Snowmageddon 2015: Miami Marlins history of “snow-outs”
Apr 23, 2013; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Twins ground crew use steam to clear snow from the seats before a game between Minnesota Twins and Miami Marlins at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports
Editor’s Note: We at Marlin Maniac wish the best for all affected by the snowstorm. Please stay safe.
You may have heard by now that the Northeastern United States is currently being pummeled by snow. Winter Storm Juno has brought upon us what the media have dubbed “Snowmageddon.” On top of people losing electricity and being snowed in their homes, the storm has affected the sports world as well; the NBA’s New York Knicks and Brooklyn Nets had their home games cancelled yesterday, and more postponements could be on the horizon.
Did you know that twice in franchise history, the Miami Marlins have had games postponed due to snow? Both occurrences happened within the last five years, with the most recent coming in 2013 at Minnesota’s Target Field (go figure.) Oddly, however, the Marlins have never had a home game cancelled because of snow; they’ve just been lucky, I guess.
Here’s a look at the games the Marlins have had impacted by that foreign stuff that falls from the sky everywhere but Florida.
Next: 2010: A Rockie Mountain Freeze
April 23, 2010 – Florida Marlins at Colorado Rockies
On April 23, 2010, the Florida Marlins and Colorado Rockies experienced a “snow-out” at Coors Field (again, go figure.) Technically, Major League Baseball cited a “mix of rain and snow” for the cancellation, but regardless it was too cold and icy for a baseball game to be played.
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The game was made up the next day as the first part of a doubleheader in windy, 54 degree weather. The Marlins would beat the Rockies 4-1, with good old Ricky Nolasco pitching eight innings of one-run ball, striking out nine and earning the win. Dan Uggla and Brett Carroll both homered for the Marlins, and Leo Nunez/Juan Carlos Oviedo saved his fourth game of the season.
And Jorge Cantu – remember him? – extended his hitting streak to a modest 21 games that day.
Colorado won the second game that evening, evening the series at a game a piece before clinching the series the next day with a 8-4 win.
Next: Jose Fernandez sees snow for the first time
Apr 23, 2013; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Miami Marlins second baseman
Donovan Solano(17) jumps over Minnesota Twins left fielder
Josh Willingham(16) after making a throw to first base to complete the double play in the third inning at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports
April 22, 2013 – Miami Marlins at Minnesota Twins
Then, in 2013, the fire-sale ravaged Miami Marlins traveled to Minnesota to face the Twins. Game one of the brief two-game set was snowed out and made up the next day as a doubleheader, exactly three years to the date after the Colorado snow game, April 23, 2013.
Jose Fernandez said it was the first time he’d seen snow in his life.
You might remember that series for the controversy involving Jeffrey Loria and his starting pitchers. Ricky Nolasco was scheduled to pitch in the first game and Fernandez the second, but Loria supposedly ordered that Mike Redmond flip the two starters. His logic was that game one, a day game, would see warmer weather and therefore be less strenuous on his prized 20 year-old rookie, or some nonsense.
Hilariously, the weather for the night game actually ended up being a few degrees warmer, and Loria wound up looking like a dope.
The Twins won game one, 4-3, and the Marlins earned a split in the night cap, 8-5.
Next: 1997 World Series Game 4
Honorable mention: October 22, 1997
World Series Game 4 – Florida Marlins at Cleveland Indians
I’m including this one for its historical significance and because, what Marlins fan doesn’t love reminiscing about the 1997 World Series?
At Cleveland’s Jacobs Field the Marlins and Indians played the coldest World Series game on record, amidst snow flurries with a first-pitch temperature of 38 degrees and a windchill reaching 18 degrees.
Ironically, this occurred after the first two games of the series were played in Miami, where the temperatures floated around 80 degrees.
The Indians dug Florida into an early 6-0 hole and they never could recover on the night. Manny Ramirez and Matt Williams both homered for Cleveland, and Moises Alou and Jim Eisenreich provided the only scoring for the Marlins.
The Indians won game four, 10-3. But the Marlins, of course, won the World Series.