Justin Verlander ended his 21-year major league career in storybook fashion on September 26. His 7-year-old daughter Genevieve sprinted to the mound to hug him during his final start.

The 43-year-old pitched for the Detroit Tigers against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Comerica Park. He had just retired the leadoff batter in the sixth inning when manager A.J. Hinch walked out. Genevieve, wearing a Tigers jersey with her dad’s name and No. 35, ran to the mound and hugged him.

“That completely blindsided me, and it hit me like a ton of bricks,” Verlander said. He was shaking and sobbing as teammates and the crowd gave him a standing ovation. Hinch had planned the surprise with Verlander’s wife, Kate Upton.

Verlander allowed two runs in 5 1/3 innings with six strikeouts. The Tigers rallied for a 4-3 come-from-behind win.

He retires as a 10-time All-Star and three-time Cy Young Award winner, with 266 wins and 3,560 strikeouts. He left the field holding his daughter’s hand.