What David Ortiz's 2005 era means as Verlander retires
When Justin Verlander debuted in July 2005, David Ortiz was already an American League star in a very different MLB on TV — and as Verlander retires after his 2026 Legend Pick All-Star nod, he warns a looming lockout could derail the viewership boom fans now enjoy. ESPN's look back at his 0-2 July starts frames how much the league has changed since that Independence Day outing in Cleveland.
Key Takeaways
- Verlander went 0-2 across two July 2005 starts, allowing 15 hits and nine earned runs, while Alex Cora went 0-for-2 in his debut.
- At his first All-Star Game at 24, Verlander was too intimidated to speak around Derek Jeter, Ichiro Suzuki, David Ortiz and Alex Rodriguez.
- Verlander announced his 2026 retirement alongside a Legend Pick selection and says he is really worried about a potential work stoppage hurting MLB's TV momentum.
- He still hopes to pitch again for Detroit this season despite hip and hamstring injuries that limited him to one start.
What did MLB look like when Verlander debuted in 2005?
According to ESPN, the 22-year-old right-hander's first major league glimpses looked more like a struggling prospect than a future Hall of Famer. He made two July starts for Detroit, finishing 0-2 with a combined 15 hits and nine earned runs allowed.
One batter he faced that night was future Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora, who went 0-for-2. Elsewhere in 2005, Alex Rodriguez won AL MVP honors with 48 home runs while Albert Pujols took NL MVP. The Chicago White Sox won their first World Series in 88 years, and Houston rode a rotation led by a 42-year-old Roger Clemens and his 1.87 ERA.
Fellow 2005 debutants included Robinson Cano, a 19-year-old Felix Hernandez and Nelson Cruz. Verlander will be the last of that crop still active — while Tigers rookie Kevin McGonigle was still a month shy of his first birthday when Verlander first took the mound.
Where does David Ortiz fit into Verlander's career arc?
Verlander did not face David Ortiz in that Cleveland debut, but the slugger defined the AL star power Verlander soon encountered. Speaking to USA Today at his final All-Star week, Verlander recalled making his first Midsummer Classic at 24 and being too scared to say a peep in the American League clubhouse.
He was intimidated by the sight of Derek Jeter, Ichiro Suzuki, David Ortiz and Alex Rodriguez — legends who represented the league he was still learning to dominate. Two decades later, Verlander is that veteran icon himself, with Bryce Harper and Mike Trout requesting autographed jerseys as his farewell tour unfolds.
Why is Verlander worried about MLB after he retires?
Verlander told USA Today he is really worried about the game because, in his view, MLB is in a great place. Viewership is doing great, fan bases are responding, and he would hate to see a real work stoppage lose momentum. With the collective bargaining agreement expiring Dec. 1, he called this the ideal time to leave on his own terms.
He also defended starter wins as a macro stat, lamented recent early pulls from no-hit bids, and praised the pitch clock for fixing three-hour-forty-minute games. For viewers tracking league headlines, our Streaming & TV Alerts hub follows how broadcast storylines shift when labor news threatens the schedule.
How is Verlander closing his final season?
MLB Trade Rumors reported that Verlander revealed his retirement July 8, 2026, hours after commissioner Rob Manfred named him a Legend Pick for his 10th All-Star Game. He said the game told him it was time after hip and hamstring injuries limited him to one start this year.
Verlander still wants one more Comerica Park outing and dreams of an October run with Detroit. He returns to the IL chapter where it began — the Tigers organization that drafted him second overall in 2004 and gave him that July 4, 2005 debut — closing a career with 266 wins, 3,554 strikeouts, three Cy Young Awards and two World Series rings.