CNN
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Detroit Tigers slugger Miguel Cabrera entered the vaunted 3,000-hit membership Saturday with an reverse discipline single in his first at-bat at residence in opposition to the Colorado Rockies.
The 39-year-old Venezuelan, in his twentieth season, is the thirty third participant to succeed in the milestone within the 119-year-old historical past of Main League Baseball.
The hit, off Rockies righty and fellow Venezuelan Antonio Senzatela, comes one season one other profession milestone – Cabrera’s five hundredth residence run.
After the laborious grounder to proper, with a runner on first base, Cabrera pointed his proper arm towards the sky and pumped his fist on his option to first. He then exchanged a hug with Rockies shortstop Jose Iglesias, a buddy and former Tigers teammate.
Cabrera joins Henry Aaron, Alex Rodriguez, Albert Pujols, Willie Mays, Rafael Palmeiro, and Eddie Murray as the one gamers in historical past to amass 3,000 profession hits and 500 residence runs.
“Seeing Miguel develop from a young person taking batting apply on the neighborhood fields in Venezuela to changing into among the best gamers in baseball historical past has been one of many nice joys of my life,” Al Avila, the Tigers govt vice chairman and common supervisor, mentioned in a press release.
“His humility, ardour for having enjoyable and real love of the town of Detroit are utterly unmatched and becoming a member of the three,000 hit membership solely strengthens his standing as one of many recreation’s all-time greats.”
Tigers’ Chairman and CEO Christopher Ilitch, mentioned: “I thank Miguel for a profession of thrilling, Corridor of Fame caliber play in the direction of our goal of championship baseball for Tigers followers. Miggy has and continues to construct his standing as one of many best Tigers of all-time.”
Cabrera hit a two-run single within the sixth inning for his 3,001st hit earlier than leaving the sport for a pinch runner.
Now Cabrera is only one double away from securing a spot as one of many recreation’s premier hitters – changing into solely the third participant in MLB historical past with 3,000 hits, 500 residence runs and 600 doubles in his profession.
Cabrera is an 11-time All-Star, four-time batting champion and two-time American League MVP.
In 2012, Cabrera turned the primary participant to win the Triple Crown since Carl Yastrzemski in 1967 after main the American League in residence runs, RBIs and batting common.
A local of Maracay, a metropolis in north-central Venezuela close to the Caribbean coast, Cabrera was 20 years outdated when he debuted within the massive leagues with the Florida Marlins in 2003. The Marlins received the World Sequence that yr.