To mark the Florida Marlins
Get your Marlins Tickets now!‘ final season at Sun Life Stadium, beat writer Juan C. Rodruiguez looks at the best and worst baseball moments in the Marlins 18 seasons there. Events are listed chronilogically.
April 1, 1997: A U.S. Navy SEAL dressed as Billy the Marlin was supposed to parachute into the stadium. He lost the head on his way down and landed outside the stadium. The head was found close to the Turnpike two months later.
March 31, 1998: In a bittersweet ceremony, the Marlins unveiled their World Series banner with several key members of the 1997 club playing elsewhere. Moises Alou, Devon White, Robb Nen, Jeff Conine and Kevin Brown all were traded as part of an offseason firesale.
Aug. 3, 1998: A C.J. Nitkowski pitch hits infielder Craig Counsell on the right side of the face. He sustained a fractured jaw and missed the rest of the season.
April 8, 2002: The concessions stand run out of hot dogs during the home opener against the Expos. Only 23,877 were in attendance.
Aug. 27, 2003: The Marlins lose the longest game in franchise history (20 innings) to the Cardinals. Carl Pavano, who was scheduled to start the next day in Arizona, took the loss.
Nov. 22, 2005: In a press conference at the stadium, the Marlins announced they had requested and received permission from Major League Baseball to explore relocation after failed efforts to secure funding for a new baseball-only stadium.
Aug. 6, 2006: Sitting adjacent the Marlins dugout, owner Jeffrey Loria was yelling at home plate umpire Larry Vanover. Loria took offense to manager Joe Girardi and bench coach Gary Tuck telling him to pipe down. After the game, Loria had to be dissuaded from firing Girardi.
May 17, 2010: Manager Fredi Gonzalez benched All-Star shortstop Hanley Ramirez after he kicked a ball into the outfield and jogged after it. The next day, Ramirez made disparaging remarks about Gonzalez and his teammates for which he would ultimately apologize.
June 19, 2010: Players and umpires were forced to wear earplugs when the Marlins gave away vuvuzelas. The noise may have contributed to a miscommunication between Fredi Gonzalez and home plate umpire Lance Barksdale on a lineup change. The Marlins were cited were hitting out of order and Gonzalez was ejected.
Sept. 5, 2010: Future Hall of Fame manager Bobby Cox works his last game at Sun Life Stadium with no recognition from the Marlins. They were holding a grudge for Cox’s criticism of owner Jeffrey Loria for firing Fredi Gonzalez.