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I couldn't distinguish between a sinking curveball and a sailing 4-seamer, let alone when to use either, or against whom. Showboating? Don't batters just get beaned by accident? I asked, blind to the whirlwind of signals coming from the dugout as the base coach patted his chest, chin, chest, chin, left bicep, right wrist, chin, sweep some dust off the left forearm. No, if baseball were a food, I was savoring a bag of Mediterranean Oil potato chips in a room full of Italian chefs. It's an acquired taste, and until you chance upon that first memorable encounter with it, baseball's universe is shrouded in mystery.
Some flavors are so distinct that all
others are brought to life in contrast to it. I avoided
sushi for years before a cream cheese-filled Philadelphia Roll compelled me to order 3 more. I'd choked down many beers before Alaskan Amber's caramel richness grabbed me by the throat and dragged me into the world of craft brews. Unless
you uncover one of those differences in baseball — one of those detectable flavor notes — the sport remains inaccessible, and that's what this piece is about. In 2003, the
Florida Marlins played the game in a way I'd never seen before. I became hooked,
hopelessly plunged into the superstitious world of baseball.
Each season in baseball, teams from 6 divisions battle for 8 playoff slots, with the best teams from each getting a shot at the World Series. However, this leaves 2 more slots available, so from the dregs of the division losers,
2 wildcards are admitted based on wins. In 2003, one of
those wildcards was a young Florida Marlins club, squeezing in nearly 10
wins behind every other team.
Established in 1993, the Florida Marlins were a young, fledgling team, but thanks to savvy manager Jack McKeon at the helm, they quickly achieved intimidator status. In
their first tournament matchup, they would face the dominant San
Francisco Giants, led by steroid-pumping Hall of Famer Barry Bonds.
Sounds exciting, huh? I didn't think so. I wasn't even watching. Great baseball history was in the making, and I was busy
tallying up gallons of soda at the gas station. You know, important things.
No one expected the 5-game series between Florida and San Francisco to last long and, as expected, the series was short, and San Francisco won the first game. Unexpectedly, however, that would be their last victory of 2003. The Marlins recorded 20 runs over the next three games to win the series. It was the first of the young club's upsets, and if you looked hard enough, you might have seen a little magic following the Marlins as they traveled to Chicago. They were to face the Cubs next in a legendary series.
No one expected the 5-game series between Florida and San Francisco to last long and, as expected, the series was short, and San Francisco won the first game. Unexpectedly, however, that would be their last victory of 2003. The Marlins recorded 20 runs over the next three games to win the series. It was the first of the young club's upsets, and if you looked hard enough, you might have seen a little magic following the Marlins as they traveled to Chicago. They were to face the Cubs next in a legendary series.
Baseball is a game of luck, omens, and curses. To tell a pitcher he's doing well
is to jinx him. Changing the batting order could
be the hemlock unknowingly drunk. In Florida's first outing at Chicago, the Marlins overcame a 4-run deficit to win. Things looked hopeful, but then they lost, and then they lost again. Then they lost again, and in seven-game series, 3 consecutive losses is enough
to disrupt any team's confidence. Florida would have to fight their way out from deep inside a pit of imminent elimination. They won, though, and by nothing short of magic. A curse, actually, wrought decades earlier.
In October 1945, the Chicago Cubs appeared at their first World Series since 1908, facing the Detroit Tigers. During the game, Wrigley Field staff received
complaints of a goat in the audience that was stinking up the stadium. The staff approached the goat's owner, Billy Sianis —
owner of the nearby Billy Goat Tavern — and demanded he take his goat and leave. As he had purchased two tickets
for himself and the goat, Sianis was
furious. While being escorted from Wrigley Field, he shouted, "Them Cubs,
they ain't gonna win no more" (Bowen).
So it was, the Cubs were only a few outs away from a 2003 World Series appearance when The Curse of the Billy Goat struck. Marlins' second baseman Luis Castillo hit a ball foul, and Outfielder Moisés Alou was en route to catch it. As he leapt up into the stands to grab it, a fan hoping for a game ball reached over and got in the way. Alou couldn't get the out. The wildcard Marlins somehow roared back from a 3-run deficit to win that game, and 3 more, to see their second World Series in only eleven seasons.
So it was, the Cubs were only a few outs away from a 2003 World Series appearance when The Curse of the Billy Goat struck. Marlins' second baseman Luis Castillo hit a ball foul, and Outfielder Moisés Alou was en route to catch it. As he leapt up into the stands to grab it, a fan hoping for a game ball reached over and got in the way. Alou couldn't get the out. The wildcard Marlins somehow roared back from a 3-run deficit to win that game, and 3 more, to see their second World Series in only eleven seasons.
The Marlins were a scrappy bunch, and heads were turning as they achieved the unthinkable. The team's small salary budget hosted not just talent, but heart. They played baseball with Caribbean fire and flair, and let me tell you,
Caribbean flair is special. I got to play catch once with a kid in the Dominican Republic who couldn't have been older than 10. He launched some fastballs. A few even stung my hand. Then, he signaled for a curveball. He wound up, came around, and out came a high
floating pitch that dropped so erratically, I couldn't catch it.
In the Caribbean, baseball is the national sport. It's home to legends such as Roberto Alomar, Pedro Martinez, David Ortiz, Albert Pujols, and countless others. I was told some of the kids there receive baseball gloves instead of shoes. Games are played on any available, open field, fueled by the thrill of playing in the major leagues someday. In 2003, the Marlins' roster was packed with Caribbean talent.
Playing second base was Luis Castillo, an all-star, two-time Golden Glove winner who broke the Marlins' record for walks. Catching was Ivan "Pudge" Rodriguez, who at the time of this writing, holds the MLB record for most base stealers put out (his little league coach moved him to catcher after his searing pitches scared opposing batters). At third was a young rookie named Miguel Cabrera who would later win the first Triple Crown in 40 years of baseball.
There was also Juan Pierre, who led the majors in fewest strikeouts that season, pitching ace Josh Beckett, hitters like Alex Gonzalez, Juan Encarnacion, Mike Lowell, Jeff Conine, and Rookie of the Year Dontrelle Willis. The 2003 Marlins knew the game better than anyone else. That they almost missed the playoffs says a lot about the stiff competition in baseball that year. After their two exciting upsets, the Marlins looked to their final opponent, the New York Yankees.
In the Caribbean, baseball is the national sport. It's home to legends such as Roberto Alomar, Pedro Martinez, David Ortiz, Albert Pujols, and countless others. I was told some of the kids there receive baseball gloves instead of shoes. Games are played on any available, open field, fueled by the thrill of playing in the major leagues someday. In 2003, the Marlins' roster was packed with Caribbean talent.
Playing second base was Luis Castillo, an all-star, two-time Golden Glove winner who broke the Marlins' record for walks. Catching was Ivan "Pudge" Rodriguez, who at the time of this writing, holds the MLB record for most base stealers put out (his little league coach moved him to catcher after his searing pitches scared opposing batters). At third was a young rookie named Miguel Cabrera who would later win the first Triple Crown in 40 years of baseball.
There was also Juan Pierre, who led the majors in fewest strikeouts that season, pitching ace Josh Beckett, hitters like Alex Gonzalez, Juan Encarnacion, Mike Lowell, Jeff Conine, and Rookie of the Year Dontrelle Willis. The 2003 Marlins knew the game better than anyone else. That they almost missed the playoffs says a lot about the stiff competition in baseball that year. After their two exciting upsets, the Marlins looked to their final opponent, the New York Yankees.
If the Marlins were the insolent newcomers fighting to belong, the Yankees were the pinstripe-wearing dynasty of America's pastime, and this year they were to
be feared. I'd have a fortune if I'd collected the rookie cards of their 2003 lineup. It was a titan assembly of Hall of Famers, including Derek Jeter, Bernie
Williams, Jason Giambi, Alfonso Soriano, and Jorge Posada. Their pitching lineup was equally daunting, with starters including David
Wells, Andy Pettitte, Mike Mussina, and "Sandman" Mariano Rivera waiting in the bullpen.
Bernie Williams led the league in home runs, and Jason Giambi — also using steroids at the time — was close behind, with massive arms that rendered every bat he held a brittle twig. Alfonso Soriano had stolen bases nearly every game that season. Andy Pettitte, who still holds the Yankees strikeout record, haunted runners at first base with a tricky step that caught 97 of them off the bag. Mariano Rivera, now a Hall of Fame inductee, was on his way to the MLB record for career saves. Many would argue this Yankees team was the best in their history.
Bernie Williams led the league in home runs, and Jason Giambi — also using steroids at the time — was close behind, with massive arms that rendered every bat he held a brittle twig. Alfonso Soriano had stolen bases nearly every game that season. Andy Pettitte, who still holds the Yankees strikeout record, haunted runners at first base with a tricky step that caught 97 of them off the bag. Mariano Rivera, now a Hall of Fame inductee, was on his way to the MLB record for career saves. Many would argue this Yankees team was the best in their history.
For 14 consecutive seasons ending in 2014, the Yankees player salary was the highest in the league. In 2003, that number totaled to $40 million higher than the next team, meaning that, if the Yankees wanted a player, they usually got him. To illustrate, they once acquired Kevin Youkilis from the Chicago White Sox. While his career was slumping, he was still one of Chicago's
best hitters, but upon donning pinstripes, Youkilis was mostly benched, then sent to the minor leagues. He retired shortly thereafter. Ichiro Suzuki suffered a similar fate, and as the Yankees forbid facial
hair, those players couldn't even stroke their beards while watching their careers fade.
Only
ingenious strategy could keep the Marlins from falling victim to the Yankees' 27th World Series victory, but after 5 mind-numbing games, Florida was on the cusp of victory, leading 3 games to 2. Game 6 would hammer the last nail in the
Yankees' coffin. It was during this game when baseball revealed its magic to me.
ESPN called it, "The Josh Beckett Game", and his pitching for the Marlins would earn him that year's World Series MVP. Beckett faced Andy Pettitte. The face-off resulted in 4 stressful, scoreless innings. While New York had recorded more runs overall this series, Florida kept them to only two hits this game. At the top of the 5th, magic began flowing for the Marlins, though it looked grim at first. The play-by-play goes like this:
Derrek Lee goes down first, swinging away for Pettitte's 5th strikeout of the game. Then a sharp curveball to Juan Encarnacion is hit straight to Aaron Boone at 3rd for an easy out. With two down, Alex Gonzalez steps up. He takes a strike, but on the second pitch, swings gracefully and shoots to shallow center field to reach first base. It was only their 3rd hit that game, but the bats were shimmering.
Juan Pierre steps up next and takes a deep breath. There was a chance to bring Gonzalez around to score. Pettitte winds up for the pitch, and then boom! He steps to the left and throws to first base to pick off the runner. No one saw it coming, and he came dangerously close to picking off Gonzalez, who barely made it back in time.
Pierre then swings himself into a hole, leaving him one strike away from losing everything. He has to stay alive, and swings at anything that comes his way. After fouling off two pitches, he narrowly shoots the middle gap to advance Gonzalez. With runners on first and second, the night twinkled, and Luis Castillo enters the box.
ESPN called it, "The Josh Beckett Game", and his pitching for the Marlins would earn him that year's World Series MVP. Beckett faced Andy Pettitte. The face-off resulted in 4 stressful, scoreless innings. While New York had recorded more runs overall this series, Florida kept them to only two hits this game. At the top of the 5th, magic began flowing for the Marlins, though it looked grim at first. The play-by-play goes like this:
Derrek Lee goes down first, swinging away for Pettitte's 5th strikeout of the game. Then a sharp curveball to Juan Encarnacion is hit straight to Aaron Boone at 3rd for an easy out. With two down, Alex Gonzalez steps up. He takes a strike, but on the second pitch, swings gracefully and shoots to shallow center field to reach first base. It was only their 3rd hit that game, but the bats were shimmering.
Juan Pierre steps up next and takes a deep breath. There was a chance to bring Gonzalez around to score. Pettitte winds up for the pitch, and then boom! He steps to the left and throws to first base to pick off the runner. No one saw it coming, and he came dangerously close to picking off Gonzalez, who barely made it back in time.
Pierre then swings himself into a hole, leaving him one strike away from losing everything. He has to stay alive, and swings at anything that comes his way. After fouling off two pitches, he narrowly shoots the middle gap to advance Gonzalez. With runners on first and second, the night twinkled, and Luis Castillo enters the box.
Almost immediately, Pettitte deals Castillo two strikes, then calls his catcher to the mound for a talk. Castillo's in the hole. The
inning's almost over when Ivan Rodriguez calls to him from the on-deck
circle. He yells something to Castillo, then makes a motion around his collar, after which Castillo removes a crucifix necklace he'd been
wearing. Commentator Joe Buck says, "Castillo loses his necklace...
Castillo hitting without his beaded necklace now, for the rest of this at bat."
Castillo steps back in, ready to swing. The next pitch flies from Pettitte. It's a strike, and Castillo barely manages to hit it into the dirt, off his right foot. Another pitch, Castillo fouls it off again. Pettitte tries a lower one, and Castillo nearly strikes out in a check swing. Pettitte's now dialed in. He knows where Castillo will swing. So long as the ball breaks in the right spot, it'll be a piece of cake.
Pettitte looks down at the mound. He's ready to end this inning. He begins his motion, but when he looks up, Castillo has called time and stepped out of the box, which rattles Pettitte. He takes a big, wide-eyed breath, trying to regain his composure. He throws again, but misses high outside. The distraction works, and a frustrated Pettitte winds up for another pitch.
Castillo steps back in, ready to swing. The next pitch flies from Pettitte. It's a strike, and Castillo barely manages to hit it into the dirt, off his right foot. Another pitch, Castillo fouls it off again. Pettitte tries a lower one, and Castillo nearly strikes out in a check swing. Pettitte's now dialed in. He knows where Castillo will swing. So long as the ball breaks in the right spot, it'll be a piece of cake.
Pettitte looks down at the mound. He's ready to end this inning. He begins his motion, but when he looks up, Castillo has called time and stepped out of the box, which rattles Pettitte. He takes a big, wide-eyed breath, trying to regain his composure. He throws again, but misses high outside. The distraction works, and a frustrated Pettitte winds up for another pitch.
We'll never know if removing the
crucifix jinxed Pettitte. Maybe it was just Castillo calling time out that
hurt Pettitte's focus. Whatever it was, Castillo drove the next pitch into right field. Alex
Gonzalez sailed around third base and sprinted toward home plate. Karim Garcia threw a one-hop straight into Posada's glove at home plate, but it wasn't fast enough for the tag. Gonzalez barely — I mean barely — slid
under his hand, proving just how scrappy the Marlins could play. In a few explosive seconds, the Marlins dashed all remaining hopes for the Yankees. They would be champions.
There's little that deserves to be called important.
Most things just aren't, and while baseball is only a game, nothing flashes magic
quite like it — and magic is important. Only the magic spell of removing a necklace could rescue Luis Castillo from a 2-out, 2-strike hole.
Only magic could propel a wildcard team to upset three of the
best teams in baseball. Only by magic could the Marlins win a World Series while scoring fewer runs overall.
Magic is what inspires us, and if you don't believe in magic, that's okay. You can believe in baseball, and baseball is magic.
Magic is what inspires us, and if you don't believe in magic, that's okay. You can believe in baseball, and baseball is magic.
This YouTube link is set to the beginning of Juan Castillo's at bat in the 5th inning.
(https://youtu.be/MbZ-PcbDBmM?t=1h6m17s)
Bowen, Fred. "For Cubs, a Swing at the Billy Goat Curse". The Washington Post. July 17, 2008. Electronic.
ESPN. "2003 World Series Game 6". YouTube.
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