Finally, Once and for All, They Really Do Play Ball

Expressing gratitude to “our loyal, patient and knowledgeable fans”--who ate it up like cotton candy and welcomed back the players like long-lost loves--the Florida Marlins and visiting Dodgers began the meagerly awaited 1995 baseball season at Joe Robbie Stadium Tuesday night, relieved by their reception.

“Feels good to hear cheers,” Terry Pendleton said.

“I’d hate to be hated,” agreed Marlin teammate Gary Sheffield.

And they were the home team.

The Dodgers, who must wait until Friday to see how their fans react, nevertheless sounded satisfied that bygones seemed to be bygones, catcher Mike Piazza saying, “It’s good to be back. But what’s even better is that the fans seem glad to have us back.”

No one* in uniform (*Tom Lasorda naturally exempt) acted 100% certain beforehand what the public’s attitude might be. A moment of symbolic booing, perhaps? But when the Dodgers and then the Marlins formed chorus lines along the white lime of Joe Robbie Stadium for their pregame introductions, everyone was politely applauded by a crowd in no mood to hold grudges.

There was one moment, however, when the players tipped their caps to the fans, and were met with a smattering of boos.

“I’m not totally sure how they’ll treat us,” Pendleton said before the game.

“I am,” insisted Lasorda.

Not a doubt?

The Dodger manager shook his jowls and said, “The public wants baseball! Period. That other stuff is over.”

To make amends, as a precaution, the Marlins pulled out all the stops. Each paying customer was presented a mock checkbook, thick with coupons from local merchants. One bank’s offer was: “Open a Florida Marlins Checking Account and Receive a Free Marlins Rain Jacket.” Plus: free popcorn at movies, $5 off any meal at Don Shula’s All-Star Cafe, a $200 certificate toward Royal Caribbean cruises. . . . Welcome back, fans.

When in doubt, bribe ‘em.

After a choir from the Florida Philharmonic sang “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” with all the mushy tenderness of something by Johnny Mathis, the teams assembled to play ball. And nobody got booed, not even the replacement umpires. Picket lines outside the stadium were ignored by baseball fans weary from looking for union labels.

On the field, everyone relaxed.

Closest thing to an irritant for Rene Lachemann, the Marlin manager, was learning that Dan Marino, beloved quarterback of the Miami Dolphins, had appeared on a local TV program modeling a Dodger cap.

“That’d be like me walking into L.A. wearing a San Francisco Giant hat,” Lachemann said.

With the strike behind us, we’re supposed to root, root, root for the home team, remember? Miami’s morning newspapers made it sound as though the Marlins were swimming toward the 1995 World Series. There was even a quote from Sheffield about his team being capable of winning two of three games from the Atlanta Braves in any series, any time, any place.

Sure thing, Sheff.

That opening-night lineup of Veras, Arias, Sheffield, Conine, Pendleton, Colbrunn, Johnson, Carr and Burkett sends chills down the spines of opponents. Reminds you of the ’27 Yankees.

The baseball season officially began at 7:37 p.m., 22 days late.

Florida starting pitcher John Burkett was first man out of the dugout, to the tune of “The Boys Are Back in Town” from an old Eddie Murphy movie. (Oh, that symbolism. It was rampant.) Making his debut in Marlin green-blue, Burkett gave up a near-homer to first batter Delino DeShields, a hard single to second batter Jose Offerman and an actual homer to third batter Raul Mondesi, who cracked one halfway to the Dominican Republic.

Dodger baseball was on the air approximately five minutes before Vin Scully was back saying: “She is gone!”

The Marlins got a run back by testing the National League’s most dangerous arm, Mondesi’s, in center field, with Quilvio Veras stretching a leadoff single into a double. Back when he played right field, Mondesi threw out 16 runners who took similar risks.

Rookie of the year in 1994 (remember 1994?), Mondesi ran, threw, caught and hit with the best of them. He has not forgotten how. Mondesi creamed several batting-practice pitches into the upper deck, homered first time up and, in the seventh inning, sent another ball screaming over the stadium’s Teal Monster.

There were cheers when a fan threw back the ball.

There were boos when the next Dodger got a hit.

Baseball was back where it belonged--on the field.

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FIRSTS OF ’95

Firsts for the 1995 season at Tuesday night’s opener between the Dodgers and the Florida Marlins:

* Pitch--Thrown by Florida’s John Burkett, fouled off by Delino DeShields at 4:37 p.m. PDT.

* Out--DeShields flied to center fielder Chuck Carr, who backpedaled and made a leaping catch.

* Hit--Jose Offerman, the second batter of the game, singled over third base.

* Run--Offerman scored in the first inning.

* RBI--Raul Mondesi of the Dodgers hit a two-run homer to center field in the first inning.

* Strikeout--Ramon Martinez of the Dodgers struck out Greg Colbrunn in the second inning.

* Boos--When the Dodgers were introduced 30 minutes before the game.