Magglio Ordonez officially retires
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Magglio Ordonez, a career .309 hitter over 15 major league seasons with the White Sox and Tigers, officially retired Sunday in a ceremony before Detroit's game with the Yankees.
The festivities included a video tribute and an on-field ceremony for Ordonez, who played for the Tigers from 2005-11 after spending eight seasons with the White Sox.
Dan Dickerson, the Tigers radio broadcaster, served as emcee and said Ordonez "represented a huge part of the baseball renaissance that has taken place here in Detroit."
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}"His clutch hitting, solid defense, combined with a quiet workmanlike attitude -- and you have to mention the hair, the hair -- quickly endeared him to Tigers fans who were just dying for a winner here in Detroit," said Dickerson.
He mentioned Ordonez's signature moment in a Detroit uniform, the walk-off three-run homer that won Game 4 of the 2006 ALCS against Oakland and sent the Tigers to the World Series for the first time since 1984.
A replay of the homer showed during the video tribute and Ordonez walked onto the Comerica Park field shortly thereafter, clad in a suit and tie and wearing large black sunglasses.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Tigers owner Mike Ilitch helped unveil a painting showing Ordonez, with a fist raised in the air, starting his home run trot from his Game 4 walk-off.
Ordonez said it was an honor and a privilege to retire as a Tiger and thanked the organization and fans for their support.
"They are the greatest fans in the world," he said. "I won't ever forget this city."
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Ordonez spent the first eight years of his career with the White Sox and hit .307 with 187 homers and 703 RBI. He signed a five-year, $85 million contract with the Tigers prior to the 2005 season.
The six-time All Star was hampered by a sports hernia injury in 2005, but responded by hitting .298 with 24 homers and 104 RBI in 2006.
The Venezuelan-born outfielder batted .363 in 2007 to win the AL batting title -- the first Tiger to do so since Norm Cash in 1961.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Ordonez, 38, finished his career with 2,156 hits, 294 homers and 1,236 RBI.