I've always wanted to play till the wheels fall off."
New York Yankees pitcher Gerrit Cole highlighted Verlander's unique ability to successfully transition across different eras of baseball management styles.
"He certainly kind of figured out how to thrive in two different versions of MLB," Cole said.
"He was right in the thick of the old-school realm and then into the new-school realm."
San Francisco Giants pitcher Logan Webb, who played with Verlander, recalled the veteran's persistent desire to remain on the mound during high pitch-count situations.
"I used to hang out with him, and Justin, when he's in the seventh, he always wants to go back out for the eighth, even if he's at 110 pitches," Webb said.
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With Verlander's retirement, the 300-win club appears closed for the foreseeable future, as no active pitcher is on pace to reach the milestone.
