The Miami Marlins received the Best Moment Award from MLB on Friday in recognition of their tribute to Jose Fernandez.
The award was voted on by fans and it includes all of the moving moments from September 26th. The Marlins were awarded for their pregame and postgame tributes, as well as their play under very difficult conditions.
In the first game following Fernandez's tragic passing, all of the Marlins wore jerseys with the pitcher's name and number on them. The team held a pregame moment of silence and shared moving moments in front of the fans. The visiting New York Mets even joined in to show their compassion in what was an unforgettable evening.
"It's something we've been fighting for, have a team. Today, you see that. We see a team. We talk about, in these situations, being family. To these guys, this is their family, within this locker room. You travel, you play, you go through things. It's their only safe place," manager Don Mattingly said on the day of the game.
Once the game started, Dee Gordon added even more to the story with his first at-bat. The second baseman hit his first home run of the season and broke down in tears as he rounded the bases. It was a magnificent moment in Marlins history and in the sport as a whole.
The Marlins would win the memorable game 7-3 and met at the mound following the victory. Every roster member left their cap on the mound where Fernandez's number was painted. The team also shared some private moments after the game near the mound when the cameras went off.
Miami will likely hold more tributes for Fernandez during the 2017 season and it may also retire his number at some point in the campaign.
