While Muhammad Ali was gravely ill and battling for his life in a Phoenix-area hospital, the Miami Marlins of MLB announced the death of boxing great on its giant scoreboard Friday night.
The announcement came hours before the official announcement by an Ali spokesperson on the passing of the boxing great. He was 74 years old.
The Marlins showed images on its video board of the boxing great, with the years "1942-2016."
Ali was taken to the hospital on Tuesday with respiratory issues. He remains there as family has gathered in Phoenix. Multiple media outlets reported Friday evening that Ali's condition has worsened, and his passing could happen at any time.
A team spokesperson told multiple media outlets late Friday that it stood by the announcement.
Ali helped christen Marlins Park when the facility opened in 2012. Some speculated that Ali's family tipped the baseball organization off before announcing Ali's death to the rest of the world, some three hours later.
The moment was captured on social media by a number of Marlins fans.
Just announced at the Marlins game the goat has passed ? Muhammad Ali pic.twitter.com/tXnTJaXTIJ
— 1999 PEDRO MARTINEZ (@b0ss561) June 4, 2016
@WillManso Marlins just told the crowd that Muhammad Ali died pic.twitter.com/tZlGrzgGbj
— Beth (@beth819) June 4, 2016
Marlins announce Muhammad Ali is dead. No media outlets reporting this. A closer look at image shown to fans: pic.twitter.com/XzwZtiudzD
— Scott Gustin (@ScottGustin) June 4, 2016
