Mike Ferguson

From The Beatles to the Super Bowl champion New York Jets to the “Miracle Mets,” Shea Stadium had many proud moments in its more than four decades of usage. For fans of the New York Mets, however, the final game played there didn’t yield many fond memories. On this day 15 years ago, the Florida Marlins became the proud owners of the last Shea Stadium victory. The Marlins closed the ballpark and eliminated the Mets from playoff contention with a 4-2 victory. With a record of 89-72, the Mets were tied with the Milwaukee Brewers for the National League Wild Card spot as they were set to take on the Marlins on Sept. 28, 2008. Unfortunately for the Flushing faithful, the Mets never led. For five innings, Florida starter Scott Olsen traded zeroes with New York’s Oliver Perez. In the sixth inning, the teams traded deuces. An RBI single from John Baker and a bases-loaded walk to Josh Willingham gave the Marlins a 2-0 lead, but Carlos Beltran evened things up with a two-run homer in the bottom of the inning. In the top of the eighth, Florida went back in front – and this time, for good. New York reliever Scott Schoeneweis faced just one batter and threw three pitches, but the result was a pinch-hit home run for Wes Helms to put the Marlins ahead 3-2. Luis Ayala relieved Schoeneweis and promptly gave up a solo shot to Dan Uggla as the Marlins doubled the lead to 4-2 with back-to-back blasts. The Mets brought the tying run to the plate in each of the final two innings but couldn’t come up with the big hit. After Florida’s Arthur Rhodes stranded two in the eighth, Matt Lindstrom worked around a two-out walk in the ninth to get Ryan Church to fly out to end the game. With Milwaukee’s win over the Chicago Cubs, the Mets were eliminated from playoff contention. The Marlins went 4-5 at Shea Stadium in 2008 but will forever be the final winner at the world-famous ballpark. The last victory crushed the home team’s postseason hopes on this day 15 years ago. Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images Mike Ferguson is a contributor for Fish on First, who covers Miami Marlins history. Follow Mike on Twitter @MikeWFerguson.

In just their fifth year of existence, the Florida Marlins won the World Series in 1997. On this day 20 years ago, the Marlins clinched a return trip to the postseason. To open the final series of the regular season, the Marlins clinched their second Wild Card berth. Florida held off the New York Mets, 4-3. Against Florida starter Carl Pavano, it was the Mets who struck first at Pro Player Stadium on Sept. 26, 2003. An RBI double from Tony Clark got the scoring started in the top of the first, but that would be short-lived. Derrek Lee drew the Marlins even with an RBI double of his own off Aaron Heilman in the bottom of the inning. In the third, a sacrifice fly from Ivan Rodriguez put the Marlins ahead for good. After Lee doubled the Florida lead to 3-1 with an RBI single in the fifth, Jeff Conine ended Heilman’s night with a solo home run on the first pitch of the bottom of the sixth. The Mets, however, made things interesting in the eighth. Trailing 4-1, the Mets used an RBI single from Mike Piazza and a sacrifice fly from Clark to cut the deficit to 4-3. Pinch runner Prentice Redman stole second base to put the tying run in scoring position, but Chad Fox was able to strike out Timo Perez on a 3-2 pitch to end the threat. In the bottom of the ninth, the Mets used a pair of walks, a stolen base and a wild pitch to put runners in scoring position with two outs against Florida closer Ugueth Urbina. The first pitch to Roger Cedeno was skied to center. Juan Pierre made the catch just shy of the warning track to secure the National League Wild Card spot for the Marlins. Pierre finished 3-for-3 with a run scored in the victory while Lee and Conine each had two hits. Piazza and Joe McEwing added two hits apiece for the Mets in the loss. The Marlins would go on to win the World Series for the second time in 2003. Since then, the franchise has made just one postseason appearance (during the COVID-shortened 2020 season). The only time it ever clinched a playoff berth at home came on this day two decades ago. Photo appeared in Sarasota Herald-Tribune Mike Ferguson is a contributor for Fish on First, who covers Miami Marlins history. Follow Mike on Twitter @MikeWFerguson

For much of the post-All-Star break in 2003, the Florida Marlins were chasing the Philadelphia Phillies for the National League Wild Card spot. After pulling in front, the Marlins made sure they stayed there. On this day 20 years ago, the Marlins rallied for a pivotal win. Florida scored five runs in the seventh to top Philadelphia, 5-4. With just six games to play, the Marlins held a one-game lead over Philadelphia in the postseason race as the teams arrived at Pro Player Stadium on Sept. 23, 2003. At the seventh-inning stretch, Florida was on the short end of a 3-0 score. To that point, the Marlins had managed just four hits off Phillies starter Kevin Millwood. Back-to-back walks to Derrek Lee and Miguel Cabrera to open the bottom of the seventh brought the tying run to the plate. Millwood was able to get Juan Encarnacion to fly out to center, but that would be the final out that he would record. Two pitches later, Millwood served one up to Florida’s Jeff Conine, who deposited the game-tying blast over the “Teal Tower” in left-centerfield. With the score now knotted 3-3, Millwood’s night was done, but the Marlins weren’t. After Mike Williams allowed a single to Alex Gonzalez and walked Brian Banks, Dan Plesac entered the contest and promptly walked Juan Pierre to load the bases. One pitch later, Luis Castillo singled to center to score Gonzalez and put Florida ahead for good. The Marlins extended their lead to 5-3 two pitches later on a sacrifice fly from Ivan Rodriguez. In the top of the eighth, Philadelphia was able to take advantage of a pair of walks to push a run across and put the tying run at third, but Chad Fox was able to strike out Marlon Byrd to end the threat. Ugueth Urbina worked a 1-2-3 ninth to collect the save and secure the win. The Phillies got the scoring started with a two-run double from Jimmy Rollins in the second before adding a run on a Jim Thome RBI single in the third. Pierre, Castillo and Encarnacion each finished with two hits for the Marlins. Florida would go on to sweep the three-game series to eliminate the Phillies from playoff contention. It started the series strong with a big seventh inning on this day two decades ago. Photo by Eliot J. Schechter/Getty Images Mike Ferguson is a contributor for Fish on First, who covers Miami Marlins history. Follow Mike on Twitter @MikeWFerguson

During the 2018 season, the Miami Marlins scored the fewest runs in all of baseball. For the Marlins to win, the pitching staff had to be at the top of its game. On this day five years ago, the staff kept the Cincinnati Reds off the scoreboard, but for nine innings, that wasn’t enough. Isaac Galloway finally broke the scoreless tie with a walk-off RBI double as the Marlins persevered for a 1-0 victory. Wei-Yin Chen, Drew Steckenrider, Adam Conley and Kyle Barraclough had combined to allow just a walk and three hits in 10 innings as Miami came to bat in the bottom of the 10th at Marlins Park on Sept. 21, 2018. To that point, the Marlins had put just two runners in scoring position. Cincinnati reliever David Hernandez opened the inning by striking out Derek Dietrich on a 3-2 pitch. On the very next pitch, however, Brian Anderson doubled down the right-field line to become just the third Miami player to reach scoring position for the night. A 28-year-old rookie, Galloway had just 11 hits to his name as he came to the plate. After working the count full, Galloway took the seventh pitch of the at-bat to right field and off the wall. Anderson scored standing up to give the Marlins the thrilling victory. Over two seasons in Major League Baseball, Galloway recorded just 22 career hits. His lone walk-off broke a scoreless tie in extra innings. It came on this day five years ago. Photo by Eric Espada/Getty Images Mike Ferguson is a contributor for Fish on First, who covers Miami Marlins history. Follow Mike on Twitter @MikeWFerguson

Undoubtedly a first-ballot Hall of Famer, Miguel Cabrera was hitting timely home runs from the moment he made his Major League Baseball debut. On this day 20 years ago, Cabrera hit another clutch home run in extra innings. After the Florida Marlins let a late run slip away, Cabrera made sure the contest didn’t. His solo blast in the 11th lifted Florida past the Atlanta Braves, 6-5. The Marlins appeared on their way to an easy victory at Turner Field on Sept. 20, 2003. As the Braves came to bat in the bottom of the eighth, Florida led 5-1. Atlanta was able to cut the deficit in half in the eighth on a two-run home run from Gary Sheffield off Florida reliever Ugueth Urbina. In the ninth, Javy Lopez cut the lead to 5-4 with a solo home run off closer Braden Looper before Mark DeRosa’s RBI single evened things up. With the score tied 5-5, Will Cunnane worked a 1-2-3 10th for the Braves. In the bottom of the inning, Atlanta loaded the bases with one out, but Marlins pitchers Michael Tejera and Rick Helling used a forceout at the plate and a flyball, respectively, to get out of the jam. Cunnane remained on the mound to work the 11th inning. Waiting for him was Cabrera. After taking the first pitch for a ball, Cabrera was able to get a fastball up and on the inner part of the plate. Cabrera belted the delivery about 10 rows deep into the left-centerfield stands to put Florida ahead once and for all. Helling worked a 1-2-3 bottom half of the inning to secure the win. Prior to Cabrera’s blast, most of the damage for Florida came courtesy of starting pitcher Brad Penny. Penny got the scoring started in the second with a bases-clearing three-run double. Until the eighth, a solo home run from Marcus Giles in the fourth had accounted for the Braves’ only run. Cabrera followed with an RBI single in the fifth to make it 4-1. The Marlins added a run in the seventh on a sacrifice fly by Juan Encarnacion. For Cabrera, the blast off Cunnane would serve as the 12th and final home run of the regular season for the rookie and second game-winner in extra innings. It came on this day two decades ago. Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images Mike Ferguson is a contributor for Fish on First, who covers Miami Marlins history. Follow Mike on Twitter @MikeWFerguson

For the 1998 Florida Marlins, wins were few and far between. The Marlins finished a franchise-worst 54-108, the worst record in baseball. Along the way, however, there were some victories to feel good about. /history/todd-zeile-walk-off-marlins-1998//history/marlins-devil-rays-citrus-series-1998//history/marlins-cardinals-9th-inning-comeback-1998/On this day 25 years ago, Florida scored three runs in the ninth at Shea Stadium to stun the New York Mets, 7-6. After Edgardo Alfonzo’s double pushed the New York lead to 6-4 in the bottom of the eighth, the Marlins came to the plate in the top of the ninth on Sept. 18, 1998, needing two runs to tie. Against closer John Franco, the Marlins pushed across three runs to take the lead. Kevin Orie started the rally with a single to center before Ryan Jackson legged out an infield hit of his own. Luis Castillo struck out on a full count before Mike Redmond’s infield single loaded the bases one pitch later. With just one out, Todd Dunwoody capped a big day at the plate with a game-tying two-run single. Redmond was able to make it to third on the throw home. One pitch later, Edgar Renteria put Florida ahead for good with a sacrifice fly. Matt Mantei worked around a lead-off single to pitch a scoreless ninth and collect the save. Brian Edmonson earned the win. Dunwoody finished 3-for-5 with three RBIs and a pair of runs scored in the victory. Orie also had three hits and two runs scored. Dunwoody, Orie, and Cliff Floyd each hit solo homers for the Marlins in the victory. John Olerud went 3-for-3 with a solo home run for the Mets in the loss. During a season to forget with a young roster, the comeback win would serve as the final road victory of the season for the Marlins. It came courtesy of a three-run ninth inning on this day 25 years ago. Photo courtesy of Getty Images Mike Ferguson is a contributor for Fish on First, who covers Miami Marlins history. Follow Mike on Twitter @MikeWFerguson

Juan Pierre had a solid 14-year career in Major League Baseball, but one might argue that the 2003 season was his best. As a member of the Florida Marlins, Pierre finished 10th in the National League MVP voting and came up with a number of clutch hits. That’s exactly what he did on this day 20 years ago. Pierre’s walk-off single capped the comeback as the Florida Marlins topped the Atlanta Braves, 5-4. Entering the bottom of the eighth at Pro Player Stadium on Sept. 12, 2003, the Marlins were on the short end of a 4-2 score. Facing reliever Jaret Wright, Ivan Rodriguez opened the inning with a double before Jeff Conine walked on the seventh pitch of the at-bat. Juan Encarnación then laid down a sacrifice bunt to move both runners into scoring position. With one out, Florida would bring both home without the luxury of a hit. An RBI groundout by Derrek Lee cut the deficit to 4-3 before Conine scored on a wild pitch uncorked on the first pitch to Miguel Cabrera. After Braden Looper worked a 1-2-3 top of the ninth, Álex González was plunked by Ray King to open the bottom of the inning. Looper stayed in the game and executed a sacrifice bunt. With a runner in scoring position, the stage was set for Pierre. Against lefty Ray King, Pierre took the first pitch for a strike. With the count 0-1, Pierre lined it past Atlanta first baseman Julio Franco and down the right-field line. Gonzalez scored easily to give the Marlins the victory. Atlanta started fast with three runs in the first inning, highlighted by Andruw Jones’ two-run blast. An RBI double by Cabrera got the Marlins on the board in the fourth before Lee lifted a solo home run in the sixth. Gary Sheffield, who got the scoring started with a sacrifice fly in the first, singled home the Braves’ final run of the night in the eighth. Throughout the course of the regular season in 2003, the Marlins won 10 games in walk-off fashion, including three courtesy of Pierre. The final walk-off win of the regular season for Florida came on this day two decades ago. Photo By Eliot J. Schechter/Getty Images Mike Ferguson is a contributor for Fish on First, who covers Miami Marlins history. Follow Mike on Twitter @MikeWFerguson

For the Miami Marlins, José Fernández’s rookie season was something to behold. With a 12-6 record and stellar 2.19 ERA, Fernández was named an All-Star and the 2013 National League Rookie of the Year. On this day 10 years ago, Fernández ended his rookie campaign in grand fashion. Fernández shined on the mound and at the plate in a 5-2 win over the Atlanta Braves. Due to an innings limit, Fernández knew it would be his final start of the season as he arrived at Marlins Park on Sept. 11, 2013. With a lively crowd set to see the Cuban native, Fernández did not disappoint. On the mound, Fernández tossed seven solid innings, allowing just a run on five hits. Fernández was able to work around doubles in each of the first two innings and out of a bases-loaded jam in the fourth. He finished the night with three walks and five strikeouts. Perhaps most memorable, however, was his final at-bat of the season. With the Marlins leading 4-1 in the bottom of the sixth, Fernández took Mike Minor’s 1-0 offering over the wall to left field for his first career home run to extend the lead to four. Fernández took an extra second to admire his blast, which was met with an unpleasant welcome from Atlanta catcher Brian McCann as the Miami pitcher made his way toward home. As the two exchanged words, the benches cleared, but no one was ejected. In what would be his final inning of the year, Fernández worked around a one-out walk to toss a scoreless seventh. Mike Dunn worked a 1-2-3 eighth before Atlanta added a run off Steve Cishek on an RBI double from Elliot Johnson in the ninth. Giancarlo Stanton got the scoring started for the Marlins with an RBI single in the first. After Logan Morrison singled home a run in the fourth, Stanton pushed the lead to 4-0 with a two-run homer in the fifth. Evan Gattis’ solo homer on the first pitch of the sixth got the Braves on the board and served as the lone run off Fernández. Following his rookie season, Fernández had the look of baseball’s next big pitching star. A two-time All-Star, Fernández was among three people to die tragically in a South Florida boating accident in September 2016. His rookie season culminated in memorable fashion on this day a decade ago. Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images Mike Ferguson is a contributor for Fish on First, who covers Miami Marlins history. Follow Mike on Twitter @MikeWFerguson.

For the 2003 Florida Marlins, there was no shortage of heroes as the club overcame a rough start to win its second World Series. On this day 20 years ago, it was an unlikely hero who put the Marlins in the win column. Trailing to start the bottom of the ninth, Brian Banks’ walk-off single capped the comeback. Florida opened a four-game series with a thrilling 3-2 win over the Montreal Expos. The Marlins and Expos were tied with the Philadelphia Phillies for the Wild Card spot in the National League as they began a four-game series at Pro Player Stadium on Aug. 29, 2003. Trailing 2-0 in the bottom of the eighth, an RBI groundout from Ivan “Pudge” Rodriguez put Florida on the board. Against Rocky Biddle in the ninth, the Marlins needed one run to tie or two to win. Juan Encarnación opened the frame with a bloop single to center off Biddle before Derrek Lee drew a four-pitch walk. After a rare sacrifice bunt from Miguel Cabrera put two runners in scoring position, Álex González grounded it sharply to third. A slight bobble from defensive replacement Jamey Carroll proved costly as his throw home was not in time. With one out and two on, manager Jack McKeon went to his bench as Banks got the call. The switch hitter had gone more than a week without a hit and had received just three at-bats over that stretch but took advantage of the opportunity. On a 2-2 pitch from the right-hander Biddle, Banks ripped one to right field and over the head of a leaping Vladimir Guerrero to score Lee for the game-winning hit. Juan Pierre and Luis Castillo each had two hits for the Marlins. Orlando Cabrera finished 3-for-4 for Montreal. Brad Wilkerson, who led off the game with a home run, scored both runs for the Expos in the loss. The Marlins would go on to sweep the four-game series with Montreal with four very competitive wins to take the lead in the National League Wild Card. That series began with a walk-off win, courtesy of Banks, on this day two decades ago. Photo courtesy of Major League Baseball Mike Ferguson is a contributor for Fish on First, who covers Miami Marlins history. Follow Mike on Twitter @MikeWFerguson

For the 1998 Florida Marlins, there were far more moments to forget than remember. On this day 25 years ago, however, the Marlins pulled off a comeback for the ages. Trailing 6-0 after eight innings, Florida rallied to stun the St. Louis Cardinals. After homering four times in the ninth inning, the Marlins scored a run in the 10th to pull off an unthinkable 7-6 victory. With a win seemingly in the bag, the Cardinals turned to John Frascatore for the top of the ninth at Busch Stadium on Aug. 26, 1998. Eight pitches in, the Marlins had cut a six-run deficit in half. Derrek Lee, Cliff Floyd and Kevin Orie opened the inning with back-to-back-to-back home runs. St. Louis then turned to Lance Painter, who got Randy Knorr to ground out before walking Luis Castillo and giving up a single to Dave Berg. With the tying run at the plate, manager Tony La Russa made another pitching change. Jeff Brantley got the call for the Cardinals. On a 2-2 pitch to Mark Kotsay, the pinch-hitting lefty blasted a breaking ball into the bullpen behind the wall in right-centerfield for the game-tying three-run home run. Brantley followed by striking out Álex González and Todd Dunwoody, but the damage was done. After Antonio Alfonseca worked a scoreless ninth, the Marlins came to the plate to face Juan Acevedo in the 10th inning. Lee struck out to begin the inning, but a single from Floyd and an error on St. Louis shortstop Luis Ordaz put two on for Knorr. On a 2-0 pitch, Knorr lined a fastball down the left-field line for an RBI double to give the Marlins their first lead, 7-6. Acevedo would leave a pair of runners in scoring position, but the St. Louis offense could get nothing going in the 10th. Tom Lampkin singled to start the inning, but after Eli Marrero struck out, Pat Kelly grounded into a game-ending double play. Prior to the bottom of the seventh inning, neither team had scored in St. Louis. After pushing a run across in the seventh, the Cardinals appeared to put the game away with five runs in the eighth. Two-run homers from Mark McGwire and John Mabry highlighted the big inning. McGwire, Ron Gant, and Brian Jordan each finished with two hits for St. Louis. Floyd (4) and Orie (2) combined for six of the 10 hits for Florida. Although the 1998 season culminated in a 54-108 record, the six-run ninth inning comeback remains the largest in team history. It came on this day a quarter-century ago. Photo courtesy of Getty Images Mike Ferguson is a contributor for Fish on First, who covers Miami Marlins history. Follow Mike on Twitter @MikeWFerguson

In their inaugural season, the Florida Marlins had one of the worst road records in baseball, finishing just 29-52 away from Joe Robbie Stadium. There were, however, some good moments along the way. One of those came on this day 30 years ago. After being blanked for seven innings, Jeff Conine’s grand slam highlighted a five-run eighth inning as the Marlins rallied past the San Francisco Giants, 5-4. In the opening game of a three-game series at Candlestick Park on Aug. 20, 1993, the Marlins had no answer for San Francisco starting pitcher Bill Swift. As the Giants went to their bullpen in the eighth, however, the Marlins’ bats awakened. The Giants broke a scoreless tie with two runs in the seventh inning. Trailing 2-0 entering the top of the eighth, the Marlins offered a rude welcome to right-hander Michael Jackson. Three straight singles from Chuck Carr, Walt Weiss and Bret Barberie plated a run to cut the deficit in half. After a Gary Sheffield groundout moved two runners into scoring position, the Giants turned to Jeff Brantley. Brantley walked Orestes Destrade to load the bases. After falling behind 2-1 to Conine, the Florida rookie got a pitch he could handle and didn’t miss it. Conine, who hit the first grand slam in Marlins history against the Colorado Rockies on May 1, sent Brantley’s offering over the wall in left field for the second "granny" of his career as Florida took a 5-2 lead. The Giants made things interesting with two runs in the eighth on a home run from Robby Thompson and an RBI single from Matt Williams. Closer Bryan Harvey, however, was able to retire the final five hitters he faced to end the contest. Despite stellar starts from Swift and Florida’s Ryan Bowen, neither factored in the decision. Matt Turner picked up the win for the Marlins. Barberie and Conine each had two hits in the victory. Williams and Barry Bonds each finished with a pair of knocks for San Francisco. A two-time All-Star and two-time world champion, Conine hit 214 home runs over his 17-year career in Major League Baseball, including 120 as a member of the Marlins. Six of his eight career grand slams came in a Marlins uniform, including the one that put Florida ahead for good on this day three decades ago. Photo courtesy of Getty Images Mike Ferguson is a contributor for Fish on First, who covers Miami Marlins history. Follow Mike on Twitter @MikeWFerguson

Walk-off home runs in Major League Baseball are a somewhat regular occurrence. Walk-off home runs in extra innings in consecutive days from non-starters – now, that’s rare. But that’s what the Florida Marlins accomplished on this day 20 years ago. For the second day in a row, the Marlins used a walk-off blast to beat the Los Angeles Dodgers. This time, it was Mike Mordecai who sent the home crowd home happy in a 2-1 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers. After Ramon Castro’s blasted lifted the Marlins to a 13-inning win the night before, the teams arrived at Pro Player Stadium for the third game of a four-game set on Aug. 13, 2003. For eight innings, an RBI single from Juan Pierre in the third had accounted for all of the scoring. Leading 1-0 in the top of the ninth, Florida turned to the usually reliable Ugueth Urbina to close things out. Unfortunately for Urbina, he left with a blown save. After a one-out single from Jeromy Burnitz, Paul Lo Duca doubled home the tying run. The Dodgers put two runners in scoring position with two outs, but the veteran closer was able to avoid further damage. The bullpens traded zeroes for the next two innings before the Dodgers turned to Victor Alvarez in the bottom of the 11th. Alvarez started the inning by walking Luis Castillo, but he was erased when Ivan Rodriguez grounded into a double play. With two outs and nobody on, it was up to Mordecai to keep the contest from heading to the 12th. Mordecai had entered the game as a pinch runner for Mike Lowell in the ninth. On a 2-2 pitch from Alvarez, he left as a hero. On a breaking ball from Alvarez, Mordecai was able to drop the head of the bat and lift it over the wall in left field for a walk-off shot. It was the seventh walk-off home run of the season for the Marlins. In his second season as a member of the Marlins, Mordecai hit two home runs, but both were game-winners in extra innings. Against the Atlanta Braves less than a month earlier, Mordecai came through with a blast in the top of the 12th for a 5-4 win. The only walk-off homer of his career came on his final bomb at Pro Player Stadium on this day two decades ago. Photo by Jon Soohoo/Getty Images Mike Ferguson is a contributor for Fish on First, who covers Miami Marlins history. Follow Mike on Twitter @MikeWFerguson