As baseball mourns the untimely loss of one of its brightest lights, 24-year-old pitcher Jose Fernandez, the Marlins will retire the number 16 in his honor, owner Jeffrey Loria told reporters including Craig Davis of the Sun-Sentinel (Twitter link).
That’s certainly just one of the many tributes that will continue to be unveiled over the coming days and long into the future. The Marlins cancelled yesterday’s scheduled game, and all the team’s players will wear Fernandez’s #16 in tonight’s ballgame at Marlins Park.
Most anyone with even a passing interest in baseball is familiar with Fernandez’s pitching greatness, personal vivacity, and remarkable path to the United States and Major League Baseball. It remains difficult to accept that he is gone.
In trying to come to terms with Fernandez’s death, we would do well to remember how he lived. His joy seemed to outweigh his talent, and that is truly saying something. Many wise and good words have already been written on this somber matter, but I would recommend in particular this touching piece from Dave Cameron of Fangraphs, which well explains why Fernandez’s tragic passing represents such a singular loss.
RIP, Jose.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Well said
Well written Jeff and RIP Jose
R.I.P Jose Fernandez you will be missed
Fernandez was an artist with a baseball. I can only hope his family finds peace in this tragedy.
Awesome! It’s only right, being one of baseball’s brightest young stars, and potentially Hall of Fame had he pitched like that his entire career. RIP Jose
I hope the Hall of Fame puts him in, no voting, special ballot. The best thing we can do right now, for his kids future, is to make her father into a legend – and he’s absolutely a deserving one. He was everything a player should aspire to be and was a fantastic family man and human being – who else can say they saved their own mother from drowning, after not knowing who it was when he dived in? We were in the presence of a legend, so lets make it known that’s who he was.
Retire his number. The Hall? Don’t be absurd. Hopefully this had nothing to do with alcohol
Honestly, I agree with Just Another Fan. I think he was a figure like Clemente, larger than life and needs to be remembered as the smiling, amazing ballplayer that he was. Admittedly, Clemente had more longevity but look at guys like Koufax or Pedro, there dominance was similar to Jose’s. Shorter peaks but they stuck around long enough to get some counting numbers. Do I believe he should be elected? I’m 50/50 but I think putting him on the ballot is justifiable. I also think there are some arguments going for him.
Jose Fernandez was a great man and something baseball should have more off, but he wasn’t going above and beyond more than one could imagine. Clemente died risking his life to go help others. His literally ended up sacrificing his life in the end.
As sad as his passing is the fact remains he is not going into the hall of game. To suggest otherwise would be to make a mockery of the hall and those in it. Get real.
I think it’s a class move retiring his number, but with respect, talking about putting him in the HOF is ridiculous.
His whole career was dominating, and he had the lowest career fip among all pitchers who threw 400 innings ever. Throw in the rookie of the year and his backstory, and I think he easily should be in the hall. It’s not ridiculous In the least bit
There is a longevity requirement for the HOF. While those stats are nice, and telling of what could have been, they don’t even begin to scratch the surface of a HOF career.
Ok but I think there should be an exception to every rule. If mike trout were to suffer a career ending injury tomorrow, I’d expect him to be in the hall. It’s just my opinion, and I don’t know if it’s right or wrong, but if it were up to me he’d easily be in the hall
It is wrong. There are numerous flash in the pan players who at one point in time were amongst the best in the game that are not in the HOF. The kid was a great pitcher and his loss is tragic. The talk of putting him in the HOF is almost as laughable as the comparison above to Clemente.
Why would this be an exception. He pitched basically two seasons? And if Mike Trout got hurt as you mentioned in your example he would not be in the hall of fame either. Do you even understand what the hall of fame stands for?
Not at all. I believe retiring the number is a well-deserved nice touch.
I think retiring the number is also overwrought. drama. He was a really good player for two years. Why didn’t St. Louise retire Oscar Taveras’ number? Teams don’t retire numbers for guys with lengthy careers. Do I hope that the Marlins take care of his family? For sure. But this sentimentality strikes me as empty. The suggestion of the HOF is so absurd I feel stupid even recognizing it.
There’s little sense in debating any jersey retirement, least of all this one.
Nobody can wear that number again, ever.
Retiring a number isnt about how good a player was, its about what they meant to the franchise. There are plenty of deserving players statistically speaking to get their numbers retired but they werent the life of their teams. In this case fernandez was lively Cuban player in the biggest US Cuban community who was one of the best pitchers in the game in the short time he was here. RIP Jose cant wait to see how well you pitch in heaven against Ruth and all the other greats
Jim Gilliam
Well said!
Well said Kent
Are you seriously comparing Jose Fernandez to Oscar Taveras.. Jose was an all-star and also a ROY. Oscar didn’t even have a complete season under his belt. It’s like comparing apples to oranges.
Alcides Escobar was an all star last year (as are many others who are not superstars) so making that team is not impressive or worthy of having your number retired. No team would have any numbers left!
The comparison of Fernandez to Taveras was intended to reflect the potential.. Tavares was STL’s #1 prospect. He hit a game-tying HR in the ALCS, which was a big moment for the team. He could have been amazing for years.
It’s a falsehood that apples and oranges are categorically different. You can compare them as they are the same category. You can also compare two young baseball players who died too young with huge potential.
Dude stop arguing that he shouldn’t have his number retired. You’re not from Miami. You’re not from South Florida. You’re not a Marlins fan. You have no idea what he meant to this city and team. His number is getting retired and that’s that. Stop arguing
I agree. He was a real good pitcher and a heck of a nice guy but you dont retire a number based on 2 years. And to even mention putting him in the HOF is one heck of a TROLL comment.
Well when you own your own franchise, you can do what you wish in regards to who has the honor of having their number retired. I don’t see the harm in retiring someone’s number based on the impact he had on the organization and his teammates. Not to mention how hard he fought to be able to play those 2 years you are judging him on.
Oh god stop. I’d be willing to bet money he’ll be in the hof someday, but today is not the time to argue about that
He will never be in the HOF
Jose Fernandez, in life and death, has – and will continue to have – a profound impact on this franchise. That is the cornerstone of the decision to retire his jersey number.
Retiring a number isn’t simply about the statistics someone accumulates throughout their career – it’s about the legacy they have created.
Unfortunately, Jose’s legacy was cemented by his passing. But it is a legacy worth honoring, nonetheless.
I am also in the boat that questions retiring his number, but thankfully that isn’t my choice. Personally I would just have put it off limits for a long time. If he died during something baseball related I could envision where retiring the players number might be warranted, but this just doesn’t seem like the right situation in my mind.
That being sad this entire situation is very sad and something we thankfully don’t have often in the game. He was one of my favorite players because it was clear it was more than just a game and not about the money. Always lose the good ones too early. His family should be dang proud.
Well for the Marlins they’ve never retired a players number so people don’t fully understand what it means. To the Marlins he meant more to the team than just an ace. He loved all the fans and was so nice to everybody he saw and he always did stuff around the community but didn’t ever want attention or credit for it. And what he meant to south Florida is incredible. I live near Miami and he was honestly the biggest sports figure ever in Miami. He deserves to be the first Marlin to have their number retired
His slider was nearly untouchable RIP from Braves country Jose
Classy move. It’s way too soon to sit here and engage in a hall of fame debate, but this a nice tribute by the Marlins.
I think the HOF might be a fair debate, but I think the emotions and shock need to settle before we go there.
Those complaining about his number being retired, get over yourselves. I think it’s a heck of a tribute and just shows how much Jose Fernandez meant to the team and community. I think the HOF recommendation is ridiculous, but I’d have no issue if he was automatically given the NL Cy Young for 2016.
Why?
Despite the 10 year rule, Fernandez had the highest ERA+ of any pitcher with a minimum of 70 starts since World War 2– 150– that’s at least worthy of Hall of Fame talk in the near future. I wouldn’t say this season, but in say the 2018-2019 election, it is certainly something that should be considered– especially because, not only was be a special player, but he was a special person– like he’s the type of guy who you see as a role model for kids- the type of guy who deserved a major league career.
YOUR SUCH A HATER
1 a million times Phillies2017
No it isn’t. If he never pitched again because of a shoulder injury, with the same stat line, there would be no talk of the HOF. Although his death is tragic, the HOF conversation should be no different.
All for the number retirement. Best thing a Loria owned team has ever done. No issues at all retiring that number considering MLB forced a number retirement on every team for a player who spent his entire career with one team.
The hall of fame though, sorry Fernandez was a very good pitcher, but even though he has numbers that are comparable to Koufax he also has a extremely small sample size due to his untimely passing and his lost time to injury.
If Thurman Munson couldn’t get in to the Hall of Fame, and he was also a player who was revered by his team and fan base also passed young and had more years in the majors, Fernandez isn’t getting in, and if he was even considered it would diminish the hall to allow a guy in who only had two or three seasons of greatness. Just not enough time., taken right when he was truly coming into his own.
No issues with him getting the Cy Young, and I’d like to see Loria pay out his contract to his family.
“I’d like to see Loria pay out his contract to his family.”
As he was signed through this season, that is, I assume, a non-issue.
Ya hopefully his family will be taken care of, it’s too bad he was only arbitration eligible and not signed to a guaranteed contract
If he had simply blown out his elbow and never pitched again, we wouldn’t really be having a HOF conversation. But, given that such an extraordinary pitcher with such an extraordinary personality was cut down just as he was emerging as one of the most dominant pitchers in baseball… it’s a conversation to have at least.
In baseball it’s very hard to project years into the future. How often do we say “at this rate…” with a guy but he gets to age 30 or 31 and the numbers don’t keep up? Based simply on the body of work, 76 starts no matter how fantastic just isn’t enough. But, he didn’t break down and get injured, or lose his effectiveness… He was cut down out of nowhere. The HOF isn’t simply a statistical achievement like eating the correct number of fiery hot buffalo wings in a contest at a bar and getting your picture on the wall – it is organized and established sentimentality. I don’t know that I would ultimately vote for him, but I think that recognizing him for how great and how promising he was is a good conversation to have.
It’s probably a foregone conclusion, that the Marlins are going to take care of his family. That’s a nice chunk of income that is all of a sudden gone. He was one of the best young pitchers in MLB. RIP Jose.
If the Marlins wish to retire the number that’s a decision atleast based on their feelings and their perceived feelings of the community. I can’t argue with that. But the talk about the Hall of Fame, let alone mentioning Clemente is absurd. Baseball has had a startling amount of young players come through, especially, in recent years, that have had solid 2-4 year peaks. And I think it’s clear that projecting their stats….especially with pitchers…is dubious.
Thurman Munson was the Yankee Captain when he died. He’d been part of a mini-dynasty, and he didn’t receive that honor.
Lol…whenever I read an article dealing with someone passing…it never fails that the death was “untimely”…How many times has a persons death been timely? Maybe Bin Laden.
I think everone is missing the big picture, a young man died way too young. He was very important to his family, his team, and the city he lived in. This is just tragic news but it does show us that we are not going to live forever and I pray that he knew Jesus and what Jesus did for him
Personally I think retiring the number is a great gesture to show how much Jose Fernandez meant to the Marlins organization and the city of Miami. Just as a Braves fan, this hit me pretty hard. It was always something to watch him pitch. Like I’ve said before I wish I could’ve have the opportunity to meet him, if only for a minute or two. So while some of you think retiring the number is a little too much, I don’t.see it that way. From what I’ve read about what all he’s done for the team and community, it’s the absolute least they could’ve done to honor him so soon after his passing. The game last night was awesome, too. Gordon, using Fernandez’s helmet to take the first pitch from the RH batter’s box, then switching to his left side and hitting a homerun…seeing him get emotional, you can tell how much Jose meant to that club and how he affected everyone around him. I’ll definitely miss watching him develop into the pitcher he could’ve/should’ve become over the course of his career. RIP Jose…