To the best of my knowledge, Miguel Cabrera is the only ballplayer that has announced that 2023 is his final season. Younger non-Tiger fans probably could care less about Miggy calling it quits. They neither have a personal connection, nor have they seen him at his best.

I have no idea how older Marlin fans feel about him retiring, but I’m sure they’ll remember the part he played in their 2003 World Series. I also know how Cardinal fans felt about Pujols and Molina retiring last year. Thousands of fans bought tickets to say goodbye.

Were there more fans excited about Jordan Walker’s ML debut this season? Are you the fan that prefers saying so long, either at the last game, or merely sometime during that final season?

Because of the worldwide shutdowns of the past 3 years, I think consumers have become more aware of restaurants and stores closing their doors after generations in business. Some like to blame these closures solely on Corona, but thousands across the country closed for other reasons.

How important is it to have that last pop, fried chicken dinner or pizza at your favorite restaurant before the owners bid farewell? Do you get more enjoyment from trying a new place during the opening week? I know thousands of people visited Hot Doug’s ( a venerable encased meats emporium that closed in October, 2014) during the closing weeks, never having been before. That just had to try the joint that everyone was talking about.

Some people believe that one last push will convince the owners that they have to stay open. Sometimes it works. At the time, many of us don’t appreciate how much we will miss a place or a specific dish. I’ve been fortunate that I got to say goodbye to some old favorites and old friends along the way. It seemed that when I was in that world, fewer favorites, were closing as rapidly.

As for locals, I don’t know how many Sox, Hawks, or Bulls fan enjoyed being at the last games at the Stadium or Comiskey Park, or opening up their replacements? Off hand, I can’t think of too many restaurants that have taken the place of iconic joints that I prefer in Greater Chicago.

In the coming week, I hope to close out an old school pizzeria.