Justin Verlander bids farewell to Hall of Fame career with final Tigers start — with help from his daughter

For the 595th and final time, Justin Verlander toed a major-league mound Saturday afternoon. The future first-ballot Hall of Famer, returning from the hip and hamstring injuries that had kept him on the shelf since March 30, made a farewell appearance with the Tigers, the team that originally drafted him back in 2004, at Comerica Park in Detroit.

"We've been through a lot over the years," Verlander said to Tigers fan during a pregame ceremony on Friday (via MLB.com). "Your love and support has meant the world to me. That love and support has solidified for me that I am, and always will be, a Detroit Tiger."

Verlander was cheered while warming up in the bullpen, when he walked across the field to the dugout, and again when he took the mound for the first inning. He threw a first-pitch fastball — 92 mph — that Pittsburgh Pirates slugger Ryan O'Hearn fouled off to begin the game. O'Hearn, Brandon Lowe, and Bryan Reynolds all hit routine popups/fly balls in a 13-pitch 1-2-3 first inning.

For the first time in 3,324 days, Justin Verlander takes the mound at Comerica Park 🐐 pic.twitter.com/PMbVtEApyG

"There's no script. I want to go as long…

Original source: https://www.cbssports.com/