Tribute to Jose Fernandez
Can't imagine what the players and fans were going through. I'm a Tigers fan and didn't know much about Jose Fernandez other than he was a great young pitcher with an amazing future. The tribute with the trumpet playing Take Me Out to the Ball Game with a slide show of Jose's life was very sad but very moving. Another reminder that sports is sports and life is fragile.
September 26th, 2016 at 8:56 PM ^
And Dee Gordon homers in the first at bat of the game for the Marlins. What a beautiful moment in remembrance of a special man.
September 26th, 2016 at 8:57 PM ^
Opposite handed too.
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September 26th, 2016 at 9:18 PM ^
He bats lefty. He batted right handed and imitated Fernandez batting stance for the first pitch before moving over to the left side. Still was an incredible moment though. I just found out earlier Fernandez was about to be a father, which is even more heartbreaking than the story already was.
September 26th, 2016 at 8:59 PM ^
See Gordon crying as he crossed home plate. Can't imagine the emotions playing tonight.
September 26th, 2016 at 9:00 PM ^
Very moving. Got me all shook up.
September 26th, 2016 at 9:06 PM ^
I didn't realize until earlier today when someone pointed it out to me that Jose Fernandez was the pitcher in the "did you catch that?" gif.
September 26th, 2016 at 9:22 PM ^
I watched the beginning of the game live. I cried. A lot.
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September 26th, 2016 at 9:24 PM ^
Lot of dust out there tonight.
September 26th, 2016 at 9:28 PM ^
I'm not an emotional person but that home run by Gordon in the 1st made me tear up a bit. Surreal moment right there.
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September 26th, 2016 at 10:28 PM ^
Even more powerful that Dee Gordon of all people led the game off with a home run. The guy has 9 career home runs in 2296 plate appearances.
September 26th, 2016 at 10:40 PM ^
That version of Take Me Out to the Ballgame was chilling. The whole situation has been so sad, but Gordon's HR was an amazingly moving moment.
September 26th, 2016 at 10:52 PM ^
I saw the start of the game and could swear that someone was cutting onions - very moving tribute for a very tragic loss. I also loved that the Marlins decided to retire his number, which I thought was a great and moving gesture in itself. The Dee Gordon homerun made me tear up a bit too. Great baseball moment.
September 26th, 2016 at 11:06 PM ^
but what happened next just literally brought me to tears.
Immediately upon winning, the entire Marlins team consoled each other on the field rather than celebrating, but then one-by-one and in small groups, they gravitated to the pitcher's mound, eventually locking arms and completely encircling the mound, at which time a couple of players spoke to the entire group, followed by a prayer. Upon finishing the team prayer one of the players stepped forward and placed his cap on the mound and the entire team followed suit, several of them kneeling and crying, tracing their fingers across the dirt on the mound. Slowly the team headed back to the clubhouse, leaving a pile of Marlin's caps on the very mound Jose Fernandez used to own.
.
.
.
I cried like a baby...
September 26th, 2016 at 11:43 PM ^
Watching that hit and the entire team's emotions after, woof. Not ashamed to say a few tears were shed by me as well.
September 27th, 2016 at 12:35 AM ^
Not sure if it's me getting older or because I have kids now but moments like this hit me harder than ever. I heard someone repeat the line "baseball is a boys game played by men" followed by Dee Gordon's Homer....thats powerful
September 27th, 2016 at 2:12 AM ^
That was amazing, what a tribute.
September 27th, 2016 at 6:25 AM ^
Thanks for the post and embeds. I don't watch SC as much as I used to, so the moment was almost lost to me. It sucks that moments like these happen, but they sure are special.
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September 27th, 2016 at 8:28 AM ^
was well done. I am so sorry that the game has lost such a perfect representative of the joy of a boy's dreams.
September 27th, 2016 at 8:54 AM ^
So much for "There's no crying in baseball."
September 27th, 2016 at 10:43 AM ^
I don't even follow baseball and am generally a cold unfeeling robot but Dee Gordon HRing in the first at-bat of that game... is just wow. How do you even show up for that game in such circumstances? There's no way I could've done that (even leaving aside my complete lack of athleticism)
September 27th, 2016 at 3:05 PM ^
Colon threw him a BP fastball.
85 right down the chute
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September 27th, 2016 at 12:50 PM ^
Watched the first press conference before (live in fort Lauderdale) on channel 10 and dont undesrtand why they do press conferences before they have any correct info. The police chief said Jose was not driving the boat and that it wasn't his boat. what? How in the world would be able to ascertain who was driving the boat? I just think its disrespectful to do a press conference before they know all the facts. As it turns out it was his boat and he was probably driving it. It seemed like the police chief wanted everyone to know he personally knew Jose.
Here's hoping all the families involved the best.Sorry for your loss.