For one gorgeous Sunday afternoon, the Marlins were just regular guys.
After the Fish wrapped up their series against the Royals on Sunday, most of the players and coaches took to the outfield grass to spend time with a few hundred fans in a picnic setting at the 12th annual Dinner on the Diamond.
For players used to being watched from afar, it was a nice change of pace to get up close and personal with the fans that root for them every day.
"It's nice because a lot of the time you don't get to talk to the people one on one," said catcher Matt Treanor, who was the last Marlin to leave. "To come out and relax, have some food, and talk to people that watch us play is a great thing."
Dinner on the Diamond was hosted by the Florida Marlins Community Foundation and presented by 790 The Ticket and FSN Florida. The event was a casual picnic after the game with players, coaches, broadcasters, executives, Billy the Marlin and the Mermaids.
Fans who bought tickets had dinner along the outfield grass, took part in games, bid in a silent action on several pieces of memorabilia and even watched several Marlins take part in a player-style Family Feud.
Upwards of 250 fans were in attendance.
Nancy Olson, executive director of the Florida Marlins Community Foundation, said of all the promotions the club does throughout the season, this is the best of all.
"It's fantastic for the fans," Olson said. "This may be our best year yet.
"Sometimes, a lot of us that are here every day take it for granted that [we're in a big league ballpark]. But for some of these people, this is their field of dreams."
It was a field of dreams for long-time Marlins fan Adam Ross. Ross, decked out in Marlins gear, is a season-ticket holder who usually sits up in the 400 section. So stepping onto the field and having a casual conversation with Luis Gonzalez was a surreal moment.
"It's a wonderful experience," Ross said. "Where else is this going to happen? ... They're giving you an opportunity here most other teams won't, and you have to savor it."
Rob Isbitts has been a season-ticket holder since 2000 and has been coming to the event since 2004.
"I have to say, of the four years I've been coming here, it's pretty much identical," Isbitts said. "But it never gets old."
The event gives money to Camillus House, Daily Bread Food Bank and the Community Foundation. Last year, the dinner raised $30,000, and the event has raised more than $280,000 in 11 years. Olson said it would take a couple of days to calculate how much money was raised this year, but she anticipates it to be about the same as last year -- with each charity receiving $10,000.
"To me this is really the crowning jewel of our events," Daily Bread Food Bank executive director Judith Gatti said. "That's the beauty of this type of event because people can come out and help, and some people don't realize that they're helping."
Treanor was helping out just by showing that he's a lot like the fans that root for him in the stands.
"I think when we come out [the fans] realize we're just normal guys, and there's nothing really fancy about us," Treanor said. "We're normal guys, we just happen to have an opportunity to play big league baseball."
Alden Gonzalez is an associate reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
