Classic Photos of Miguel Cabrera

Author:
SI Staff
Publish date:
May 21, 2013

Classic Photos of Miguel Cabrera

Miguel Cabrera

<italics>In an effort befitting the 2012 Triple Crown winner, SI.com presents a collection of Miguel Cabrera photos that's triple the number of his No. 24 jersey. As of Aug. 12, Cabrera was leading two of the three categories and second in the other as he threatened to have the best encore season ever by a Triple Crown winner.</italics> Sixteen-year-old Miguel Cabrera of Maracay, Venezuela, looks on during an August 1999 press conference in which it was announced that he had been signed by the Florida Marlins to a Gulf Coast League contract. Cabrera was considered to be the top prospect in Venezuela at the time.

Miguel Cabrera

A youthful Cabrera as a member of the Class A Kane County Cougars during a game against the Lansing Lugnuts in August 2001. Eleven years later Cabrera would become MLB's first Triple Crown winner in 45 years.

Miguel Cabrera

Cabrera made his major league debut in June 2003 and promptly went into the record books as only the third player in MLB history to hit a game-winning homer in his first big-league game. <bold>SI VIDEO: Can Cabrera win Triple Crown for second season in a row?</bold>

Miguel Cabrera

With the 20-year-old Cabrera batting cleanup, the Marlins went on to win the 2003 World Series. In Game 4 of the Fall Classic, he hit a two-run home run (pictured) in his first career at-bat against Roger Clemens, to help propel Florida to a Series-tying victory.

Miguel Cabrera

Cabrera celebrates his first and, to this date, only World Series title.

Miguel Cabrera

Cabrera poses with Kotomituki sumo wrestlers during the fourth game of the exhibition series between MLB and Japanese professional baseball in November 2004 in Japan.

Miguel Cabrera

Cabrera gets an enthusiastic welcome from students during a visit to Wajiro Higashi Elementary in Fukuoka, western Japan.

Miguel Cabrera

Cabrera just misses a ball hit by D'Angelo Jimenez of the Cincinnati Reds in May 2004. He played outfield the entire season that year and made the first of his seven All-Star game appearances.

Miguel Cabrera

Jeff Conine celebrates with Cabrera after hitting a two-run home run against Montreal.

Miguel Cabrera

A corn-rowed Cabrera relaxes before the Marlins took on the Dodgers.

Miguel Cabrera

Cabrera celebrates as fellow Venezuelan Bobby Abreu of the Phillies hit a home run during the Home Run Derby.

Miguel Cabrera

Cabrera breaks his bat during a 2005 game at Dodger Stadium. He hit 33 homers in his second season, making him the youngest player in MLB history with back-to-back 30-HR seasons.

Miguel Cabrera

Cabrera, the captain of the Venezuelan team, and his teammates join his chant as the bases are loaded in the sixth inning against Australia during the inaugural 2006 World Baseball Classic. Venezuela finished seventh.

Miguel Cabrera

Cabrera and Hanley Ramirez misplay a pop up by Jorge Posada during a 2006 game at Yankee Stadium.

Miguel Cabrera

Third base umpire Charlie Relaford ejects Cabrera as he walks off the field with third base coach Bobby Meacham.

Miguel Cabrera

Cabrera was named to the Home Run Derby for the first time and set the early pace with nine homers. He had six in the second round, but it wasn't enough to reach the finals.

Miguel Cabrera

Cabrera sits an ice pack after getting hit by Cardinals pitcher Jason Marquis. Cabrera went into the last day of the regular season contending for the batting title but was edged by Freddy Sanchez of Pittsburgh, .344 to .339.

Miguel Cabrera

Cabrera and pitcher Dontrelle Willis joke in the dugout during a spring training game against St. Louis. The duo was traded to Detroit in December 2007.

Miguel Cabrera

Cabrera sits in the infield after Atlanta pinch-hitter Matt Diaz singled to left, scoring Jeff Francoeur in a 6-5 Braves win. Cabrera committed a career-high 23 errors that season.

Miguel Cabrera

Barry Bonds chats with Cabrera during the sixth inning in the Giants' 3-0 victory at Dolphin Stadium.

Miguel Cabrera

Cabrera celebrates after teammate Josh Willingham hit a three-run home run in the ninth inning to defeat the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Miguel Cabrera

Cabrera smiles and stretches before a spring training game. He had recently finalized an eight-year, $152.3 million deal -- the fourth largest in history at the time, behind only Alex Rodriguez, Derek Jeter and Manny Ramirez.

Miguel Cabrera

Cabrera led the American League in homers in 2008 with 37.

Miguel Cabrera

Cabrera sits in the dugout while outfielder Gary Sheffield practices his swing during a 2008 spring training game against Cleveland.

Miguel Cabrera

Red Sox outfielder Manny Ramirez and Cabrera talk before a game in Detroit.

Miguel Cabrera

Cabrera and David Ortiz chat during a pitching change at Fenway Park. Tie Tigers moved Cabrera to first base that season.

Miguel Cabrera

Ken Griffey Jr. greets Cabrera in center field during warm ups for spring training baseball action in Sarasota.

Miguel Cabrera

Cabrera makes a bare handed pickup and throw during a game against the Twins at Comerica Park.

Miguel Cabrera

Cabrera shatters his bat as he grounds out to third against South Korea during Venezuela's World Baseball Classic game at Dodger Stadium.

Miguel Cabrera

Cabrera gets out of the way of a high fastball in a game against Texas in April 2009.

Miguel Cabrera

First base coach Andy Van Slyke kids around with Cabrera in Oakland. Against the A's, he got the 200th home run in his career while playing in his 1,000th career game.

Miguel Cabrera

Cabrera takes a seat in front of the dugout bench at Comerica Park. He notched 100 RBI for the sixth straight season in 2009.

Miguel Cabrera

Cabrera spits out a drink of water before a game against the A's.

Miguel Cabrera

Cabrera gets ready to bat during the first inning against the Toronto Blue Jays in Detroit. He made his first AL All-Star game in 2010.

Miguel Cabrera

Johnny Damon and Cabrera during a 3-2 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays in St. Petersburg.

Miguel Cabrera

Cabrera gets Kansas City's Chris Getz out as he tries to avoid the tag at first base.

Miguel Cabrera

Cabrera cannot believe his luck during a game against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. A high ankle sprain restricted Cabrera to 150 games that season.

Miguel Cabrera

Cabrera looks on during the second round of the 2010 Home Run Derby.

Miguel Cabrera

Rangers designated hitter Vladimir Guerrero and Cabrera talk during batting practice.

Miguel Cabrera

Cabrera has been known to blow a bubble or two during the season. He also found opposing pitching to his liking in 2011, finishing with his first AL batting crown, thanks to a .344 average.

Miguel Cabrera

Cabrera gets around the tag by Carlos Santana due to the ball not being in the catcher's glove.

Miguel Cabrera

Cabrera, pictured here with manager Jim Leyland, ended a long playoff drought in 2011. Detroit defeated the Yankees in the divisional series and lost to the Rangers in the ALCS.

Miguel Cabrera

Mike Napoli of the Texas Rangers tags out Cabrera during Game 4 of the ALCS.

Miguel Cabrera

Cabrera signs autographs for fans prior to a spring training game against Baltimore in Sarasota.

Miguel Cabrera

Cabrera checks out a photographers' telephoto lens during spring training in Lakeland, Fla.

Miguel Cabrera

Cabrera tosses a ball he signed for fans.

Miguel Cabrera

Cabrera hitches a ride on Prince Fielder after Fielder's two-run homer gave Detroit a 2-1 win over the Twins. Cabrera was moved back to third base that season after the Tigers signed Fielder.

Miguel Cabrera

Cabrera argues with home plate umpire Vic Carapazza. By the end of the season there was no debating Cabrera's prowess. He led the AL in homers (44), RBI (139) and batting average (.330) to become the first batter to win a Triple Crown since Carl Yastrzemski in 1967.

Miguel Cabrera

Cabrera strikes a pensive pose during a September game against the Kansas City Royals.

Miguel Cabrera

Cabrera throws to first during Interleague play against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Miguel Cabrera

Cabrera follows the path of a foul ball against the Kansas City Royals.

Miguel Cabrera

Cabrera tags out New York Yankees' Raul Ibanez on a fielder's choice during an April game at Yankee Stadium.

Miguel Cabrera

Cabrera with one of his children at the 2012 Home Run Derby.

Miguel Cabrera

Prince Fielder is congratulated by Cabrera after hitting a three-run home run against the Minnesota Twins.

Miguel Cabrera

Cabrera and Prince Fielder celebrate a 5-1 win over the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.

Miguel Cabrera

Cabrera and Albert Pujols talk between pitches at Angel Stadium of Anaheim.

Miguel Cabrera

Justin Verlander and Cabrera visit in the dugout.

Miguel Cabrera

Cabrera holds onto Derek Jeter during an August game in Detroit.

Miguel Cabrera

Cabrera missed the ball on this play at third and Ian Kinsler of the Rangers went on to score.

Miguel Cabrera

Cabrera watches the action from the dugout at Rogers Centre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Miguel Cabrera

Cabrera gets to his knees to throw a Colorado runner out at first base after making a diving stop.

Miguel Cabrera

Cabrera reacts to Jhonny Peralta hitting a walk-off two-run home run against the Chicago White Sox.

Miguel Cabrera

Cabrera heads to third base and then home for the winning run in the top of the 12th inning of Game 1 of the ALCS against the Yankees.

Miguel Cabrera

An overjoyed Cabrera shows his emotion during Game 3 of the ALCS.

Miguel Cabrera

Craig Sager interviews Cabrera after Detroit defeated the Yankees 8-1 in Game 4 of the ALCS.

Miguel Cabrera

Cabrera celebrates in the locker room after the Tigers won the ALCS.

Miguel Cabrera

Cabrera smiles at catcher Gerald Laird during a workout in advance of the World Series against San Francisco.

Miguel Cabrera

Cabrera was flanked by Commissioner Bud Selig and Frank Robinson during the Triple Crown Trophy presentation prior to Game 3 of the 2012 World Series.

Miguel Cabrera

Cabrera makes a late throw on a ball hit by San Francisco's Marco Scutaro during Game 4 of the World Series.

Miguel Cabrera

Cabrera and Brandon Crawford of the Giants gaze at first base in Cabrera's unsuccessful attempt to break up a double play during Game 3 of the World Series.

Miguel Cabrera

Cabrera walks away while the San Francisco Giants celebrate after he struck out in the 10th inning to end the title-clinching Game 4 of the World Series.

Miguel Cabrera

Cabrera goofs around during this studio shoot for an SI for Kids cover, a few months after winning the Triple Crown and being named AL MVP over Mike Trout. <bold>SI VIDEO: Can Cabrera win triple crown for second season in a row?</bold>