Justin Verlander's Daughter Pulls Him From Final Game

Tigers great Justin Verlander knew full well that Saturday's game in Detroit against the Pittsburgh Pirates was the final game of his 21-season career. But the way he left the game was a surprise. After a foul pop-up started the sixth inning, Tigers manager AJ Hinch walked out of the dugout toward the plate and pointed toward the seats, the AP reports. Genevieve Verlander, 7, wearing a Tigers jersey with her father's name and number, sprinted to the mound and hugged her father, who reached down to embrace her and started shaking and sobbing.

Hinch joined them about 25 seconds later for another hug, and then Verlander was surrounded by Tigers teammates. The 43-year-old right-hander, a 10-time All-Star and three-time Cy Young Award winner, then left the field for the final time, holding his daughter's hand, as the Comerica Park crowd gave him a standing ovation. His wife, model Kate Upton, holding their 1-year-old son, Bellamy, joined father and daughter for a group hug in front of the Tigers dugout. Verlander high-fived teammates and doffed his cap to the crowd before descending the dugout steps. He had closed the books on a 266-159, 3.33-ERA, 3,560-strikeout career. The Tigers won 4-3.