Umpire Laz Diaz calls out 'nasty' MLB climate as he ends storied career | Exclusive

Now, 31 years later, with Tiger Stadium long gone, Diaz will be back in Detroit, this time at Comerica Park, where he is scheduled to be the home-plate umpire Saturday, Sept. 26, when future Hall of Famer Justin Verlander makes his final appearance.

Diaz, who was also the home-plate umpire in Verlander's first postseason game in 2006 at Yankee Stadium – a 4-3 victory in the AL Division Series – now is calling it a career, too.

Diaz, 63, only the second Latino crew chief in MLB history and a former Marine Corps reserve, is umpiring his final regular-season game Sunday, Sept. 27. He and six other veteran umpires have taken the buyouts and will say good-bye to a game that has dramatically changed.