Fans Celebrate Final Marlins Game At Sun Life Stadium
MIAMI GARDENS (CBS4) - The Florida Marlins first pitcher ever, Charlie Hough, proved he still has it after 19 years Wednesday, throwing out the last first pitch at Sun Life Stadium.
The crowd of more the 34,000 fans came to wish the team off in their final game as the Marlins move to a new stadium in Miami in 2012.
JC Garcia, who has sat in the stands since the teams inception in 1993 took off work to be here to see the game.
"I came from Tampa just to see the game," said Garcia.
Baseball fans like Garcia filled the place. The game felt like the Marlins of the old days, when they were World Champs.
"I had tears in my eyes today, thinking about the first game and all the things that have happened through it," Garcia said.
As the Marlins finished out their season with a loss the franchise paid tribute to some 40 players who made baseball history here.
They also brought former owner Wayne Huizenga who bowed to boos.
Fans still haven't forgiven him for selling off marquee players following the teams World Series runs.
Sandy Sticco, who been a season ticket holder since 93 said she's looking forward to the new stadium.
"I'm happy because I won't be sweating to death as you can see what I look like. It will be climate control. It will be nice," said Sticco. In the crowd, was one of the architects of the new Marlins stadium, former Miami Mayor Manny Diaz.
"The project has gone great. It's on time. It's under budget. And now it's real. You can touch it. It's no longer a philosophical debate. Now it's there," Diaz said.
With the politics of building a new stadium using public money behind him Diaz says he hopes the new stadium brings fans together much the way this place did over 19 years.
The Marlins will unveil their new name, logos, and uniforms on November 11th.
The open their new season in the new stadium April 4th.
