San Francisco Giants: Superlative Awards for the 2017 Season

Tear-jerker of the Year

Matt Cain‘s Last Weekend

After 13 years and countless memories with the Giants, Matt Cain decided that, rather than test the free agent market and possibly wear another uniform, he would retire as a career Giant. That made the final weekend of the season much more emotional than it should have been.

Cain made his final career start on Saturday, and dug deep into his tank to throw 73 pitches in five shutout innings while giving up only two hits and a walk. When Cain walked off the mound after getting the 15th out, he received one of the loudest ovations a player can receive at AT&T Park. He gave hugs to Bruce Bochy, Dave Righetti (the only pitching coach he’s had in 13 years as a big leaguer), and all his teammates (Joe Panik had visible tears in the dugout) before Bumgarner locked him in a massive bear hug that probably would have broken a normal human being.

And is as tradition, he was Cained. The Giants blew a pair of leads and lost that game. Though Cain won’t be back as a player, that legacy will live on.

Following Sunday’s game, it was a farewell speech from Cain that brought on more waterworks. Posey started things with a speech of his own, and Cain was already misty-eyed from that when he took the mic. By the time he was finished, there wasn’t a dry eye in the house.