Going, going, gone: The best farewell moments in MLB history
MLB Network, which launched on Jan. 1, 2009, is celebrating its fifteenth anniversary in 2024. Through Friday, MLB Network will rely down the highest 15 moments it has coated in its historical past, through weeknight segments on MLB Tonight (6 p.m. ET), in addition to throughout its social platforms. And don’t overlook to catch MLB Network’s fifteenth Anniversary retrospective present — “MLB Network Legendary Moments” offered by Budweiser, with Greg Amsinger, Sean Casey and Harold Reynolds — scheduled for 7 p.m. ET on Monday, Jan. 22.
The No. 4 second on the countdown: After 20 seasons, greater than 3,000 hits and 5 World Series championships, Derek Jeter says goodbye with a walk-off hit in his closing sport at Yankee Stadium.
Jeter’s clutch knock was the kind of unforgettable ending that every one gamers hope to have on the conclusion of their careers. But such moments are uncommon.
We have been lucky to witness one other indelible ending in 2023 as Miguel Cabrera performed his closing sport after 21 years within the large leagues. Fit with touching tributes and a turn-back-the-clock play at first base, Cabrera’s coda was particular and emotional. Although supervisor Jimmy Duggan from “A League of Their Own” would disagree, there most positively is crying in baseball when it is time to stroll away. And the game is richer for it.
With Miggy’s day nonetheless contemporary in our minds, here’s a checklist of one of the best farewell moments from star gamers in baseball historical past.
Miguel Cabrera, Tigers, 2023
Cabrera’s final sport was a household affair. One of the most efficient hitters of all time was launched by his three youngsters as he stepped as much as the plate for his first at-bat and was later joined by his household as he strode off the Comerica Park grass for the ultimate time throughout the prime of the eighth.
Entering that inning, Cabrera knew he was going to play first base, a place the place he performed greater than 1,100 video games with Detroit however hadn’t performed since 2021 resulting from accidents. It was set to be a particular second, however Cabrera did not know simply how particular. His Tigers teammates stunned him by letting the previous Triple Crown winner run out of the dugout by himself and obtain yet one more enormous ovation from the followers he entertained for 16 years. Then the primary batter of the inning, the Guardians’ Steven Kwan, pulled a floor ball to first. Of course. Cabrera, stuffed with exuberance and 0 rust, backhanded the grounder with ease and raced to the bag to file the out. With that, Cabrera walked off the diamond for the final time.
Albert Pujols and Yadier Molina, Cardinals, 2022
It’s arduous sufficient to say goodbye to 1 franchise legend; Cardinals followers saluted three at one time in a regular-season house finale. Pujols and Molina had already introduced their intentions to retire, and it was unknown whether or not Adam Wainwright would be a part of them after the season. So, as supervisor Oliver Marmol took the ball from the right-handed starter within the fifth inning, the trio walked off the Busch Stadium mound.
It wasn’t an excessively joyous scene as Wainwright, who would return in 2023, had simply allowed six runs in 4 2/3 innings. The authentic plan was to have the three gamers exit firstly of the sixth, however to nonetheless have them exit collectively was excellent. In Pujols and Molina, St. Louis bid farewell to 2 stalwarts who mixed for 19 All-Star appearances and greater than 4,000 video games with the Cards.
Félix Hernández, Mariners, 2019
It’s type of superb that Hernández was capable of put collectively a fairly respectable begin throughout his closing look in Seattle — three runs allowed over 5 1/3 innings — contemplating how his feelings have been on the floor all evening lengthy. Well earlier than the sport began, King Félix was wiping his eyes as he walked out for his warmup session within the bullpen. He let all of it go when he was taken out of the sport within the sixth inning, tears streaming down his face as he pointed towards the King’s Court part down the left-field line. After the sport, Hernández joined his adoring followers and unfold his arms broad over his baseball kingdom.
Hernández signed Minor League offers with the Braves and Orioles in 2020 and ’21, respectively. But he wore just one uniform in a Major League sport. His 418 begins are probably the most by a Mariners pitcher.
Ichiro Suzuki, Mariners, 2019
The begin of Hernández’s closing season featured the departure of one other Mariners icon. Ichiro spent the vast majority of 2018 in Seattle’s entrance workplace, however he returned to the sector in March 2019 for a two-game sequence in Japan, bringing his profession full circle. Ichiro was handled as nothing lower than a conquering hero throughout his homecoming on the Tokyo Dome. He did not add to his profession complete of 4,367 hits cut up between MLB and Nippon Professional Baseball, however that did little to quell the cheers and tears from his nation of supporters.
Ichiro was the one participant on the diamond when he exited the second sport within the eighth inning. Both groups needed to present him the highlight that he so deserved on this setting. He waved to the followers as he made his means into the dugout, however these followers remained of their seats half-hour after the ultimate out with the intention to get only one extra take a look at their famed countryman. Ichiro then emerged to a different roar from the sold-out crowd and took a lap across the subject.
Joe Mauer, Twins, 2018
Near the top of the 2018 season, Mauer stated he was nonetheless undecided about retirement. But Minnesota’s final sport of the yr offered all of the clues that this may be the hometown child’s swan tune. Mauer was joined on the sector by his twin daughters earlier than the sport and garnered a standing ovation earlier than every plate look.
But the actual spotlight got here within the prime of the ninth when Mauer placed on the shin guards, chest protector and masks one final time. The solely catcher to win three batting titles, Mauer had not arrange behind the plate since taking a foul tip to the masks and struggling a concussion in 2013. But he needed to finish his profession the place it started. Mauer caught one pitch from Matt Belisle — a fastball off the skin nook — earlier than heading to the mound, hugging his teammate and strolling off to the Twins’ dugout whereas the theme from “The Natural” blared throughout Target Field.
David Ortiz, Red Sox, 2016
Sometimes, you do not know when the top goes to come back. Such was the case for Oritz, who was eliminated for a pinch-runner within the eighth inning of ALDS Game 3 between Boston and Cleveland. The Red Sox have been hoping to mount a rally to maintain their season alive, however it was to not be because the AL Central champions accomplished a sweep at Fenway.
Every season-ending loss within the postseason comes with dejection, however this loss additionally meant the top of the highway for a participant who rallied his crew and his metropolis in contrast to anybody in current reminiscence. Following the defeat, Ortiz returned to the sector, stood atop the Fenway mound and acknowledged the 1000’s nonetheless in attendance whereas holding again tears.
Derek Jeter, Yankees, 2014
“Well, the script is there. The last page is in Derek’s hands.”
That’s how Yankees play-by-play announcer Michael Kay set the stage for Jeter’s closing at-bat in Yankee Stadium. Tie sport. Bottom of the ninth. Winning run on second base. It had all of the makings for a Hollywood ending within the Bronx. Unleashing his basic inside-out swing, Jeter lashed the primary pitch of the at-bat into proper subject. His 3,463rd profession hit scored Antoan Richardson and gave one other victory to the participant who has been part of extra victories than some other Yankee.
After Jeter’s teammates mobbed him, the star shortstop walked over to the spot on the infield that he manned for 20 years. He went right into a crouch as he tried to soak within the second and gather his feelings. It was an acceptable capper to The Captain’s house profession.
Mariano Rivera, Yankees, 2013
There was hardly ever ever a purpose for Rivera, the game’s biggest nearer, to get replaced throughout the center of an inning. But he was on Sept. 26, 2013, and it resulted in some superb theater. With two outs within the prime of the ninth and the Yankees trailing by 4 runs, New York determined to make one other name to the ‘pen. However, this name got here from Jeter and Andy Pettitte, who went to the mound to usher their longtime teammate into retirement.
Rivera, who stated he was coping with a “bombardment of emotions,” smiled when he first noticed the duo. But as soon as Jeter instructed him that it was “time to go,” the right-hander started sobbing as he fell into Pettitte’s embrace.
Although Ripken was penciled in because the AL’s beginning third baseman, he formally started the sport at shortstop — the place he revolutionized — after a little bit persuasion from Alex Rodriguez. Then Ripken created Midsummer Classic magic in his first plate look as he crushed a house run on the primary pitch he noticed.
Ripken was taken out of the sport earlier than the highest of the sixth and was promptly honored alongside Tony Gwynn. They can be linked once more in 2007 after they have been the 2 members of that yr’s Hall of Fame class.
George Brett, Royals, 1993
Four days earlier than the Royals’ house finale, Brett introduced that he would retire on the finish of the season. That turned what would have been a moderately meaningless contest between Cleveland and Kansas City right into a celebration of the best participant in Royals historical past. Brett’s teammates honored him by writing “5” on their socks, and the pregame ceremony featured a message from President Bill Clinton.
After the sport — which noticed Brett hit a game-tying RBI single within the eighth inning en path to a Royals’ walk-off triumph — the 13-time All-Star hopped right into a golf cart and rode round Kaufmann Stadium as applause rained down upon him. At the top of his journey, Brett ran over to house plate, bought down on his knees and kissed the dish.
Ted Williams, Red Sox, 1960
Unlike each different entry on this checklist, there wasn’t a ton of fanfare surrounding Williams’ final sport. There have been about 10,000 individuals inside Fenway Park to see him off, and Williams had a considerably frosty relationship with Red Sox followers and media by the top of his profession anyway. Still, the Splendid Splinter placed on a present, punctuated by a well-known closing at-bat that noticed him drill an extended house run to right-center subject. That was adopted by a four-minute delay as followers clamored for Williams to come back out for a curtain name. He remained within the dugout.
The 1960 season was a misplaced one for Boston, however the 42-year-old Williams ended it with a .316 common and a 1.096 OPS in practically 400 plate appearances. Just one more reason why he might have been the best hitter who ever lived.
Babe Ruth, Yankees, 1948
Perhaps you do not know that Ruth’s taking part in profession led to 1935 with a Boston crew that was not the Red Sox. By ’48, he was stricken with most cancers and now not the larger-than-life man he grew to become with the Yankees throughout their Nineteen Twenties dynasty. However, 14 years after taking part in his closing sport with the Bronx Bombers, Ruth returned to the home that he constructed and donned the pinstripes once more because the membership retired his No. 3 jersey.
Ruth was capable of step into the batter’s field and take just a few hacks for the photographers who captured yet another look of the swing that made him an iconic American determine. Ruth handed away about two months after the ceremony.
Lou Gehrig, Yankees, 1939
The final spot on this checklist is saved for probably the most well-known speeches in sports activities historical past. On July 4, 1939 — “Lou Gehrig Appreciation Day” at Yankee Stadium — The Iron Horse approached the microphone by house plate to handle the greater than 40,000 individuals in attendance. Gehrig was recognized with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis just a few weeks previous to his speech. He knew his profession was over. He knew the illness would finally take his life. But with an unmatched combination of braveness and beauty, Gehrig paused to collect his feelings after which instructed everybody why he was the luckiest man on the face of the Earth.
