On November 28, 2022, long-time player and Detroit Tiger’s legend Miguel “Miggy” Cabrera announced that he will retire after the 2023 MLB season. Cabrera’s career has been one for the ages, and he will go down as one of the best players to ever grace the Tiger’s franchise. Now that his Hall of Fame career is coming to an end, let’s take a look back and highlight the life of Miguel Cabrera. 

Cabrera was born April 18, 1983, in Maracay, Venezuela, and growing up, was one of the biggest prospects in South America. Many major league franchises pursued him, and by the time he was 16, he signed a $1.8 million deal with the Florida Marlins. In June of 2003, he made his MLB debut as a first baseman against the Tampa Bay Rays, where he went 1 for 5, hitting his first career home run. He went on to win his first and only ring with the Marlins in the 2003 World Series against the New York Yankees.

After five seasons with the Florida Marlins, 4 of which granted him an All-Star selection, Cabrera was traded to the Detroit Tigers before the start of the 2008 season. The Marlins did not end up with much after this deal, but the Tigers were rewarded with a young superstar, and a bright future. This trade also happened to be the fourth largest deal ever made in major leagues, as it involved an 8-year/ $152.3 million dollar extension, and Cabrera was about to show that he was worth every penny. 

Going into the 2012 MLB season with 6 All-Star selections and 3 Silver Slugger awards under his belt, Miguel Cabrera was sure to have another spectacular year. In fact, this was the year he would earn his first American League MVP award, as well as the batting Triple Crown award, making him the first player since 1967 to win it. Cabrera led the league with a .330 batting average, 44 home runs, and 139 RBIs, making his MVP nomination guaranteed. Not slowing down, Miguel Cabrera earned yet another AL MVP award in the following year, and batted a career-high .348, improving from his previous year’s batting average. Despite losing the 2013 World Series to the San Francisco Giants, Miguel Cabrera did manage to lead his team to the sought-after championship, and hit his first World Series home run since his rookie season.

Although he would not record these stats every year, his other seasons were nothing to sneeze at. Over the course of his 20 year career, he managed to progress through many of the league’s all time lists. Not only is he one of the five players with 500 home runs, 3,000 hits, and 1,000 RBI’s, but he is also one of three players who rank in the top 5 in home runs on 2 different teams. Furthermore, he is the first player to hit 500 home runs as a player on the Tigers. 

A superstar on and off the field, Cabrera even started his own non-profit organization, called the Miguel Cabrera Foundation, or the Miggy Foundation. Founded in 2007, this foundation provides academic scholarships and tools to help children improve their education. Additionally, it works closely with Children’s Hospitals and health organizations to give support to those who need it. With the organization’s guiding principles, “work hard, dream big, and help others”, Miguel Cabrera and the Miggy Foundation have helped thousands of families across the country. After his official retirement next year, Miguel Cabrera is sure to go down as one of the league’s best players and will be remembered as the helping hand that extended to countless families in America.