Omar Vizquel and Miguel Cabrera were
the center of attention on the night of October 3, 2012. While it might have
been for very different reasons, they both made the Venezuelan people and
Latino communities all over the world proud.
It is easy to tell that Vizquel
and Cabrera are nothing alike, but they shined on the same day, coincidently. While
Omar Vizquel is super charismatic and talkative, Miguel Cabrera is not a people
person. During his 24 year MLB playing career, Vizquel was a role model on and
off the field, always helpful and understanding with the media and fans…
Parents would want their kids to look up to him. Unfortunately, the same cannot be
said about Cabrera.
Though, what can be said is that
the kid was born to play the game of baseball. Cabrera has not disappointed anyone
on the field since he was a prospect. Throughout his years in the Majors, he
has been a home run and RBI machine, putting unbelievable numbers season after
season.
Off the field, I must admit that
I do not like the guy, but, on the field, he is the best player a team can
have. Cabrera has shown to be a complete player, doing well with his glove, extraordinary
with his bat, and a true team player. Therefore, I am excited that he won the Triple
Crown this season after 45 years without a winner, and I feel proud and blessed
to have witnessed such a historic accomplishment. He totally deserved it! And who
knows? Maybe this is what he needed to start being more matured, responsible
and respectful off the field.
Vizquel, without a doubt, was
also brought into this world to play ‘ball’, as well. Blessed with so much
talent, Omar shared smiles and stories with thousands of people during his baseball career. His sense of
humor and humbleness made it easy for him to be liked and admired by baseball
fans from all over the world. And his mental and physical preparation for the
game, as well as his skills, allowed him to be privileged enough to enjoy and be
one of the few players who ever played the game through four different decades in
the MLB (from 1989 to 2012).
Last night, at the age of 45,
Omar Vizquel played his last baseball game as a player. The great infielder
played shortstop (his routine position in his younger days), wore number 13
(exchanged numbers for a day with Lawrie), threw the ceremonial pitch, made a
catch over the shoulder, hit a single in his last at-bat, and left the game
with a huge standing ovation (well deserved), after being taken out of the game
in the top of the ninth inning with two outs, winning the game 2-1. In a way, the
game reflected a summary of his career: playing shortstop, wearing number 13,
smiling, making great plays, hitting singles and making people proud, happy and
joyful.
In case you are wondering…
- Miguel Cabrera won the AL Triple
Crown after recording an average at-bat of .330, 44 HRs and 139 RBIs.
- Some of Vizquel’s achievements as a
big leaguer are: 11 times golden glove, 3 times selected to the All Star game,
fielding percentage (.985), oldest player to ever player the shortstop position
(45), most number of games played at the shortstop position, least number of
errors at the shortstop position in a season (3), among others.
Congratulations Miguel Cabrera
and Omar Vizquel for your historic accomplishments! The Hall of Fame awaits
you.
- Y gracias por no fumar!
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| Collage of Miguel Cabrera's and Omar Vizquel's historic nights (Own creation). |
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