1B Miguel Cabrera returns to the Tigers training camp, one week after his arrest on suspicion of drunken driving. He apologizes to teammates, team management, family and fans for the incident and has agreed to enter a treatment program. MLB officials warn him that “any future alcohol-related incidents could involve more serious consequences”.
Josh Hamilton joins Jeff Burroughs (1974), Juan Gonzalez (1996, 1998), Ivan Rodriguez (1999), and Alex Rodriguez (2003) as the fifth Ranger player to win the American League’s Most Valuable Player award. The Texas slugging outfielder, who received 22 of the 28 first-place votes cast by the writers, led the major leagues in batting with a .359 average, hitting 32 homers and driving in 100 runs despite missing 29 games in September after suffering two broken ribs.
Armando Galarraga throws a one-hitter in a 3 – 0 win over Cleveland but in the eyes of most observers, he has pitched a perfect game: the only baserunner he gives up comes with two outs in the 9th inning, when Jason Donald is called safe on an infield hit by umpire Jim Joyce; however, replays show that the throw from 1B Miguel Cabrera to Galarraga beat Donald to the bag. The Tigers starter thus comes agonizingly close to pitching the third major league perfect game in only a month.
2007 – The Florida Marlins and Detroit Tigers pull off a blockbuster deal. Florida sends 3B Miguel Cabrera (an All-Star in four of his five seasons) and two-time All-Star P Dontrelle Willis for prospects Cameron Maybin, Andrew Miller and Dallas Trahern. The Marlins also get Mike Rabelo, Eulogio De La Cruz and Burke Badenhop in the deal. Maybin and Miller had been Detroit’s first-round picks in 2005 and 2006 respectively.
2003 – The Florida Marlins win in dramatic fashion, 4 – 3, over the Yankees, in Game 4 of the World Series behind a lead-off home run by Alex Gonzalez in the bottom of the 12th inning. Miguel Cabrera also homers for Florida as Braden Looper has the win in relief.
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