Detroit Tigers Slugger Miguel Cabrera Hits 500th Home Run

by Seth Udinski

Seth Udinski, FISM News

 

One of the best hitters in baseball accomplished an impressive feat on Sunday.  Miguel Cabrera, the 38-year-old slugger for the Detroit Tigers and one of the best hitters in Major League Baseball over the last two decades, became the latest player to hit 500 home runs.  Cabrera did so in his 19th season in the league.

In the 6th inning of the Tigers’ Sunday afternoon contest against the Toronto Blue Jays, Cabrera blasted a 1-1 pitch off opposing pitcher Steve Matz over the right-center-center field wall at Rogers Centre in Toronto.

The 15,000 fans in Toronto showed great respect for the visiting Cabrera, giving him a standing ovation as he rounded the bases.  Cabrera returned the gesture with a curtain call, tipping his cap and soaking in the great accomplishment to the delight of his teammates.  He becomes the 28th player in MLB history to hit 500 homers in his career.

This impressive feat will cement Cabrera’s spot in the Baseball Hall of Fame when his career is over.  Along with 500 home runs, he has a glistening .311 lifetime batting average.  In his 2003 rookie season, he led the Florida Marlins to a dramatic World Series victory over the New York Yankees as a 20-year-old and has been a star ever since.  In addition, he is approaching 3,000 hits in his career, currently sitting at 2,955.

Cabrera’s 500th home run came in a dramatic game that went into extra innings.  Detroit pulled out a 5-3 victory in the 11th inning to improve to 60-66 on the year.  Meanwhile, Toronto falls to 64-58 on the year.

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