Miguel Cabrera, the renowned Detroit slugger, received a special retirement gift from the Cleveland Guardians as he played his final game at Progressive Field on Sunday. Known for his exceptional performance against Cleveland’s pitching staff throughout his career, Cabrera was presented with a guitar, paying homage to Cleveland’s Rock & Roll Hall of Fame connection.
The guitar presented to Cabrera featured his name Miggy, along with his picture and jersey number 24 on the front. The esteemed Manny Ramirez and Guardians third baseman José RamÃrez joined forces to present the guitar to Cabrera behind home plate. With great pride, Cabrera held the guitar high in the air, simulating playing it before heading back to Detroit’s dugout.
At the age of 40, Cabrera is set to retire at the end of the season, making this gift from the Guardians even more meaningful. The teams will conclude the season with three games in Detroit, and it’s safe to say that no one associated with the Guardians will be unhappy about no longer facing Cabrera on the field.
When it comes to his performance against Cleveland, Cabrera has left an enduring mark. He boasts a career batting average of .308 (282-for-917) against Cleveland’s pitching staff, accompanied by an impressive 50 home runs and 176 RBIs in 248 games. Additionally, Cabrera has excelled at Progressive Field, hitting .297 (145-for-488) with 26 home runs and 89 RBIs in 126 games.
The Guardians’ president of baseball operations, Chris Antonetti, expressed his sentiments about Cabrera’s iconic presence on the diamond. He admitted losing sleep over Cabrera’s skillful abilities and highlighted the discomfort in knowing when his time at-bat would approach.
Cabrera bid farewell to Cleveland just one day after Manny Ramirez’s induction into the Guardians’ Hall of Fame. Antonetti acknowledged the privilege of having two of the greatest right-handed hitters of their generation present in the ballpark over the past few days.
As Cabrera’s retirement nears, the baseball community will undoubtedly reflect on his exceptional career and the impact he has made on the game. With his retirement, a new chapter begins for the Guardians and their future encounters with formidable opponents at the plate.
