Despite all his accomplishments, Jose Fernandez never pitched a complete game, and on Thursday he was carried out of church in a casket with too much unfinished business.
The choir struck up ``God Bless America,'' and mourners began to cry yet to again as they joined in, celebrating the place that welcomed the Cuban defector and now must say goodbye.
The last formal farewell came at a private Catholic mass attended by about 300 friends and relatives who nearly filled the large sanctuary.
Those in attendance included Major League Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred, busloads of current and former Miami Marlins players, former Marlins manager Jack McKeon and two Hall of Famers, Marlins executives Tony Perez and Andre Dawson.
"We weren't supposed to be here today,'' Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria said.
"It's very difficult to understand this,'' the Rev. Jose Alvarez said. "Why so young _ someone with such bright promise?''
Fernandez, 24, and two friends died in a boat crash early Sunday near Miami Beach.
The bilingual service lasted more than two hours, and much of the time was spent celebrating Fernandez's dynamic personality, rather than his considerable exploits as the Marlins' precocious ace.
