A twenty-year career will end today in Tigers Stadium when Miguel Cabrera takes his last bat as a major leaguer. With almost 2800 games, 10,500 at-bats, 3200 hits, 1900 RBIs, and 515 HRs, Miggy is–without question–one of the best to have ever played the game … and a joy to watch.
It has helped that Miggy has been watched closely and continually celebrated throughout the season. Each successful moment has been noted and celebrated.
A segment of Tiger fans has derided his contract and his generally underperforming pay rate over recent seasons, mostly due to injuries or the profane auguries of time. Yet knowing that this was his last 162-game run, most of us knew that by both random data distribution and Miggy’s ability to seize the moment seemingly, there would still be a few highlights this season.
Even though I have loved him as a player ever since he emerged with the Marlins, I am not sure that I could have foreseen the grace by which he would confront this farewell season.
Yes, he’s getting paid a lot of money this year. But what a joy he’s been here in Detroit. The entire time. Other than an inauspicious beginning to his tenure here, he has been the best player I have seen play in a Tiger uniform as a Tiger fan.
From exclaiming for several seasons, “Just build the damn statue now!” observing his mostly positive and humble approach to enjoying playing the game, he has been a joy to watch the entire time.
I’m not sure there has been anything prettier in baseball than watching him inside-out a ball into the right-center field gap over all these years. One of the greatest right-handed hitters of all time, Friday night’s gapper for a double was a gentle reminder that it would sadly be all over soon.
I can’t be anything but thankful for the joy that his play has given me.
