We’ll never see another hitter like Cabrera again
39-year-old Tigers star is definitely an authentic, artistic original
The bat met the ball, as it has so many times, with a sharp crack. And the man met the moment, decades in the making, then hours in the making, the legend officially bronzed on a brilliant day, in a perfect way.
Miguel Cabrera did something rarely seen, and the truth is, something we’ll likely never see again. Hit No. 3,000 was a simple, wellstruck grounder to right field, the opposite way for mortal right-handers, the appropriate way for a player who has defied baseball metrics for 20 years. Not defined by a solitary trait, he’s deified for his ability to use everything — every type of swing, every spot on the diamond.
After three days of rain and cold, the Detroit skies cleared and Cabrera delivered the moment Tigers fans have been charting since the season began. When he punched a 1-1 pitch in the first inning off a fellow Venezuelan, Rockies pitcher Antonio Senzatela, the crowd leaped and roared as loudly as we’ve heard in a long time. Cabrera thrust a fist to the sky as he trotted to first, then held both arms aloft, flashing his classic smile. The first big hug came from Rockies shortstop Jose Iglesias, a former Tiger and fellow Venezuelan, who ran across the infield and practically leapt into Cabrera’s arms.
For days, Cabrera had politely and patiently explained how he’d dreamt about the milestone, how important it was to do in Detroit, how vital it was to actually win the game. When it was over and he became the seventh major-leaguer in history to reach the 3,000-hit, 500home-run
plateau, and did it in a 13-0 victory over Colorado, he was asked if the moment matched the dream.
“Ooof,” Cabrera said, exhaling deeply. “I’m still dreaming about that. To be able to see 3,000, really special, really amazing.”
Were you nervous?
“I couldn’t feel my legs in the first at bat,” he said, laughing.
Packing the house
There were nerves throughout the ballpark, not that anyone doubted Cabrera, 39, eventually would get the hit. But everyone wanted to be here when he did. His family was here, the huge crowd was here, the timing was as perfect as the weather. The Tigers would head out on a road trip after Sunday and you could see in Cabrera’s glistening eyes how much it meant to deliver the moment.
In the stands, you could see how much it mattered, too. After Friday night’s rainout, fans gobbled up tickets for the opener of Saturday’s doubleheader and the crowd swelled so quickly, people clamoured outside, stuck in the traffic and bustle. Squeeze your eyes and it was Tigers baseball circa 2006-13, when the game was the show and the park was regularly packed. This day it reached 37,566, the largest non-opening day crowd in five years.
They were here to honour Cabrera, and to be reminded of glory days that might soon return. After the hit, fireworks rocketed in centre field and the crowd kept standing and cheering, while the Tigers poured out of the dugout and the bullpen to embrace their one-name star, Miggy. The Rockies stood respectfully to the side as Cabrera hugged his family, then pounded his chest and pointed to the crowd.
Cabrera became the first Tiger to reach 3,000 hits since Al Kaline in 1974. Incredibly, he’s only the third player to have 3,000 hits, 500 home runs and a career batting average above .300, joining Hank Aaron and Willie Mays. With his next double, Cabrera will have 600, joining Aaron and Albert Pujols in yet another exclusive group. And oh, by the way, Cabrera is the only one among those stars to also post a Triple Crown season.
The numbers are hard to fathom. And, if you think anyone will approach this level again, ha. Among active players, Robinson Cano has 2,630 hits, but is 39. Nelson Cruz has 1,923, but is 41. Jose Altuve has 1,783 and is 32.
The unexpectedly poignant twist is, Cabrera himself struggles to fathom the numbers. He fought back tears several times during the week, especially when speaking about his friend Kaline, who died in 2020. Cabrera was determined to soak up every moment, to engage his teammates, to make it fun. All that was left was to get that last darned hit.
“The momentum built and the emotions built and every at-bat was just like a Game 7 of the World Series at-bat,” manager AJ Hinch said. “Everybody’s quiet, in their seats. Miggy was super nervous. For a veteran of 20 years who’s done everything in the game, it’s fun to watch him be nervous. It was awesome, I think the kid in him is realizing what it means.”
The momentum built and the emotions built and every at-bat was just like a Game 7 of the World Series at-bat.
A.J. HINCH DETROIT TIGERS MANAGER