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In pursuit of 60 HRs, Giancarlo Stanton is the hero Miami deserves

Steve Mitchell / USA TODAY Sports

In the 2011 film "Moneyball," Oakland Athletics general manager Billy Beane - played by Brad Pitt - utters these memorable words while watching video of former A's catcher Jeremy Brown - who was scared of rounding first base - after clobbering a home run.

"How can you not be romantic about baseball?"

Over the years, the sport and its fans have seen countless emotionally moving performances. Lou Gehrig's "Luckiest Man" speech. Cal Ripken Jr.'s victory lap. David Ortiz's profanity-laden address to Fenway after the Boston Marathon bombings. The list goes on and on.

In 2017, though, Miami Marlins outfielder Giancarlo Stanton is the latest to star on baseball's brightest stage.

Stanton hit his league-leading 50th home run Sunday, becoming the first National League player to reach the mark since Prince Fielder in 2007. Hitting .394/.482/1.000 in August, the slugger is all but guaranteed to reach the heralded 60 home-run club, and is projected to finish with 63.

If and when he accomplishes the feat, Stanton's momentous achievement will be celebrated and cherished across baseball, though no one deserves to revel in it more than Stanton himself, Marlins fans, and MLB in general.

For Miami

In late September 2016, the Marlins lost Jose Fernandez - one of baseball's best young pitchers - in a tragic boating accident. The 24-year-old's death was a devastating blow to baseball, and especially Miami, not only because of Fernandez's prodigious talent on the mound, but his infectious personality off it.

A loss of that magnitude unsurprisingly left the Marlins in disarray. Stanton - Fernandez's close friend - gave an emotional speech in Miami's first game after his death.

The Marlins struggled to start the season, going 21-30 through April and May, but it was owner Jeffrey Loria who got all the attention. It was reported in February he would sell the club in order to pursue a role in President Donald Trump's administration.

Persistent trade rumors involving Stanton and the Marlins' core ensued, though nothing came to fruition. The Marlins' inactivity turned into a blessing for the organization, which will eventually be overseen by a new ownership group that includes Derek Jeter. It remains to be seen what will come of Stanton's future, but even if he's eventually traded, his performance this year will be remembered by a fan base that's had to endure so much.

For MLB

Since 1927, only five players have hit 60 or more home runs in a season. Sammy Sosa did it three times, Mark McGwire managed it twice, while Roger Maris and Babe Ruth did it once apiece. So, too, did Barry Bonds, who holds the single-season record of 73, set in 2001.

Whether you consider Bonds', McGwire's, and Sosa's home run totals to be tainted, they aren't going anywhere. Instead of dwelling on the past, the focus should be on Stanton's magical present.

Stanton eclipsing the 60 home-run mark would be a welcomed achievement - for baseball and the Marlins. Led by Stanton, Miami could finish with a winning record for the first time since 2009. And while No. 27 is guaranteed to earn MVP consideration, regardless if he wins or not, his incredible season won't be forgotten.

Whether you consider the home-run record to be Maris' 61 in 1961, Bonds' 73, or some other league-leading total, whatever number Stanton finishes with, it's one to be celebrated. Especially in Miami.

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