Then I tried to find any sort of similar situations. And the only one even remotely comparable was Thurman Munson. A popular player in his prime gone way too soon. Trying to figure out why was pointless. But there were still games to play.
The connection between Munson and Fernandez became even deeper on Monday night. Back in 1979, the Yankees flew to Munson's funeral in Ohio, then played a nationally-televised game against the Orioles that night. And Bobby Murcer, one of Munson's closest friends on the team, drove in all five runs, including the game-winning hit, in a 5-4 victory.
After rightfully cancelling their game against the Braves on Sunday, the Marlins played the Mets on Monday in their first game without their ace. Miami may be out of the playoff race, but I've never seen a team get a more emotional win. It started with Dee Gordon taking his first at-bat from the opposite batter's box wearing Fernandez's batting helmet, then ending that at-bat with his first home run of the season. Miami poured it on. And afterwards, they all silently gathered around the pitcher's mound in honor of their fallen teammate before leaving their hats on the mound.
I hate Jackie Robinson Day. I think everybody wearing 42 defeats the purpose. But when the Marlins all took the field wearing Fernandez's jersey on Monday night, it seemed right. It was the best tribute possible. And that's the last time the number 16 will ever be seen on the back of a Marlins jersey. Jose Fernandez was on his way to an outstanding career. Perhaps the best for any pitcher in franchise history. It's only appropriate that the number 16 will forever be his.
It wasn't just the Marlins that paid tribute to Fernandez, one of the brightest-shining young stars in the game. The Cardinals gave shortstop Aledmys Diaz permission to be with Fernandez's family at a private service on Monday morning. On Tuesday night, he hit his first career grand slam in his friend's honor. (St. Louis, remember, had to cope with the death of outfielder Oscar Tavares during last year's World Series.) The Mets, Miami's opponent on Monday night, hung a Hernandez jersey in their dugout on Sunday afternoon...then signed it and gave it to the Marlins. They weren't alone in the gesture. The Cubs did the same thing. So did the Dodgers. And the Twins. It's moments like this when it's obvious that baseball players, regardless of team, truly are a family.
Of course, the sad irony is that Fernandez was likely only out on Saturday night because his start got pushed back a day. He was supposed to start that game on Monday that became a tribute to him. Fernandez was originally scheduled to pitch on Sunday, but was given an extra day to accomodate Tom Koehler's return from the DL. Instead, it was Koehler that started in Fernandez's place on Monday.
Jose Fernandez wasn't just beloved in Miami. He was beloved around the Major Leagues. If you saw the Marlins' press conference on Sunday morning, you saw how devastated they all were. Don Mattingly could barely keep himself together, and the team president had to push the microphone away because he started weeping uncontrollably. The entire team went to the stadium when the game was supposed to going on and painted a number 16 on the mound, then left his glove there. During their postgame tribute, Giancarlo Stanton turned his jersey around so that Fernandez's name was facing forwards.
What impact this will eventually have is anybody's guess. The Marlins are already out of the playoff race, so the final week of their 2016 season will strictly be about their fallen teammate. And I'm sure next year on Opening Day in Washington and again in their home opener against Atlanta, they'll do something to honor Fernandez. Whether that means nobody goes out to the mound when everyone else takes the field or something else I don't know.
Miami is hosting next year's All-Star Game, too. Hernandez was a two-time All-Star. He likely would've been pitching in his third in his home park. It's a tragic shame that he won't be. Because Jose Fernandez shined in the big moments.
Authorities are still investigating the crash and trying to determine if any factors other than extreme speed were in play. Frankly, none of those details even matter. Because they're not going to change anything. One of the best, most dynamic, most exciting young pitchers in baseball is gone. Jose Fernandez was only 24. He had such a bright future ahead of him. Now his career is just a memory. And we're left wishing there were more memories for him to make.
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