Gracias Miggy!

Detroit, MI (PSF) Detroit Tigers star Miguel Cabrera has finished off one of the greatest careers the MLB has ever seen. The first ballot hall of famer retired on Sunday, after a season long farewell tour full of video tributes, retirement gifts and special moments all centered around giving Cabrera the send off that he deserved concluded in Detroit on an 80 degree day on October 1st.

Photo Credit: (Al Diaz) (Miami Herald) (Getty Images)

Let us go back to the beginning, from very early on in his career the one they would nickname “Miggy” showed that he was special by stepping up in multiple major moments along the way to the Marlins 2003 World Series Championship run which would be his rookie season. His biggest moment of the run coming in game 4 of the World Series, when the rookie Cabrera was brushed off the plate by a high and tight fastball by the arm of Yankees pitcher Roger Clemens. After a brief stare back out at the mound by ‘Miggy’ toward Clemens, he stepped back in the box and eventually flicked a two run home run over the right field wall. This moment was huge of course, but it further showed that even at the young age of 20 'Miggy’ belonged in the big leagues.

Fast forward a few seasons now, and on December 7th 2007 all of a sudden Cabrera is the main piece of a blockbuster trade that sees him being traded to Detroit along side fellow 2003 champion Dontrelle Willis for multiple top prospects in return to the Marlins. This would end up being looked back on as one of the most lopsided traded in the history of baseball. Partially because the prospects that the Marlins received in return never contributed much of anything at the big league level for them, or at all in the big leagues for that matter outside of a solid run as a reliever from left handed pitcher Andrew Miller. Mostly though this is regarded as a lopsided trade because not only was Cabrera an all star they traded away for nothing, he turned into an all time great in Detroit.

Photo Credit: (Tim Fuller) - (USA TODAY Sports)

Over the next 16 years in Detroit, Cabrera would win back to back MVP awards in 2012 and 2013, four batting titles, appear in eight all star games (12 total career) and complete one of the most impressive accomplishments in baseball history when he would go on to capture the triple crown in 2012 where he lead the American League in batting average (.330), home runs (44) and runs batted in (139). ‘Miggy’ became only the 10th player and 12th overall triple crown winner in major league history and the first to win it since Carl Yastrzemski did it in 1967.

As he aged, Cabrera faced injuries as his body began to break down a bit in his later years as he dealt with chronic knee pain. Still, while his power numbers dwindled he was still one of the best hitters the Tigers lineup had to offer throughout his entire tenure in Detroit. His ability to hit the ball to all fields never left him, and that ability to spray the ball to all corners of the field helped ‘Miggy’ to end up crossing three more historic benchmarks in his career and just to keep on hitting in the big leagues up until his final days in the league.

Photo Credit: (John E. Sokolowski) - (USA TODAY Sports)

In 2021 Cabrera crushed his 500th home run over the right field wall in Toronto becoming the 28th player ever to do so, as well as knocking his 600th double down the third base line in Houston. In 2022 ‘Miggy’ joined the 3000 hit club in Detroit in early April becoming just the 33rd player ever to do so. While his days of being an MVP candidate were behind him, he was still able to provide MLB and Tigers fans countless moments to remember over his last few seasons as he climbed baseballs historic ranks and passed all time great players what seemed to be night after night.

Then came his final season. With most of his big milestone chases now behind him, all that was left really was for ‘Miggy’ to take a bow, and he got to do just that and a season long one at that. He received gifts and pregame ceremonies everywhere the Tigers visited this year, as every organization honored him with a farewell gift from the organization as well as recognizing him in front of their fans before the game. His farewell tour was not only very well deserved, but also very well done by all of the teams that honored Cabrera along the way of his farewell tour around Major League Baseball.

Photo Credit: (MLB.com) (Getty Images)

Fast forward, and Cabrera is down to just his last weekend in the big leagues. The Tigers are honoring him all weekend long, with festivities around “Gracias Miggy” weekend that featured all things ‘Miggy’ around the ball park, pre game ceremonies, gifts, unveiling of new statues and video tributes from Detroit legends, to former teammates and just other colleagues around Major League Baseball that wanted to thank ‘Miggy’ and show their appreciation for what he did for the game of baseball.

His impact in his home country will forever be felt, as he is undoubtedly the face of Venezuela baseball and the greatest player to ever come from the country and there has been some good ones. As Cabrera took on his final weekend in the big leagues, the Detroit crowd which featured a strong Venezuelan presence, giving him a standing ovation with every at bat, Cabrera lit up his final weekend in the big leagues. He gathered three extra base hits, and a few RBI’s against Cleveland over the weekend and gave fans plenty to cheer for.

Photo Credit: Paul Sancya - AP

Cabrera was 0-3 with a walk on Sunday in his final game, with a four pitch walk coming in what would be his final at bat in the 7th inning. Cabrera was then sent out into the field to play first base, to the delight of the crowd as they again gave Cabrera a standing ovation as he took the field for the first time since 2021. His teammates staying behind a moment to let the crowd give it up for “Miggy” once again.

With the place buzzing and fans on their feet, Guardians outfielder Steven Kwan immediately rolls a ball over to first base to guess who…Cabrera. He grabs the ball, runs and tags the bag unassisted for the out to put a bow on one of the best careers baseball has ever seen. With Comerica Park going crazy, Cabrera is then lifted from the game by AJ Hinch and his children on the field. Overcome with emotion, the crowd standing and cheering the entire time Cabrera hugs all of his teammates on the field and then gets to say goodbye to Detroit and to baseball one final time.

Major League Baseball will not be the same without Cabrera, as aside from how good of a baseball player he was on the field being that he’s a first ballot hall of famer, the way that he played the game is truly unmatched. Nobody has had more fun in the big leagues than Cabrera, he was always smiling and joking whether with his team, the opposing players or even the fans. Baseball will miss him creating these moments, and really from baseball fans everywhere, I’d like to say Gracias Miggy.