Miguel Cabrera, Terry Francona close Hall of Fame careers - ESPN

DETROIT — Miguel Cabrera made a backhanded stop, stepped on first base and smiled on the final play of his career.

The crowd roared, Cabrera's kids came out on the field, and one of the best hitters of all time shed some tears before the Detroit Tigers closed the season with a 5-2 win over the Cleveland Guardians on Sunday.

«They give me a chance to say goodbye,» Cabrera said. «I'm going to appreciate this moment for the rest of my life.»

The game also marked the end of Terry Francona's career. Cleveland's manager, who led Boston to a pair of World Series titles, is set to retire this week.

«I don't think I need to be eulogized,» Francona joked. «Maybe after my doctor's appointment tomorrow, you never know.»

Francona said the day belonged to Cabrera.

It most certainly did.

The only player to win the Triple Crown in more than a half-century went 0-for-3, with a walk in his last plate appearance.

«I was kind of lost in the game because I can't focus,» Cabrera said.

He played on defense for the first time since 2021 and entered the game at first base in the eighth, when he was the only player on the field for a couple of minutes as players from both teams showed deference to one of the game's all-time greats.

Guardians outfielder Steven Kwan led off the inning with a sharp grounder that Cabrera stopped without needing to move too far, setting off another round of applause and stirring a wave of emotions for him.

Cabrera covered his heart with his cap and looked up at a blue sky.

«You see so many things in this game,» Francona said. «You put a guy out there for a curtain call, and the first ball is hit right to him. Maybe things work out for a reason.»

As Cabrera was taken out of the game, his children came onto the field,