Storyline: Dee Gordon did an extraordinary thing to honor an extraordinary athlete and person, Jose Fernandez. Written by Chris Newman, Denver, CO
On Monday night Dee Gordon hit a home run to lead off the game between the Miami Marlins and the New York Mets. The Mets are in a pivotal final week of the regular season, clinging desperately to one of the two NL Wild Card slots.
While Gordon’s homer set the tone for a 7-3 Marlins victory, the impact of this game went far beyond the Post Season. It’s why, as a 31-year-old man, I was brought to tears watching the highlights.
Courtesy: FoxSports.com
Sunday morning the Marlins’ Jose Fernandez passed away in a boating accident. By all accounts Jose was a tremendous person and a friend off-the-field as he was a talent on it.
Dee Gordon was one of his closest friends. In the brief time since Jose’s passing, Dee has been seen around the ballpark dealing with his emotions as he mourns the loss of a great man.
Last night he decided to honor his friend in his first at bat.
He walked to the plate in Jose’s helmet and stood in the right-handed batter’s box waiting for the first pitch. He let it sail by in homage to Fernandez.
He then stepped around to his usual left side of the plate. Marlins fans were looking for their speedy contact hitter to slap a single or walk and, then, try to steal a base. The fleet-footed second baseman has only driven in 11 runs through 74 games. None of his hits had cleared the fence.
Dee Gordon hits home run. (photo, larrybrownsports.com)
But after paying tribute to his fallen friend on the right side of the plate, Gordon hit his first home run of the season from the left side.
Dee was moved to tears before he could finish circling the bases.
We all were.
