Greatest Moments in Marlins History: #14 Miggy’s Intentional Walk… I Mean Hit

Mar 10, 2014; Jupiter, FL, USA; Detroit Tigers first baseman Miguel Cabrera (24) jokes with one of the St. Louis Cardinals coaches after getting a base hit at Roger Dean Stadium. The Tigers defeated the Cardinals 17-5. Mandatory Credit: Scott Rovak-USA TODAY Sports

Welcome back to the Greatest Moments in Marlins History. We have had our fair share of weird here on Greatest Moments in Marlins History countdown. There has been a walk-off wild pitch no hitter, Steve Bartman, the first hit that wasn’t a first hit for the Florida Marlins, and while today is moment 14 I can tell you there is still more to come. Today we take you back to 2006 and check out one of the weirdest plays in not only Marlins history but baseball itself.  Miguel Cabrera’s intentional walk RBI hit on June 22, 2006.

In the history of baseball there have been only 11 intentional walks where a player has swung and put the ball into play. That’s a pretty rare feat if you think about how many games have been played and how many games have a player who is intentionally walked.  Miggy would be 1 of the 5 of those players to record a hit on the play. This would put him in the company of the great Hall of Famer TY Cobb, who is the first player to accomplish this feat. Enough with the back story, let’s get to moment 14.

On June 22, 2006 the Marlins were up against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. The game was a pitching duel tied 1-1 entering the bottom of the 8^th. That’s when the Orioles’ bats came alive. They would go through 5 Marlins pitchers and take a 5-1 lead into the 9^th inning, but those pesky Marlins would not go away. In the 9^th inning the Marlins mounted a comeback. Thanks in part to a sac fly and back to back home runs, the Marlins tied it up 5-5. The Orioles had no answer in the 9^th so off to extras we go.

The 10^th started well in the Marlins favor as Hanley Ramirez reached on an infield single. He was moved to 2^nd thanks to Mike Jacobs’ ground out to 1^st. Up come Miggy. In only his 4^th year in the Majors pitchers still didn’t want to face him. Why would they? That year Miggy was batting .339 and was coming off a Silver Slugger year in 2005. It was decided to give Miggy a free pass to 1^st. Unfortunately, the first pitch by Todd Williams didn’t get far away enough from the plate. Miggy sent that ball into shallow center for a single. That would score Hanley from 2^nd and give the Marlins a 6-5 lead.  The Marlins would go on to win the game 8-5, and it was all started by Miggy’s unlikely play.

What an amazing play for Miggy. Join me tomorrow as we take a look at another amazing hit by Miggy. I wonder which one it will be?