Greatest Moment In Marlins History: #123 Banner and Rings

April 23, 2012; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Livan Hernandez (61) talks to Los Angeles Dodgers third baseman Juan Uribe (5) after a single that knocked Hernandez out of the game in the eight inning at Dodger Stadium. Dodgers won 7-2. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

Welcome back to the Greatest Moment in Marlins History. Today I take you back to 1998 for moment 123.

Yes I know, 1998 was record-wise the worst year in Marlins history but some great moments did come from that year. The day is March 31, 1998 and in front of a sold out crowd at Pro Player Stadium (up to that point only the second sold out home opener in Marlins history) the Marlins lifted their 1997 World Champion banner! Not only was this day to celebrate that baseball was back it was a time to celebrate that we were the best team in baseball. This was also the first professional sport championship the city of Miami had won since the Dolphins in 1974; so for most of the younger fans this was their first championship ever.

It also helped that we beat the Cubs that day 11-6. The banner went up that day, but what about the rings? The ring ceremony would happen a few days later. On April 5 the Marlins had a big ceremony half an hour before the game where they presented the 14 players still with the team, Jim Leyland, and recently retired Darren Daulton (who threw out the first pitch) with their rings. Also what made this day very cool for fans was they gave out replica ring to the kids who went to the game (yes I got one and still have it in my collection).

Join me tomorrow to see if we can pull another moment from 1998. Let’s Go Marlins!