T he Florida Marlins Edgar Renteria stood at home plate his bat twitching as he awaited the pitch Craig Counsell took his lead off third base He represented the winning run 90 feet away The bases were loaded The crowd was going wild This was not just any game It was Game 7 of the 1997 World Series It was the bottom of the 11th inning For just the third time Game 7 of the World Series had gone into extra innings The Marlins had trailed the Cleveland Indians 2 1 going into the bottom of the ninth but tied the score on a sacrifice fly Extra Extra Extra Extra Extra Extra The World Series is a best-of-seven The World Series is a best-of-seven series It has been held nearly every series It has been held nearly every series It has been held nearly every year since 1903 But through 2013 year since 1903 But through 2013 Game 7 had gone into extra innings Game 7 had gone into extra innings Game 7 had gone into extra innings only three times Florida's win only three times Florida's win only three times Florida's win over Cleveland in 1997 was one of over Cleveland in 1997 was one of over Cleveland in 1997 was one of them The others occurred in 1924 tthem The others occurred in 1924 them The others occurred in 1924 when the Washington Senators when the Washington Senators when the Washington Senators defeated the New York Giants 4 3 ddefeated the New York Giants 4 3 defeated the New York Giants 4 3 in 12 innings and in 1991 when the e in 12 innings and in 1991 when the in 12 innings and in 1991 when the Minnesota Twins beat the Atlanta Minnesota Twins beat the Atlanta Minnesota Twins beat the Atlanta Braves 1 0 in 10 innings Braves 1 0 in 10 innings The Marlins Edgar Renteria is hoisted by teammates after he hit a The Marlins Edgar Renteria is hoisted by teammates after he hit a game-winning single in Game 7 of the 1997 World Series game-winning single in Game 7 of the 1997 World Series CHAMPIONS 5
by Counsell the Marlins sec ond baseman Now it was the 11th inning and Renteria the team’s short stop was batting with two outs Indians pitcher Charles Nagy fired home to Renteria A big curveball dropped over the plate Strike one On Nagy’s next pitch Renteria sliced a line drive back up the middle and into center field Base hit Counsell sprinted down the third-base line stomped on home plate and leaped into the arms of teammates In just their fifth season the Marlins were World Series champions It doesn’t get any better than this it can’t get any bet ter than this outfielder Jeff Conine said We’re the world champions It was a scene few could have imagined even a few weeks earlier The Marlins had not even won their divi sion They finished the regular season with a record of 92 70 their best ever but the team finished nine games behind the powerhouse Atlanta Braves in the National League NL East Florida though made the play offs as a wild-card team Some franchises build their teams by developing young play ers in the minor leagues The Marlins built their 1997 team with owner Wayne Huizenga’s money He paid several of the best free agents millions of dol lars to play for the Marlins Just days after the 1996 season ended the Marlins hired Jim Leyland as their manager He had led the Pittsburgh Pirates to three straight divi sion titles from 1990 to 1992 Then in November 1996 the Marlins began their spend ing spree on players when they third signed power-hitting 6 MIAMI MARLINS
Craig Counsell leaps after scoring the title-clinching run in the 1997 World Series Teammates including Bobby Bonilla 24 celebrate with him baseman Bobby Bonilla He had been a four-time All-Star while playing for Leyland in Pittsburgh The Marlins went on to sign All-Star outfielder Moises Alou a former Montreal Expo and ex-Chicago White Sox ace pitcher Alex Fernandez The Marlins who had never had a winning season suddenly found themselves challenging for a playoff spot They reached the All-Star break in 1997 with a record of 50 36 They could not catch the Braves in the NL East but they CHAMPIONS 7
