Yesterday the Brandon Inge era in Detroit came to an end yesterday.  The Tigers finally released him.  There was really no place for him on the team.  His hitting and defense was poor.

There’s no doubt that he was a polarizing player.  While many people despised Inge, others loved him.  To me his career as a Tiger was filled with peaks and valleys.  Most people will choose to reside in one or the other. I was somewhere in the middle. Because I don’t have a favorite ballplayer, I try to see things objectively.  There are times I love a player and times I don’t.  Inge was one of those for me.

Over the years he played all over the field.  He had a canon for a catcher, and played a quality third base.  In my opinion his athleticism kept him on the team and on the field.  For the most part his defense was pretty solid.  His hitting was iffy.  I could go on about the hitting and strike outs and whatnot, but I won’t.  The numbers speak for themselves.

Here’s just a couple of memories from me.

In April 2001 I got my very first baseball autograph, and it came from Brandon Inge.  It was the day after opening day.  My Dad and I went to Comerica Park early and caught the end of BP.  After that Inge came out and posed for a professional photographer.  I remember people saying, “Who’s that guy”?  I knew who he was, but many didn’t.  After that was over he came over into the camera well and signed for many people, including me.  This was just before his second-ever Major League game.  That was awesome for me.  I still have that ball.

I voted for the whole “Bran-Torino” thing in 2009 to get Inge in the All-Star game in 2009.  It was a bummer that he whiffed in the Home Run Derby.  Afterward I bought an Inge All-Star game t-shirt to commemorate all of my hard work in voting.

In 2010 the Whitecaps had a Brandon Inge bobblehead giveaway on a wet rainy night in April.  I remember that well because I made a lady mad when I tried to cut in line.

I was also at Fifth Third Ballpark in 2010 when he came back “home” and made a rehab start with the Whitecaps.  He’s a was a ‘Cap in 1999 and people still speak of him fondly.

All in all it was a move that the Tigers had to make.  It is a business.  Nearly every baseball player will have deal with such a day.  It’s rare to go out on top.

Good luck Brandon.  Thank you for all you’ve done for the Tigers.