Column: What Miggy means to me

by R.J. HUNT
Editor

Most of those who know me will tell you I’m the biggest Detroit sports fan. The thing is, it was not always that way. When I was younger, the only sport I would watch was basketball. That started to change because of a man named Miguel Cabrera, known to his fans as just “Miggy.”

My parents would watch the news every night, and every time the sports segment came on, they would always bring up this Cabrera guy. I finally got to see this Miggy guy in action when my sister was given tickets to the Tigers’ game. To my sister, the most memorable moment that day was when she was able to walk on the field as she was honored with many other students for her grades. The moment for me was seeing Miggy hit a clutch home run to bring the Tigers back after being down earlier in the game. 

From there on out, I was hooked on baseball, I was hooked on the Tigers, and I was hooked on being a Miguel Cabrera fan. 

I became a Miggy fan at the perfect time. I joined right as the Tigers started their consecutive seasons as the American League Central division champs. During this time, Miggy was named to multiple All Star teams, won back-to-back MVP awards, and the triple crown (leading the league in home runs, batting average, and RBIs), the first to do so since 1967. 

I have this memory during Miggy’s triple crown season. I was in the car with my uncle and he turned the radio to the Tigers’ game. Miggy was at bat, and he turned the radio up. My uncle told me, “RJ, this is history.” And he was right. The man was simply reaching once-in-a-generation accomplishments. As my uncle was telling me this was history we were listening to, Miggy went on to hit one of his many home runs that he would hit in his career.

I was too young to remember the Tigers going to the World Series in 2006, but I remember them going in 2012. Therefore, I’ll never forget the night they clinched, nor the days that followed. It felt like everyone in Michigan was happy, I know I was. All of this excitement thanks to Miggy. The Tigers didn’t win that year’s World Series, but I still cherish that moment because a Detroit team hasn’t made it to a championship series/game since. 

When Miggy reached his 500th home run, it was bittersweet for me. I was happy because my favorite baseball player of all time reached a huge milestone, but I wasn’t there to see it in person for myself. Watching the moment on the TV didn’t do it justice. I made a vow, I’ll never miss a big moment like that again. 

I kept my word. 

I went through so many hoops and hurdles trying to see Miggy’s 3,000th hit in person. Between having a class in the middle of the game and weather delays changing the day of the game I had tickets to, I didn’t think I would make it. But Miggy waited on me. I somehow was able to get  a ticket to the Tigers’ game for Saturday April 23, 2022 for 1 p.m. That’s a day Tigers fans will never forget. 

I remember getting to the ballpark and saying this is a great day to see history, and history happened. When Miggy hit the ball between the gap of the 1st and 2nd base bags, the crowd erupted. Just a joyous moment for everybody as the fans went crazy. Everyone was high fiving that person they never met and it didn’t even seem weird. We all shared the same happiness in that moment as we just watched a legend reach 3,000 hits, being the 33rd player in MLB history to do so.

Miggy literally has been a part of my childhood. When I was first introduced to him, I had a squeaky, baby face and I was in elementary school. Now, my voice has developed, I have facial hair, and I’m in college. I know his career is winding down, but I don’t know how I’m going to feel when he retires. I don’t know the Tigers without Miggy because he’s all I ever knew. Regardless, I cherish the memories he has brought to my life.

I just keep thinking back to the moment where Miggy was walking to the batter’s box before his 3,000th hit. I had brought my little cousin to the game with me. Even though he’s not into baseball, I wanted him to witness this moment. I told him to pull out his phone to record. Of course he asked why, and I responded “You are about to see history.” I’m glad he was able to see this moment as it was something I’m sure he will never forget. I know it’s one I’ll never forget.

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