South Florida didn’t officially hit the big leagues until 1993 when Charlie Hough uncorked a knuckleball past Jose Offerman for a called first strike in the inaugural game of the Florida Marlins.
Yet, for decades, baseball and Miami were intertwined.
Hough, as many before him and many since, grew up in Miami playing the game he loved on fields around town.
A native of Hawaii, Hough prepped at Hialeah High before spending 25 seasons in the big leagues — the final two with his hometown team in its infancy.
Today, the Miami Marlins play their games at a domed stadium atop hallowed football ground.