Justin Verlander Bids Farewell to Detroit

Justin Verlander took the Comerica Park mound for the first time this season and last time of his career on Saturday afternoon, concluding what will only be remembered as a remarkable career. After 21 seasons (14 with the Detroit Tigers) that included an MVP, three Cy Youngs, a Rookie of the Year and 10 All-Star appearances, it was time to call it quits.

When Verlander signed back with Detroit this winter, we all knew that this day would come. However, the circumstances surrounding this season were thought to be different. There was no storybook ending with Verlander wearing the old English D during a postseason run. No summer moments flashing back to the days when Verlander dominated and destroyed. Instead, it was a season filled with injury, limiting him to one start prior to Saturday.

While the season did not go as the Tigers’ fans had hoped for the team or for Verlander, Saturday was still special. In a game that truly didn’t matter, Tigers fans packed the park for one final watch of 35. A chance to remember times past and send Verlander off with a proper tribute.

A Day to Remember

We have seen these types of ceremonial final games before. You all know what to expect. However, they are still able to hit our emotions in a unique way every single time and this was no different. The packed stadium filled with Verlander jerseys, signs thanking “JV”, and emotions from young to old was a special sight to see.

When did the memories really start to flow for you? Was it the jog in from the bullpen paired with a standing ovation? Verlander’s pre-game speech where he addressed a crowd but it felt like he was addressing the entire city? The first strikeout, where we got to see a glimpse of the past, or when he walked off the mound one final time?

Hell, maybe all the above.

Once the emotion settled, there was still a game to be played. Verlander started out the first inning, retiring all three batters putting the crowd on their feet once again. The second inning started with what was truly a vintage Verlander moment.

A full count to Oneil Cruz where Verlander dropped a slider in for a swing and missed strike three. A beautiful pitch followed by his signature half-step strut off the mound and towards first base. The third inning saw back-to-back strikeouts, including a late-moving fastball, to end the inning.

His first blemish happened in the fourth inning, when Brandon Lowe connected for his 35th home run of the season, giving the Pirates a 1-0 lead. Verlander buckled down and got three consecutive outs to end the inning, sitting at 67 pitches.

As he entered the dugout, there were no indications that he was even close to coming out. A fierce, competitive look in his eyes as he grabbed a water and went to the bench, focusing on the next inning and not the ceremony going on around.

To me, that perfectly encapsulated Verlander in his career. A true competitor whose focus was always solely on the next batter.

The fifth inning started with another full count strikeout (with a little help from the umpire) followed by a swinging strikeout before Jacob Gonzalez ruined the fun with a solo home run. Then came the sixth. We all knew it would be his last and them not cutting to commercial, but instead showing Verlander’s warm ups, only confirmed it. After a weak pop up AJ Hinch stepped on the field and motioned to the Pirates dugout.

Verlander’s seven-year-old daughter, Genevieve, came running out of the dugout and towards the mound. That’s the moment Justin became emotional as he wrapped his arms around his daughter and shared a moment I am sure he wish would never end.

A standing ovation of applause was the soundtrack to hugs, high fives, and a family moment the Verlanders, and the City of Detroit, will never forget.

Five and third of two run ball with six strikeouts, but no one was thinking about it. We were all thinking about the moments he gave us over the years. Maybe it was one of his two no-hitters. The 2013 playoff performance against Oakland, his 2006 Rookie of the Year season leading to the World Series, or any of his Cy Young-worthy campaigns.

That’s only to name a few.

Countless performances and seasons that you will never forget go beyond simply remembering a great player. It’s about recalling the moments in your life and who you were with, when you experienced the various Verlander moments. For so many of us, his career spanned across important development years and helped bring us together creating lasting memories with loved ones.

Although the end has come, Verlander’s legacy will live on forever in this city.

Final Thoughts

As much as we all wanted to remember this final Verlander season as him finishing what he always wanted – winning a championship in Detroit – at least we got this moment. A chance to see greatness for a couple more hours and thank a legend for all he provided to this franchise was nothing short of special.

Soak up all of the videos, rewatch the highlights from years past, and remember Justin Verlander as one of the greatest Tigers of all time. A title that Verlander will take great pride in. He loved this city and this team, as he reminded us in his pre-game speech:

“I am and always will be a Detroit Tiger.”