He was one of the most beloved of Detroit's pro athletes before he left.
Now, Justin Verlander is going to be sporting a World Series ring thanks to that trade a couple months ago that sent him to the Houston Astros. The team beat LA in game seven last night to win the series.
Michigan Radio's sports commentator John U. Bacon noticed Detroit fans' reactions on Twitter. For instance:
Congrats, @JustinVerlander, on a well-deserved world championship. The city of Detroit celebrates with you. pic.twitter.com/Mvhi0wppvC
— Detroit Bad Boys ☠ (@detroitbadboys) November 2, 2017
He said the reaction from Detroit fans has been 100% positive.
“Look, he pitched his heart out for many years in Detroit," Bacon said. "Never, ever gave a half-hearted effort. Never complained about the rotten bullpen. Never complained about the occasional spotty hitting. And never complained about being traded either. So, this guy deserves it.”
Listen above for Bacon's full debrief of last night's game, and Verlander's role in it.
(Subscribe to the Stateside podcast on iTunes, Google Play, or with this RSS link)