Florida.Marlins.MLB.com

By Joe Frisaro / MLB.com

The majority of Scott Pose's 313 Major League at-bats have been with the Kansas City Royals, but his first one was also the first for a franchise. (Tim Umphrey /Allsport)

He vividly recalls the pageantry of standing along the first-base line for player introductions. It was a typical sunny, scorching Miami afternoon. An ideal day to unveil Major League Baseball in a new market. The sounds of 42,334 packed into then-named Joe Robbie Stadium filled his ears. His eyes drank in the electric atmosphere. The setting was so pure.

Pose, now 35, took time recently to talk to MLB.com about the first game in Florida Marlins history.

It was played April 5, 1993, against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Then 25, Pose was the starting center fielder.

Many trivia buffs recall veteran knuckleballer Charlie Hough took the mound that day for Florida. Not as many nostalgia seekers know Scott Pose, playing in his first Major League game, led off for the Marlins.

"Five of us were making our Major League debuts," says Pose of a list that included closer Trevor Hoffman, now with San Diego. "It was an exciting time. The further you get away from that day, the more you realize there was so much more to it."

Pose witnessed firsthand the birth of a franchise.

Everything was new and fresh. Just pulling on his white and teal trimmed No. 2 uniform was something special.

Born in Davenport, Iowa, Pose grew up a New York Yankees fan. Baseball was somewhat traditional to him, so donning an expansion team's jersey was different.

"It was strange wearing a uniform that was never seen before," he says. "At the same time, it was groundbreaking and pioneering to be part of a new team."

As fate would have it, the Marlins beat the Dodgers 6-3 in Game No. 1. Hough got the win. Pose became the Marlins first base runner.

In his first at-bat he reached on an error by second baseman Jody Reed. Initially, the grounder was ruled a hit but was changed to an error.

"Kind of indicative of my career," Pose said profoundly.

There was no disputing Pose's second at-bat, a clear single.

"After that game we were excited in the clubhouse," Pose said. "We were thinking we could win 100 games easy. We didn't know any better. We were being baseball players."

After experiencing the thrill of victory on Day One, the rest of the season Florida endured the typical agony of defeat expected of a rookie franchise. The Marlins won just 63 more times, wrapping up the first season 64-98.

Pose actually hit safely in his first five Major League games. But his Marlins career lasted just 15 games and 18 days. He was demoted to Triple-A Edmonton, traveled about in various minor league systems and eventually surfaced with the Yankees in 1997. Ironically, he latched on with the team he grew up adoring during a season the Marlins won the World Series.

Today, Pose continues to chase his Major League dream. The center fielder has hooked up with the Las Vegas 51s, the Dodgers Triple-A affiliate.

Primarily, Pose is insurance in for Dodgers center fielders Dave Roberts and Marquis Grissom.

"I was given an opportunity to play," Pose said. "I still feel I'm able to play, and I'm going to go as long as I can."

Pose spent Spring Training with the Astros, but wasn't able to secure an outfield spot on a team that starts slugging center fielder Lance Berkman, Richard Hidalgo and Daryle Ward.

So he is back on familiar grounds -- the minors.

Pose, and his family, make their home in Raleigh, N.C.

While he broke into pro baseball in 1989, he has slightly more than two years of Major League service.

In the minor leagues, he has played everywhere from Billings to Edmonton to Albuquerque to New Orleans.

His brightest Major League moments include Opening Day with the Marlins, seeing brief playoff action with the Yankees and lasting the entire 1999 season with Kansas City. Yet he is mostly remembered for his Opening Day start as a Marlin.

To this day, hanging on the walls of the Pro Player Stadium media lounge is a framed edition of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel from the first game. Pictured making a great play in the outfield is Pose.

"My big-league career dwarfs the 18 days I spent with the Marlins," Pose said. "I'd like to be remembered for more than one event."

Joe Frisaro covers the Marlins for MLB.com. This story was not subject to approval by Major League Baseball or its clubs.

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