Renteria Shows That the Marlins Aren't All About Payroll
By Ray Buck
CBS SportsLine National Columnist
October 26, 1997
MIAMI -- The World Series ended exactly the way the playoffs began for the Florida Marlins, with Edgar Renteria being mobbed by teammates and hoisted on the shoulders of Gary Sheffield.
It was the 22-year-old Renteria's two-out, bases-loaded single to right field in the bottom of the ninth in Game 1 of the NL Division Series against San Francisco nearly a month ago that snapped a 1-1 tie and propelled the Marlins to a sweep of the Giants.
This time, it was Renteria's two-out single to right field in the bottom of the 11th in Game 7 of the World Series that snapped a 2-2 tie with the Cleveland Indians. It brought a world title to the fifth-year expansion team from South Florida and a new level of disappointment to an organization that hasn't won the World Series since 1948.
The Marlins led the majors with 24 final at-bat victories this past season. It was fitting that this team would begin and end the postseason with a win in its final at-bat. And both times, the team's human lucky charm delivered it.
THIS TIME, Sheffield had help from Livan Hernandez, also 22, and Renteria's best friend on the team. Together, they pulled Renteria from this human tidal wave that had engulfed him and a large chunk of the Pro Player Stadium infield.
Together, they carried Renteria like a young king. In baseball, the common language in World Series celebrations, as we found out Sunday night, is laughter and yelling.
Hernandez ended up as the 1997 World Series MVP for his two victories against the Cleveland Indians as the starting pitcher in Games 1 and 5.
Hernandez, whose mother was granted permission by the Cuban government to visit the United States for Game 7 of the World Series, became only the second rookie to win a World Series MVP. The other was Larry Sherry of '59 Los Angeles Dodgers.
In South Florida, Hernandez has become something of an icon. He beat the Braves in pivotal Game 5 of the NLCS. He became the first rookie to win four postseason games in all.
In his native Colombia, Renteria is just as much an icon. He is the equivalent of a rock star or movie star in this country.
SO WHEN YOUR friends want to kiss off this World Series as being won by some exorbitant payroll, i.e., $89 million spent in free-agent acquisitions last off-season, remind them of Hernandez and Renteria.
The Marlins played 209 games this year -- 31 in spring training, which the players used to get to know each other; 162 in the regular season to win the NL wild card, nine to get past the Giants and Braves to win the NL pennant, and a full seven to finish off the Indians, a team that never did lose two in a row during the postseason.
In those 209 games, Renteria batted .277 for the regular season, .242 through the playoffs and .290 in the World Series. His 11th-inning single Sunday night produced his sixth game-ending RBI in sudden death this season.
He beat Roberto Hernandez of the Giants in the first round of the playoffs, and he beat Charles Nagy in MLB's final at-bat for 1997. Nagy wasn't good enough to start this Game 7 but he was just bad enough to finish it.
As soon as he saw the ball snake onto the outfield grass, the young shortstop with the big arm and timely bat hopped, threw off his batting helmet, rounded first base and looked for somebody -- anybody -- to hug.
At one point during the raucous celebration that spilled onto the field, Renteria retreated into Marlins' dugout, where he sat a couple of quiet moments alone.
That's when you realize Renteria and Hernandez are 22 years old. And this can be a lot to absorb.
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