Tweet
The Marlins are un-retiring the No. 5 so left fielder Logan Morrison can wear it to honor his father, but the family of the Marlins' first team president isn't happy about it.
"It's disappointing. He gave his life to the Marlins,' said Betzi Barger, whose father Carl Barger was team president from July 8, 1991, until his death Dec. 9, 1992.
The Florida Marlins retired the No. 5 before the franchise's first game on April 5, 1993, to honor Barger, who had died of a ruptured aorta at baseball's winter meetings four months earlier. Barger was a huge fan of Joe DiMaggio, who wore that number.
"No other Florida Marlin will ever wear No. 5,' then-owner Wayne Huizenga said during a ceremony before that first game.
But now that the team has renamed itself the Miami Marlins as it prepares to move into a new ballpark, the organization decided it was time to grant Morrison's request to honor his dad.
Morrison had worn No. 20 since he was called up in 2010. But he always wanted to wear 5 because his father, Tom Morrison, who died in December 2010 of lung cancer, idolized Kansas City Royals third baseman George Brett, who wore No. 5.
"Carl Barger is a very important part of our history,' team president David Samson said. " ... Our view was that if there was ever something that came along that was truly compelling that we would take a look. And Logan Morrison's story is compelling.'
Samson said it was his understanding that the Barger family had signed off on the plan. But Barger's daughter, who lives in suburban Pittsburgh with her mother (Barger's ex-wife at the time the Marlins joined MLB), said that neither she nor her mother and sister has heard from the team.
"Nobody has contacted us,' Betzi Barger told The Palm Beach Post on Monday. "It's just a disappointment but there's nothing we can do. We're sorry we didn't find out about it except from you.'
The Marlins plan to honor Barger at their new ballpark with a plaque. The team wants to invite the Barger family to attend, but Betzi Barger isn't sure if they will.
No Marlin player's number has been retired, but the team, like the rest of Major League Baseball, retired No. 42 in honor of Jackie Robinson in 1997.
Staff researcher Niels Heimeriks contributed to this report.
"It's disappointing. He gave his life to the Marlins,' said Betzi Barger, whose father Carl Barger was team president from July 8, 1991, until his death Dec. 9, 1992.
The Florida Marlins retired the No. 5 before the franchise's first game on April 5, 1993, to honor Barger, who had died of a ruptured aorta at baseball's winter meetings four months earlier. Barger was a huge fan of Joe DiMaggio, who wore that number.
"No other Florida Marlin will ever wear No. 5,' then-owner Wayne Huizenga said during a ceremony before that first game.
But now that the team has renamed itself the Miami Marlins as it prepares to move into a new ballpark, the organization decided it was time to grant Morrison's request to honor his dad.
Morrison had worn No. 20 since he was called up in 2010. But he always wanted to wear 5 because his father, Tom Morrison, who died in December 2010 of lung cancer, idolized Kansas City Royals third baseman George Brett, who wore No. 5.
"Carl Barger is a very important part of our history,' team president David Samson said. " ... Our view was that if there was ever something that came along that was truly compelling that we would take a look. And Logan Morrison's story is compelling.'
Samson said it was his understanding that the Barger family had signed off on the plan. But Barger's daughter, who lives in suburban Pittsburgh with her mother (Barger's ex-wife at the time the Marlins joined MLB), said that neither she nor her mother and sister has heard from the team.
"Nobody has contacted us,' Betzi Barger told The Palm Beach Post on Monday. "It's just a disappointment but there's nothing we can do. We're sorry we didn't find out about it except from you.'
The Marlins plan to honor Barger at their new ballpark with a plaque. The team wants to invite the Barger family to attend, but Betzi Barger isn't sure if they will.
No Marlin player's number has been retired, but the team, like the rest of Major League Baseball, retired No. 42 in honor of Jackie Robinson in 1997.
Staff researcher Niels Heimeriks contributed to this report.
Gave his life to the Marlins? He sure devoted a large portion of his life to the Pittsburgh Pirates, but to the Marlins?!
Comment