“We’re Proud”- Detroit Tigers Send Heartfelt Message To Cameron Maybin On Retirement

For most ballplayers, the hardest thing to do isn’t to play the game. They love that part. It’s when to say goodbye to the diamond. The time came for Cameron Maybin to bid adieu to his playing career as he took to Twitter to announce his retirement. It was a long winding road, but a part of the journey is the end.

Maybin’s finest moment undoubtedly came in 2017 when he was on the World Series winning Houston Astros. Playing out his career as a bit of journeyman, Maybin played for 10 teams in his 15 years in the League. Drafted by the Detroit Tigers, Maybin went to ply his trade across the MLB.

Maybin bids goodbye

The center fielder took to Twitter to announce his retirement aged 34. Stating that he has played the game since he was 4 and that he is extremely thankful for the love and support he has received from his family since.

The center fielder took to thanking all of those that had helped him along on his journey including all the agents, coaches and teammates that had pushed him to do better.

The player even wrote to his former self in his farewell graphic. Thanking the 4-year old ‘Killa Cam’, he wrote, “you did it, man. You never stopped believing in yourself even when others didn’t believe in you.”

Possibly a message there to all the young baseball fans watching his career unfold today.

Cameron Maybin – Journeyman

The Detroit Tigers, who drafted Maybin in the 2007 amateur draft, also made a special note to Maybin on his retirement. Thanking him for his contribution not just to the franchise but also to the game of baseball, the Tigers twitter handle retweeted Cameron’s announcement.

The center fielder has played for a number of franchises but spent his two most significant contributing seasons with the Miami Marlins and the San Diego Padres.

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Boasting a career batting average of 0.254 with 72 homers and 354 RBIs, Maybin has his stats spread wide amongst franchises. Accruing a storied career across the MLB, Maybin was drafted by the Tigers in 2007 but was traded to the Marlins subsequent.

Irregular playing time followed but Maybin really found his footing after the next trade when he was sent to the San Diego Padres. He enjoyed his longest stint with the Padres where he was their chief center fielder and even rewarded with a 5-year $25 Million contract in 2012.

However, he was involved in major trades since that season and has been around the League with several franchises since. These include the Los Angeles Angels, the Seattle Mariners and the New York Mets. His two most stand out seasons after his stint at San Diego possibly came when he won the World Series with the Astros and his resurgent season for the Yankees in 2019.

Maybin has stated that while his playing career has called curtains, he will still be involved with the game in his work with the Players Alliance. His priority will be “to try to provide access and opportunity to the next generation of Black bllplayers”