The day that seemed would never come, took place this past Sunday in Detroit: Miguel Cabrera’s farewell, who cemented his legacy as only one of seven men in the history of Major League Baseball with 3,000 hits and 500 home runs.
The game against the Cleveland Guardians was the perfect scenario to bid farewell to Cabrera, and the Tigers‘ final victory (5-2) was anecdotal.
Already in the hours before the game and outside the stadium, it was a day of aclamation, with the number 24 on the fans’ jerseys and many Venezuelan flags.
Miguel Cabrera and his unforgettable farewell
Comerica Park offered an impressive mosaic in the stands before the game started, with Tina Turner’s ‘The best‘ on the PA, and Miguel Cabrera’s emotions on display.
There were about 40,000 cards that formed an immense ‘Thank you Miggy‘ banner, with his numbers, 3,000 hits, 500 home runs, and the now legendary number 24 that he wore with the Miami Marlins and the Tigers.
Also, in one of the corners of the stands next to the scoreboard, his final numbers were reflected: 511 home runs and 3,174 hits.
It was the Maracay, Venezuela native’s turn to go on stage and it was very emotional, with his children in charge of announcing it over the loudspeaker: “With number 24, our father, Miguel Cabrera”, commented Christopher Alexander, Isabella and Rosangel.
The game was stopped in the eighth inning, and Cabrera took the field to cover first base, something he had not done for two years. Steven Kwan hit a ball rolled into his position to catch and make the out. It was his last action as a professional as the most exciting moment of the afternoon arrived.
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After his catch, Comerica Park rose to its feet and the Venezuelan began a walk to the dugout where he started to receive the first gestures of affection and recognition from everyone on the field.
His children ran into his arms and he continued walking while wearing out his right hand from waving, and endless greetings and hugs.
First he was embraced by his teammates, then members of the coaching staff, followed by a short walk to the center of the field where he received the loudest ovation, and then heading to where some of his family members were.
The hashtag #GraciasMiggy was the one chosen to follow all posts referring to Miguel Cabrera’s farewell on social networks, becoming viral both in the United States and in Venezuela.
A straight path towards Cooperstown
Miguel Cabrera has completed a 21-year career, retiring with a World Series among his honors, achieved in 2003 with the Marlins during his rookie season.
His numbers include 3,174 hits (16th in MLB history), 511 homers (25th), 627 doubles (13th), 1,881 RBIs (11th) and 1,155 extra-base hits (14th), unforgettable hits and home runs that translated into many victories for Detroit and Miami.
There IS crying in baseball. #GraciasMiggy pic.twitter.com/Jv9DAjKiD1
— Detroit Tigers (@tigers) October 2, 2023
Cabrera is the only Latino to win the Triple Crown, being the top scorer in a season in RBIs, home runs and the highest batting average in the National or American League.
‘Miggy‘ achieved this in 2012 with a .330 average, adding 44 home runs and 139 RBIs. This also translated into his MVP of the American League, and in closing a 45-year drought without any player achieving such an honor, as it has only been achieved 27 times in the history of baseball. The last player to achieve this before Cabrera was Carl Yastrzemski in 1967.