Two days after Detroit Tigers pitcher Justin Verlander threw the final pitch of his Hall of Fame career against the Pittsburgh Pirates, the tear-jerking scene at Comerica Park was still a crisp memory to many — including the man on the microphone. Tigers broadcaster Jason Benetti, who will call the Boston Red Sox-New York Yankees MLB wild-card series on NBC/Peacock this week, said he did was unaware of manager A.J. Hinch's plan to have Verlander's daughter, Genevieve, run to the mound to hug her dad during the sixth inning Saturday.
When the mic went silent and the crowd stood to applaud Verlander in Detroit, Benetti's reaction masked the profound thoughts running through his mind. "I don't know that you're going to see anything more emotional than that at a sporting event, in a family sense, in quite some time," Benetti said. The broadcaster said he fell asleep "almost immediately" after returning home from the game, "because it was such an emotionally charged day." More news: 6 World Series Matchups: Conflicts Everyone Can Root For Benetti said he was moved by the thought of a Tigers fan who watched Verlander debut in 2005 as a child, then watched Saturday's game as adults — or parents of newborns 21 years ago watching with their adult children as Verlander hugged his seven-year-old daughter Genevieve on the mound.
"A lot changes in 20 years of our lives," Benetti said. "Life flows, and continues, and never stops." More news: One MLB Team Named a Captain For the First Time in 58 Seasons The final line to Verlander's 557th final regular season start hardly told the story of the moment. He pitched well, allowing only two solo home runs among five hits and one walk against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
The Tigers came back to win the game, 4-3. For anyone in attendance, the outcome of the game was a mere footnote. Verlander announced months ago that he planned to retire after the season, but the script for his exit was a well-kept secret.
"I think it was extraordinarily touching," Benetti said of Verlander's sendoff. For more MLB news, visit Newsweek Sports.
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