Cabrera’s first manager recalls his star pupil always being in the middle of things. On Saturday, Cabrera collected hits 3,000-3,002 of his 20-year career 

The very best players make a manager want to change the rules. Specifically, one rule: that pesky requirement for a lineup, which mandates that each hitter take his turn.  

“I wish he could have come to bat every inning,” said Jack McKeon, 91, on the phone this week from his home in North Carolina.  

when his bouncer flummoxed Chicago Cubs shortstop Alex Gonzalez in the fateful sixth game of the 2003 National League Championship Series 

The error helped turn Steve Bartman — a fan who deflected a foul ball down the left-field line earlier in the inning  

On Saturday, with a single against the Colorado Rockies at Comerica Park, he became the 33rd player in major league history with 3,000.

He did most of his damage with the Tigers, who traded six players for him and the left-handed pitcher Dontrelle Willis in December 2007.  

But the deal was a coup for the Tigers, who would win four consecutive division titles and an American League pennant in Cabrera’s prime.