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Fans chant Jose Fernandez's name during emotional memorial service

Chris Cwik
·Staff writer

The baseball world continues to cope with the tragic death of 24-year-old Miami Marlins pitcher Jose Fernandez. Fernandez’s funeral procession was held in Miami on Wednesday, giving fans one final opportunity to pay their respects to the superstar pitcher.

Given Fernandez’s standing in Miami, as well as his larger than life stature within the game, it was no surprise the local fans came out in droves to celebrate Fernandez’s life. At one point during the service, fans lining the streets could be heard chanting “Jose, Jose, Jose” as the procession passed them.

As the service started at Marlins Park, Fernandez’s body was loaded into the hearse by family members wearing his No. 16 jerseys.

Prior to the start of the funeral procession, Fernandez’s teammates gathered around the hearse to offer another goodbye to the pitcher.

Members of the team also walked with the hearse as it moved through the streets of Miami. Each member of the Marlins wore a white RIP t-shirt. The R and P were written out in big, block letters. The I was replaced by a picture of Fernandez standing on the pitcher’s mound. It was the same shirt second baseman Dee Gordon wore prior to Monday’s game.

As an homage to Fernandez’s uniform number, the procession began at Marlins Park at 2:16 p.m. ET. It will end at St. Brendan Catholic Church, where a public viewing will be held between 5-11 p.m.

Jose Fernandez
Jose Fernandez

Fernandez’s funeral is scheduled for Thursday.

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Chris Cwik is a writer for Big League Stew on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at christophercwik@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter! Follow @Chris_Cwik