A Gator Grad and a Gainesville Native Star in World Series Finale

In what some are calling the greatest game of baseball ever played, two players have ties to the Gainesville area. Andrew Miller,  a Gainesville native and Buchholz High School graduate, who is a relief pitcher for the Cleveland Indians and David Ross, a catcher for the Chicago Cubs who played baseball at the University of Florida.

Andrew Miller

Miller, who played college baseball at North Carolina, began the season with the New York Yankees. Miller made his first All-Star game as a closer for the Yanks, before being traded at the deadline to the Cleveland Indians for Clint Frazier, Justus Sheffield, Ben Heller and J. P. Feyereisen.

Miller proved to be invaluable to the Indians in the post season racking up some very impressive statistics:

• In his first four appearances in the post season he struck out 17 players through 7 2/3 innings
• ALCS MVP, where he set a strikeout record among relievers with 14
• Had a scoreless streak of 17 innings in the postseason
• Had record 30 strikeouts in the postseason, the most ever among relievers

This all came to an end, however, in Game 7 of the World Series. Miller gave up two runs in Game 7, including a home run in the sixth inning to David Ross.

Miller wishes that he could have some of those pitches back from their Game 7 loss to the Cubs.

David Ross

The journeyman catcher and former Gator baseball player took the field on Wednesday for the last time. Ross is no stranger to the big stage, having won a World Series with the Boston Red Sox, where he had a game-winning RBI double in Game 5.

It was after the 2015 season when Ross announced that 2016 would be the final year of his professional career. That didn’t stop him form having some impressive moments along the way including catching his first no-hitter and hitting his 100th home run.

It was in Game 7 of the World Series, however, where Ross would have his most triumphant moment. Facing the aforementioned Miller, Ross hit one out of the park, becoming the oldest player to hit a home run in a Game 7 of the World Series.

Here is the call of the home run from the game.

Following the game Ross was carried off the field in heroic fashion.

Look what the boys got me for my retirement pic.twitter.com/wtnE2WrWYV

— David Ross (@D_Ross3) November 3, 2016