The Detroit Tigers are ending their season with the weekend celebration of a likely Baseball Hall of Famer.
Miguel Cabrera, 40, is retiring after 21 seasons in Major League Baseball.
The Tigers will celebrate Cabrera with their final weekend series of the season, against the Cleveland Guardians. Starting Friday evening, the club will have special events for each game, leading up to Sunday afternoon's sold-out finale.
Friday's game, with a 6:40 p.m. first pitch, will include a presentation to Cabrera on his nomination for the Roberto Clemente Award, presented by MLB to a player with strong community and philanthropic commitments. The Detroit Youth Choir will perform the U.S. national anthem, and fans will receive a free Cabrera comic book cover. A drone show and fireworks display will take place following the game.
On Saturday, a pregame celebration of Cabrera's career will be held on the field, with former Tigers manager Jim Leyland and other Tiger greats participating. The first pitch is set for 1:10 p.m., but fans are encouraged to be in their seats at 12:45 p.m. The first 15,000 fans will receive a Miggy Print All Over shirt.
Those attending Sunday's finale will receive a surprise commemorative item celebrating Cabrera. It will also be the final Kids' Day of the season, with face-painting, free rides on the Ferris wheel and carousel, and autographs from two Tiger players on the concourse.
The Venezuelan-born Cabrera was drafted by the Marlins in 1999 and made his MLB debut in 2003, becoming a part of a Miami team that won the World Series that year. Following the 2007 season, he and pitcher Dontrelle Willis were traded to Detroit for a package of six players.
During his tenure with the Tigers, the club went to the playoffs five times, including two trips to the World Series and consecutive American League Central Division titles from 2011 to 2014.
Following Thursday's doubleheader with the Kansas City Royals, Cabrera is 16th on the all-time hit list with 3,170. He has also hit 511 home runs to tie him with Mel Ott for 25th all-time, and 12th on the all-time RBI list with 1,880.
Among his other accolades are getting a rare batting Triple Crown in 2012, the American League Most Valuable Player award in 2012 and 2013, four American League batting titles, seven Silver Slugger Awards, and being named to the All-Star team 12 times, both with Miami and Detroit.
Tickets are still available for Friday night's game, and a very limited number is available for Saturday afternoon.
Cabrera has enjoyed a farewell tour of MLB ballparks this year, with other teams paying tribute with gifts and donations to Cabrera's foundation. The Toronto Blue Jays honoured him in April by presenting him with a photo array commemorating his 500th career home run, which was hit in August 2021 at Rogers Centre.
WDIV-TV in Detroit reported Friday afternoon that Cabrera will stay with the Tigers as a special assistant to Scott Harris, the team's president of baseball operations.