2003, when he was an All-Star splitting time between the Reds and Yankees. His home run in the 11th inning of Game 7 of the ALCS that year lifted the Yankees over the Boston Red Sox.

Boone will appear on "Baseball Tonight" beginning in March. He worked for ESPN Radio during the 2009 NL division series.