Mike Ferguson

The legendary Ivan “Pudge” Rodriguez’s lone season with the Florida Marlins was one to remember. Rodriguez hit .297 with 16 home runs and 85 RBIs as the club won its second World Series, but he wasn’t the only Marlins catcher to have a solid year at the plate. Ramón Castro batted a career-best .283 with five home runs in 40 games for the Marlins that season. On this day 20 years, Castro played the role of hero with a walk-off home run in the 13th inning in a 5-4 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers. Neither team had scored since the fifth inning and the bullpens did a great job of keeping it that way as the Marlins came to the plate in the bottom of the 13th on Aug. 12, 2003, at Pro Player Stadium. In his second inning of work, Los Angeles’ Paul Shuey opened the frame by retiring Mike Lowell and Juan Encarnación. After entering the game in the 11th and striking out in his first at-bat, Castro got another opportunity. After getting ahead in the count 2-0, Castro got a pitch that drifted into his wheelhouse. Castro’s shot landed in the seats above the “teal tower” in left field for the walk-off home run. Prior to Castro’s blast, the Marlins never led in the contest. The Dodgers scored runs in four straight innings from the second through the fifth. Florida tied the game with two runs in the third before doing likewise with runs in the fourth and fifth. Jeromy Burnitz homered and drove in two runs for the Dodgers while catcher Paul Lo Duca finished with three hits, a run scored, and an RBI. Luis Castillo finished 3-for-6 with a pair of runs for the Marlins. Shortstop Álex González had two hits, a run and an RBI. Lowell plated two runs with a single in the third. As for Rodriguez, he was ejected in the fifth inning as Los Angeles’ Paul Lo Duca was called safe on a close play at home plate. That may have cost the Marlins as Mike Redmond, his slower replacement, was thrown out at the plate while trying to score on an RBI double from Encarnacion a half-inning later. In the end, it was the third catcher to see action for the Marlins who ended the contest. In 13 total seasons with the Marlins, New York Mets and Chicago White Sox, Castro hit 67 career home runs. His lone walk-off bomb came in the 13th inning and 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

Despite making appearances in games in each of the Florida Marlins’ first five seasons, catcher Bob Natal appeared in just 115 contests as a member of the club. His biggest moment, however, may have come on this day 30 years ago. Against the Chicago Cubs, Natal tripled home the winning run in the 15th inning to give the Marlins a thrilling 3-2 victory. Matt Turner, Rich Rodriguez and Luis Aquino combined to hold the Cubs without a hit in extra innings at Joe Robbie Stadium on Aug. 10, 1993. The problem for the Marlins was they couldn’t find a way to score. After a 10-pitch top of the 15th from Aquino, the Marlins opened the bottom of the 15th with consecutive groundouts from Henry Cotto and Aquino. Following a walk to Walt Weiss, Natal stepped in to face Shawn Boskie. To that point in his career, Natal had just one extra-base hit to his name. He took the first offering he saw from Boskie and sliced it into the right-field corner. With Weiss going on contact, he was able to slide in and beat the throw home to score the winning run on Natal’s first career triple. After five scoreless innings, the Cubs broke through on a two-run home run from Steve Lake in the top of the sixth off Chris Hammond. The Marlins got on the board and chased Chicago starter Mike Morgan in the bottom of the eighth on Jeff Conine’s RBI single to center. A sacrifice fly from Cotto later in the inning tied the contest. Rey Sanchez finished with two of the four hits for the Cubs in the loss. Chuck Carr had three hits for Florida while Conine and Natal each added two. Over six total seasons in Major League Baseball, Natal never played in more than 44 games and recorded just 57 hits for his career. His lone walk-off hit was a triple to end what, at the time, was the longest game in franchise history in terms of innings. It came on this day three decades ago. Photo courtesy of Topps Trading Cards Mike Ferguson is a contributor for Fish on First, who covers Miami Marlins history. Follow Mike on Twitter @MikeWFerguson

For a first-year franchise, the Florida Marlins surprised a lot of people with their competitiveness over the first three months of the season. In early July, the Marlins were 36-42, but proceeded to drop 18 of their next 25 games. On this day 30 years ago, however, the Marlins started August on the right foot with a thrilling victory. Chuck Carr plated the winning run in the ninth inning with a well-executed drag bunt in a 5-4 win over the Montreal Expos. The Marlins were trying to avoid a three-game sweep as the teams met for the series finale at Olympic Stadium on Aug. 1, 1993. After losing in heartbreaking fashion the day prior, Florida made sure the roles were reversed. With the score tied 4-4 in the top of the ninth, Darrell Whitmore sparked the Marlins with a lead-off double off Brian Barnes. As Montreal turned to Jeff Shaw, Bob Natal sacrificed Whitmore over to third. Shaw, however, was able to get Walt Weiss to ground out without the run scoring, forcing Florida to get a hit to take the lead. On a 1-1 pitch from Shaw, Carr was able to place a drag bunt perfectly between second baseman Delino DeShields and first baseman Derrick White. With no one covering the base, Carr used his blazing speed to pick up the RBI single without a throw. Bryan Harvey ultimately closed out the game by working a 1-2-3 bottom of the ninth. Matt Turner threw just two pitches in the eighth but picked up the win for the Marlins. The Marlins started strong with a run in the first on an RBI single from Jeff Conine. Florida added two in the fourth on a single from Orestes Destrade and a fielder’s choice off the bat of Alex Arias. Montreal broke up the shutout and took the lead with four unearned runs in the fifth inning. After a throwing error from third baseman Gary Sheffield allowed the first Expos run to score, Larry Walker came through with a bases-clearing double. Florida opened the sixth with five straight hits but managed just one run on a game-tying RBI single from Whitmore. Despite not taking the lead for good until their final at-bat, the Marlins outhit the Expos, 12-5. Conine finished with three hits while Carr, Sheffield, Destrade and Whitmore each added two. Catcher Darrin Fletcher had two of the five hits for Montreal. Carr was responsible for a lot of firsts in Marlins history. He was their first stolen base king and hit the first walk-off home run in club history. Carr gave the Marlins their first comeback win at Olympic Stadium on this day three decades ago. Photo by George Gojkovich/Getty Images Mike Ferguson is a contributor for Fish on First, who covers Miami Marlins history. Follow Mike on Twitter @MikeWFerguson

Although the Florida Marlins finished 5.5 games out in the National League Wild Card race, the 2008 season was one to remember. That year, the Marlins proved they were never out of game and were among the league’s leaders with 11 walk-off wins. On this day 15 years ago, however, the Marlins started their comeback a little bit early. Florida scored five runs in the eighth to rally past the New York Mets, 7-3. An RBI groundout from New York infielder Fernando Tatís had just broken a 2-2 tie as the Marlins came to bat in the bottom of the eighth at Dolphin Stadium on July 28, 2008. As the Mets turned to right-hander Joe Smith, the Marlins turned into an offensive juggernaut. Smith faced just two hitters but left with a blown save and ultimately, the loss. After Josh Willingham doubled to open the inning, Dan Uggla singled him home to tie the game at 3. Scott Schoeneweis tried to quiet the Florida bats but did not fare much better. Against Schoeneweis, the Marlins put together three more hits in a row. Following a single from Wes Helms that put runners on the corners, Cody Ross’ RBI single put the Marlins ahead for good, 4-3. A bunt single from catcher John Baker then loaded the bases. Despite five straight hits, Schoeneweis had a chance to get out of the jam with just a one-run deficit after getting Alfredo Amezaga to line out and Hanley Ramírez to strike out. Ahead in the count to Robert Andino, Schoeneweis then uncorked a wild pitch that allowed Helms to score. On the very next pitch, Andino doubled to center, pushing home two more runs to double the lead to 7-3. Kevin Gregg retired the side in order to complete the victory for Florida. Doug Waechter, who allowed the go-ahead run in the eight, picked up the win for the Marlins. It was the Mets who got the scoring started with two runs in the second on an RBI triple from Tatis and an RBI single from Damion Easley. Baker’s solo home run off John Maine to lead off the bottom of the fifth got the Marlins on the scoreboard. Florida tied the game on an RBI single from Ross the following inning. As the trade deadline approached, the victory served as a big one for the Marlins, who moved to within a game of the Mets in the National League East. The victory came courtesy of a big eighth inning and on this day 15 years ago. Photo by Joe Rimkus Jr./Miami Herald/Tribune News Service via Getty Images Mike Ferguson is a contributor for Fish on First, who covers Miami Marlins history. Follow Mike on Twitter @MikeWFerguson

The Florida Marlins’ run over the last 100-plus games of the 2003 regular season was nothing short of remarkable. After a 19-29 start, the Marlins finished 72-42 over their final 114 games. Florida didn’t take sole possession of the lead for the National League Wild Card until Sept. 3. On this day 20 years ago, they completed a three-game sweep of the Philadelphia Phillies to make up some major ground with a 7-6 walk-off hit from Juan Pierre. After beginning the three-game set five games back of the Phillies, the Marlins arrived at Pro Player Stadium on July 27, 2003, looking to make the deficit just two. The Marlins used big eighth innings in each of the previous two days to collect victories, but the series finale wouldn’t come easy. The Marlins pushed runs across in each of the first two innings, but the Phillies answered with back-to-back three-run innings in the third and fourth. Florida regained the lead with a two-run home run from Mike Lowell in the third to go up 4-3. After the Phillies went ahead 6-4 in the top of the fourth, the Marlins drew even in the bottom of the inning with an RBI double from Ramon Castro and an RBI triple from Luis Castillo. Following four straight scoreless innings, Ugueth Urbina worked a scoreless ninth to give Florida the opportunity to walk it off in the bottom of the inning. Against Mike Williams, who struggled against the Marlins in the series opener, they would do just that. Williams was able to strike out Derrek Lee and Alex Gonzalez, but in between those two Ks was a one-out double from Miguel Cabrera. Pinch hitter Todd Hollandsworth then drew a walk to set the stage for Pierre. Already with two hits for the day, Pierre had been thrown out at the plate the inning before. But on a 1-1 pitch, the Florida lead-off man made that inconsequential as he flared one to left. With Cabrera running on contact, he scored easily to give the Marlins the walk-off victory. The Marlins finished with 15 hits on the day with Lowell, Pierre and Gonzalez each recording three. Jimmy Rollins finished 3-for-4 with an RBI for the Phillies. The Marlins wound up finishing five games better than Philadelphia for the National League Wild Card and a big reason why was how they fared head-to-head. Florida went 13-6 against the Phillies that year and won 12 of the final 14 meetings. The lone walk-off win over the Phillies from that season completed a three-game sweep 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

Ten games under .500 at one point in the season, the Florida Marlins’ run to the 2003 World Series was one of the most improbable ones in recent history. During the postseason, the Marlins took down the San Francisco Giants, Chicago Cubs and New York Yankees. To get to the playoffs, however, the Marlins had to overtake the Philadelphia Phillies in the National League Wild Card race. On this day 20 years ago, the Marlins mounted a memorable rally to top Philadelphia. Florida scored eight runs in the eighth inning to rally for an 11-5 win. What had been a 3-0 lead had become a 4-3 deficit for the Marlins at Pro Player Stadium on July 25, 2003. Placido Polanco’s three-run blast in the seventh inning had put the Phillies on top. As the contest shifted to the bottom of the eighth, Philadelphia turned to right-hander Mike Williams. Florida was able to take the lead before it even registered a hit in the inning. Three walks and an error allowed the Marlins to tie the game as Mike Lowell drew a free pass with one out and the bases loaded. That ended Williams’ day, but Carlos Silva fared no better for the Phillies. After a four-pitch walk to Juan Encarnación pushed home the go-ahead run, a wild pitch allowed Ivan Rodriguez to score to extend the lead to 6-4. The Marlins then followed four straight walks with four straight hits. Miguel Cabrera’s single to centerfield plated two runs and served as Florida’s first hit of the inning. Álex González followed with an RBI double to push the lead to 9-4. Todd Hollandsworth, who walked to open the inning, followed with an RBI single. Gonzalez was thrown out at home for the second out, but the Marlins weren’t finished. Juan Pierre capped the eight-run frame with an RBI single of his own. Trailing 11-4 to start the ninth inning, Polanco plated another run with a sacrifice fly, but it made little difference. The only other Philadelphia run came on a solo homer from Marlon Byrd to open the seventh. Derrek Lee finished 3-for-3 in the victory and got the scoring started with a solo home run in the second. The Marlins would add two more runs in the inning on an RBI double from pitcher Dontrelle Willis and a sacrifice fly from Pierre. Pierre, Cabrera and Gonzalez each finished with two hits. Ugueth Urbina picked up the win. With the victory, the Marlins moved to within four games of the Phillies in the Wild Card. They wound up finishing five games better. The Marlins would famously score eight runs in the eighth inning of Game 6 of the National League Championship Series at Wrigley Field. That, however, wasn’t the Fish’s only eight-run eighth that year. The first one came at home in a pivotal game for Wild Card position and on this day two 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

Mike Mordecai never emerged as a household name or even an everyday starter over the course of his 12-year career in Major League Baseball. Nevertheless, Mordecai was a member of championship teams for the Atlanta Braves and Florida Marlins. Mordecai was primarily as a reserve during the Marlins’ championship run in 2003. Despite that, he had plenty of big moments, including one that took place on this day 20 years ago. Mordecai’s home run in the 12th inning lifted Florida past his former team, 5-4. Against the Atlanta Braves at Turner Field on July 23, 2003, the Marlins were on the verge of taking the first game of a two-game set. As the contest shifted to the bottom of the ninth, Florida enjoyed a 4-1 lead. The Marlins turned to closer Braden Looper, who immediately ran into trouble. After a four-pitch walk to Andruw Jones and a single by Javier López, Looper surrendered a two-run triple to Julio Franco that cut the lead to one. Looper was able to get Vinny Castilla to ground out for the first out of the inning, but Robert Fick followed with a game-tying RBI single. Now 4-4, Looper kept the game tied by retiring Rafael Furcal and Marcus Giles, but Atlanta had momentum and new life. Looper bounced back to strike out the side in the 10th before Nate Bump worked a 1-2-3 11th inning. In the 12th against Atlanta reliever Trey Hodges, Florida didn’t appear on the verge of mounting any threat. Hodges was able to get Luis Castillo and Ivan Rodriguez to ground out to start the inning. With two outs and nobody on, Mordecai came to the plate for the first time. Having entered the game to pinch run following a Mike Lowell single in the 10th, Mordecai was able to work the count to 3-1. On an inside fastball, Mordecai pulled one deep to left field. His shot landed in the front row for the go-ahead home run. Bump worked another perfect inning to seal the win. The Marlins got the scoring started with two runs in the fourth before pushing the lead to 3-0 on an Álex González double in the seventh. Lowell’s RBI single in the eighth extended Florida’s advantage to 4-0. Gary Sheffield singled home Atlanta’s first run in the bottom of the inning. Castillo and Lowell each finished with three hits in the win. Castillo scored twice, but the story for the Marlins was Mordecai. The game-winning blast would serve as his first home run in nearly two years and one of just three that he would hit in four seasons as a member of the Marlins. It came on this day two decades ago. Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images Mike Ferguson is a contributor for Fish on First, who covers Miami Marlins history. Follow Mike on Twitter @MikeWFerguson

As the Miami Marlins get set for what could be a huge second half of 2023, they now know what the slate for 2024 will look like. Major League Baseball released next season's schedules on Thursday. Miami will open at home on March 28, 2024, against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Click here for the Marlins' full 2024 schedule. Opening Day next season will mark the first time since 1996 that the Marlins and Pirates have opened against one another. That year, the Marlins wasted a gem of a start in Kevin Brown's franchise debut as Pittsburgh won 4-0 before taking two of three at Joe Robbie Stadium. While the Marlins and Pirates will square off to open the season for the first time in 28 years, there are four National League opponents that Miami has never kicked off the year against. Here's a look below: Arizona Diamondbacks One of Major League Baseball's newest franchises, the Arizona Diamondbacks have never began their season in South Florida and the Marlins have never began theirs in the desert. It is worth noting that Arizona's first-ever series victory came over the then Florida Marlins in April 1998. The Diamondbacks took three of four from the Marlins at what was then Bank One Ballpark. Arizona scored a total of 29 runs in the three wins. Cincinnati Reds The Cincinnati Reds are one of four teams that the Marlins have never opened the year against, but the opposite is not true. In 2012, Cincinnati opened the year at home against the Marlins, but Miami actually kicked off its season a day earlier as it fell to the St. Louis Cardinals in the first-ever game at Marlins Park. The Reds won their 2012 opener over the Marlins 4-0 behind seven shutout innings of three-hit ball from...wait for it...current Marlins pitcher Johnny Cueto. Milwaukee Brewers The Milwaukee Brewers didn't rejoin the National League until 1998, but their first four-game set upon returning came against the Florida Marlins. At Pro Player Stadium, the Brewers swept the series. In the series opener, Milwaukee's Jose Valentin had the first-ever three-homer game against the Marlins. San Diego Padres The final team to make the list, the San Diego Padres have never been the season-opening opponent for the Marlins. San Diego, however, was the second-ever opponent for the then Florida Marlins. After dropping two of three to the Los Angeles Dodgers to begin the franchise in 1993, the Marlins dropped two of three against the Padres. Charlie Hough, a 45-year-old knuckleballer at the time, picked up each of the first two wins in Marlins history. Bryan Harvey saved each of the first two. Mike Ferguson is a contributor for Fish on First, who covers Miami Marlins history. Follow Mike on Twitter @MikeWFerguson

Another All-Star Game is in the books. On Tuesday night, the National League defeated the American League in Seattle, 3-2. On this day 30 years ago, the Florida Marlins were represented in the Midsummer Classic for the first time. Gary Sheffield and Bryan Harvey did the franchise proud as the National League fell to the American League, 9-3. A midseason acquisition from the San Diego Padres, Sheffield wasted little time making his presence felt at Camden Yards in Baltimore on July 13, 1993. In the first at-bat for a Marlin in All-Star Game history, Sheffield took a pitch from California Angels star lefty Mark Langston down the line and over the wall in left field for a two-run home run. Sheffield would be one of the few bright spots for the National League lineup. Against Jimmy Key of the New York Yankees in the sixth inning, Sheffield singled to cap a two-hit night. A solo home run from Kirby Puckett in the second and another from Roberto Alomar in the third drew the American League even. The American League ultimately seized control with three-run innings in the fifth and sixth. Puckett finished 2-for-3 with two runs scored and two RBIs to earn MVP honors. The American League took a 9-3 lead to the bottom of the eighth, but Harvey made sure that lead didn’t grow any further. Harvey worked around a single by Frank Thomas and a stolen base from Devon White to pitch a scoreless inning. During the frame, he struck out Carlos Baerga and Juan Gonzalez. Over the years, many players have represented the Florida/Miami Marlins in the All-Star Game, including Luis Arraez and Jorge Soler on Tuesday night. In 1995, Jeff Conine earned MVP honors. He’s also the last Marlin to homer in the All-Star Game. The first to do so was Sheffield. The first Marlin to pitch in the All-Star Game was Harvey. They each did so on this day three decades ago. Mike Ferguson is a contributor for Fish on First, who covers Miami Marlins history. Follow Mike on Twitter @MikeWFerguson.

A member of the Los Angeles Dodgers from 2012 to 2014, Hanley Ramirez played plenty of games at Dodger Stadium. Long before he joined the franchise, however, the standout infielder as coming through at Chavez Ravine, including on this day 15 years ago. Ramirez played the role of hero. His 11th-inning home run capped a five-hit night as the Florida Marlins edged the Dodgers, 5-4. Neither team had scored since the sixth inning as the Marlins stepped in to face Brian Falkenborg in the top of the 11th on July 10, 2008. Falkenborg was able to retire John Baker and Wes Helms to start the inning before Ramirez came to the plate. It took just one pitch for Ramirez to put Florida ahead for good. On a high fastball on the outer half of the plate, Ramirez was able to hammer it into the right-centerfield stands for the go-ahead home run. Kevin Gregg closed it out for the Marlins by working a 1-2-3 bottom half of the inning. In what served as the first game of a four-game set, the Marlins found most of their offense early. Ramirez led off the game with a single before scoring on an RBI single from Jorge Cantú to get the scoring started. Josh Willingham doubled Cantu home later in the inning. A solo home run from Baker in the second extended the lead to 3-0 before the Dodgers drew even in the third. Matt Kemp, Andre Ethier and Russell Martin each came through with RBI singles for Los Angeles in the inning. Florida starting pitcher Josh Johnson helped himself with an RBI single in the fourth to put Florida back in front. Martin homered for the Dodgers in the sixth to knot the contest at 4. Ethier and Martin each finished with two hits for the Dodgers in the loss. Cantu finished 3-for-5 while Baker had two hits and two runs scored for the Marlins. Ramirez finished the night 5-for-6 and just a triple shy of the cycle. His five hits tied a franchise record that still stands. The last of those hits was a solo shot that put the Marlins ahead for good. It came on this day 15 years ago. Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images Mike Ferguson is a contributor for Fish on First, who covers Miami Marlins history. Follow Mike on Twitter @MikeWFerguson.

Throughout the Florida/Miami Marlins’ 30-plus-year history in Major League Baseball, offense hasn’t always come easy. On this day 20 years ago, however, the hits and runs were aplenty. Against the Atlanta Braves, the Florida Marlins put up 20 runs for the first time ever. The Fish did so with a club record 25 hits in a 20-1 victory. Things actually started well for the Braves at Pro Player Stadium on July 1, 2003. Against Florida starter Josh Beckett, Atlanta was able to draw first blood on an RBI groundout from Gary Sheffield in the top of the first. The Braves didn’t score again while Florida never stopped scoring. The Marlins answered with a run in the bottom of the inning on a bases-loaded walk to Derrek Lee. From there, crooked numbers became commonplace. Florida opened things up with six runs in the second inning. After a scoreless third inning, the Marlins added two runs each in the fourth, sixth, and eighth, three runs in the fifth inning, and four in the seventh. As a team, the Marlins finished 11-for-20 with runners in scoring position. In total, 11 different Marlins had a hit. Luis Castillo and Iván Rodríguez each went 4-for-5 with three runs scored. Miguel Cabrera was 4-for-6 with a solo home run off Mike Hampton in the second and a two-run blast off Roberto Hernandez in the eighth to cap the scoring. Mike Lowell finished 3-for-3 with three RBIs and three runs scored in the victory. Ramon Castro, who entered the game in the sixth, added a two-run home run. Lee had just one hit, but it was a two-run triple in the fifth. With the victory, Florida moved to 43-42 – putting it above .500 for the first time since it was 13-12 in late-April. The Braves would bounce back with a 2-1 win the following day, but the Marlins took the rubber game of a three-game series and held a winning record for the remainder of the year en route to their second World Series. The club record of 20 runs would last for more than 14 years before the Marlins put 22 runs in a win over the Texas Rangers on July 26, 2017. The 25 hits, however, remains a franchise record. Those hits came on this day two decades ago. Photo By Eliot J. Schechter/Getty Images

Just a .194 career hitter, catcher Jeff Mathis was never known for his bat, but that doesn’t mean he couldn’t provide some fireworks with it. That’s what he did on this day 10 years ago. In the rubber game of a three-game set against the San Diego Padres, Mathis played the role of hero for the Miami Marlins. His walk-off grand slam lifted Miami to a thrilling 6-2 victory. With the score tied 2-2 at Marlins Park on June 30, 2013, Miami came to bat against Tyson Ross in the bottom of the ninth. Logan Morrison walked to open the inning before Marcell Ozuna came through with a single. After a flyball from Derek Dietrich moved Morrison to third, an intentional walk to Greg Dobbs loaded the bases. With one out and the bases juiced, Mathis came to the plate. The Miami catcher was 0-for-3 on the day, but needed just a deep flyball to end things. On a 1-0 pitch, a long flyball is just what Mathis would deliver. On an inside fastball, Mathis hammered it over the wall in left field for a grand slam. The blast gave Mathis the first grand slam of his career and the Marlins their fourth walk-off win of the year. It was Dietrich who got the scoring started with a two-run double in the fourth. Carlos Quentin’s two-run home run in the seventh drew San Diego even. Morrison and Ozuna each finished with two hits and two runs scored in the victory. Steve Cishek worked a scoreless ninth to pick up his win. Mathis would spend 17 years in Major League Baseball and hit 53 career home runs, including 11 as a member of the Miami Marlins. Interestingly enough, Mathis’ two career grand slams came as a member of the Marlins and both came against the Padres. His lone career walk-off homer, however, came on this day a decade ago. Photo courtesy of Getty Images

On this day 30 years ago, the New York Mets beat that Florida Marlins 10-9 in a crazy 12-inning contest, but the most memorable part of the contest had little to do with anyone in uniform. As close and competitive as the game was on the field, it paled in comparison to the Marlins’ grounds crew’s battle with the tarp. As the contest went into a rain delay, the crew kept the Joe Robbie Stadium crowd entertained on June 29, 1993—even if only by accident. With the contest tied 1-1 through three innings, the skies opened up. The grounds crew sprung into action, but they started with a critical mistake: they unrolled the tarp deep in right field. As the tarp was unrolled, it became heavy from all the water accumulated. It took multiple tries and 11 total minutes. Laughs were seen from both dugouts as players, coaches, and fans watched in amazement. By the time the tarp finally covered the infield, the rain had stopped. With puddles now all along the infield, the grounds crew spent the rest of the 88-minute delay making the field playable. As for the game, it had its fair share of excitement, too. The Mets led 6-1 before the Marlins pushed across seven runs in the seventh, highlighted by three-run homers from Rick Renteria and Jeff Conine. After Eddie Murphy’s solo home run on the first pitch of the eighth inning cut the Mets’ deficit to 8-7, Jeff Kent put New York back in front with a two-run shot. Florida was down to its last strike in the bottom of the ninth before Greg Briley singled home Benito Santiago to force extra innings. The Mets went ahead for good on a sacrifice fly from Tim Bogar off Matt Turner in the top of the 12th. In addition to shots from Murray and Kent, Jeromy Burnitz and Todd Hundley also homered for the Mets. Santiago had the lone three-hit game while Burnitz did likewise for New York. Renteria finished with a game-high four RBIs. With four hours and 20 minutes of game time and a rain delay totaling nearly an hour and a half, it was nearly 1:30 a.m. before the fans who stayed the duration were finally able to make their way to the exit. Despite 19 runs, 31 hits and 12 innings of baseball, it was the gaffe from the grounds crew that remains in the memories of baseball fans to this day. The infamous incident came three decades ago. Mike Ferguson is a contributor for Fish on First, who covers Miami Marlins history. Follow Mike on Twitter (@MikeWFerguson).