During the Tigers’ homestand, someone suggested to Magglio Ordonez that it would be fun to end the year at Chicago’s U.S. Cellular Field, his home ballpark for eight seasons.

“Not really,” he said. “I wish it was here.”

Ordonez made four All-Star teams with the White Sox and earned a reputation as one of the American League’s finest hitters. But he signed a $75-million contract with the Tigers following the 2004 season amid questions that his left knee — and career — would never be the same.

He has since grown comfortable in Detroit as the team’s cleanup hitter and top run producer. Now, any uncertainty surrounds more favorable topics, such as which feat — hitting a pennant-clinching home run, playing in the World Series or pursuing a likely batting title — has been the most satisfying part of his post-Chicago career.

• WILL MAGGLIO BEAT ICHIRO? We analyze the batting race