Caymus Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon: Miguel Cabrera's Retirement Wine

(Updated 5/6/2024)

In the grand finale of Miguel Cabrera's illustrious career, the baseball world was left in awe as he received a bottle of wine with a surprisingly modest price tag.

Miguel Cabrera, a name synonymous with baseball greatness, has enjoyed a storied career that spans decades. Born on April 18, 1983, in Maracay, Venezuela, Cabrera's journey to becoming a baseball legend began at a young age. His natural talent and dedication to the sport quickly set him apart, catching the eye of scouts and earning him a signing with the Florida Marlins (now the Miami Marlins) at just 16 years old.

Throughout his career, Cabrera has consistently showcased his extraordinary skills on the field, becoming one of the most formidable hitters in the history of the game, breaking 3,000 hits last season. He has earned numerous accolades, including multiple All-Star selections, four batting titles, two American League Most Valuable Player (MVP) awards, and a Triple Crown in 2012 – a feat not accomplished in 45 years.

As the 2023 season marks the conclusion of his illustrious career, teams across the league are paying tribute to this baseball legend during his farewell tour. The Oakland Athletics, known for their frugal approach in the world of Major League Baseball, decided to partake in the tributes by splurging on a bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon from Caymus Vineyards that fetches a relatively low price tag for premium Napa Valley Cab's.  Not to mention, adding insult to injury, Cabrera is a recovering alcoholic who has confessed drinking undermined his playing by not being able to properly train for games.  W̶e̶ ̶h̶o̶p̶e̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶A̶'̶s̶ ̶c̶l̶u̶e̶l̶e̶s̶s̶ ̶f̶r̶o̶n̶t̶ ̶o̶f̶f̶i̶c̶e̶ ̶o̶w̶n̶s̶ ̶t̶h̶i̶s̶ ̶e̶p̶i̶c̶ ̶f̶a̶i̶l̶ ̶a̶n̶d̶ ̶d̶o̶e̶s̶ ̶n̶o̶t̶ ̶p̶i̶n̶ ̶i̶t̶ ̶o̶n̶ ̶a̶n̶ ̶i̶n̶n̶o̶c̶e̶n̶t̶ ̶i̶n̶t̶e̶r̶n̶.

The scene is reminiscent of former Washington Commanders' owner Daniel Snyder's tribute to the team's legendary safety Sean Taylor, who was tragically murdered in the prime of his career. Recently, Snyder and his marketing team chose to honor the family of the slain safety in front of the portable toilets in the stadium parking lot. In fairness to Snyder, the event took place during the 2022 season before he sold the team for $6 billion dollars in 2023, so it's plausible that he lacked $21.99 for a custom photography backdrop from Amazon at the time.

But what made the Cabrera gift stand out was how it diverged from the norm of players often being gifted Rolex watches from teams and teammates.   But Cabrera plays for the Tigers so it is likely that his team will be gifting the legend something more befitting of his stature in baseball history.   As for the bottle of Caymus he likely left in the opposing team's dugout after the game, here's hoping it finds its way back to the individual in the Athletics' front office who hatched this brilliance.