On farewell weekend to Miguel Cabrera, the Tigers honored the future Hall of Famer with an on-field ceremony prior to Saturday's game against the Indians.
And now there's a new number on display at Comerica Park, stationed above Jackie Robinson's No. 42 on the bricks in right center field: No. 24, made of 3,000 baseballs for a man with 3,000 hits (and 500 homers and 600 doubles and 1,800 RBI). It was unveiled during the ceremony by Tigers legends Willie Horton and Lance Parrish.
It was one of several gifts and tributes Cabrera received from the Tigers, who also presented him with a seat from Comerica Park signed by his teammates, a custom pair of cleats fashioned out of baseballs and a $24,000 check to the Miguel Cabrera Foundation.
Cabrera was joined on the field by his family, along with teammates Matthew Boyd and Eduardo Rodriguez, manager A.J. Hinch, president of baseball operations Scott Harris, his former manager Jim Leyland and Tigers legend Alan Trammell.
Trammell spoke to the crowd on Cabrera's behalf, as did Boyd and Rodriguez. Rodriguez, Cabrera's countryman from Venezuela, spoke in Spanish. Trammell praised Cabrera's many accomplishments and noted the Tigers "use Miggy's spray charts to show our minor leaguers what it’s like to be a Major Leaguer."
He finished his remarks by saying, "We'll see you in Cooperstown."
And before the game began, Cabrera's mom and dad -- Gregoria Torres and Miguel Cabrera Sr. -- threw out the ceremonial first pitches.