Key vet Cangelosi on '97 World Series memories

This story was excerpted from Christina De Nicola's Marlins Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox. This season marks the 25th anniversary of the 1997 World Series championship ballclub. In this latest installment, we catch up with John Cangelosi, who was part of the May 13-15 celebration at loanDepot park.

Before signing a two-year deal with the Marlins as a free agent, John Cangelosi had spent parts of 10 big league seasons with five ballclubs. A Miami Springs High School alumnus, Cangelosi was selected by the White Sox in the 1982 Draft out of Miami-Dade Community College. He returned to South Florida as a veteran presence off the bench. In 32 starts, the 34-year-old outfielder hit .287, while he went 10-for-63 as a pinch-hitter.

MLB.com: You were one of the signees going into that 1997 season. What was the pitch they made to you?

John Cangelosi: Skip [Jim Leyland]. I was actually the first one that they signed. Skip goes, "Just keep watching TV, we're not done yet." Skip put not only a great bench together, [but a] great team.

MLB.com: The Marlins weren't around when you were growing up, but what was it like playing for the hometown team?

Cangelosi: Coming full circle, if I knew that I was winning a World Series in my hometown. ... My friends were in the locker room after the game. I couldn't ask for a better ending.

MLB.com: What do you remember from having to pitch?

Cangelosi: We had like 20 games in 22 days, and we were getting beat by a lot. So skip goes, "Who could pitch?" And I'm like, "I could pitch." Went in and got three outs.

MLB.com: Had you ever pitched before outside of the big leagues?

Cangelosi: I never pitched in high school, but youth baseball. The first time I pitched with Leyland was with the Pirates at Dodger Stadium. Then fast forward, I pitched with the Astros. Fast forward again, I pitched with the Marlins.

Note: He threw four scoreless innings in three career outings.

MLB.com: What did that season mean to your career?

Cangelosi: That was towards the end of my career. That was the first time I got a two-year guaranteed contract. I said, "Skip, get me a two-year guarantee." He got me that. I was 34 years old, played parts of 13 years. I was blessed.

MLB.com: Where were you on the final play?

Cangelosi: I was on the top bench. As soon as he hit it, you can see me jumping up. I think I was jumping on Liván [Hernández], and then I hugged [third-base coach Rich Donnelly] after because it was the story about a chicken that runs at midnight. He started crying. I'm like, "What's up, Rich?" He goes, "Look up at the clock. It's midnight."