Looking back at that Jose Fernandez smile, which was as special as his talent

On Sunday, we learned of the tragic and untimely death of Marlins ace Jose Fernandez in a boating accident. While the 24-year-old will of course be remembered for his excellence on the mound -- what he already achieved and what was surely ahead of him -- the simple joy he took in playing the game also defined him, in the best possible way.

Now let's look back at a few moments that best captured Hernandez, his generational smile, and his almost palpable enthusiasm for the game of baseball.

Who can forget this moment against Troy Tulowitzki in 2013 ...

Also, poke around and you can find countless instances of Fernandez's and hitting coach Barry Bonds' joking around in the dugout ...

And remember when he made expert use of Giancarlo Stanton's bat shard?

Also, please appreciate his Fernando Rodney imitation ...

And who could forget this one, occasioned by a Stanton walk-off ...

Poke around any baseball photo repository, and you'll find countless images like this ...

Or images of his sharing that joy with those around him ...

Even on the mound, always the smile ...

Always the smile ...

There's also this one ...

This one says a lot, doesn't it? There's the implication of dominance on the mound -- why else would he be mic'd up after a game -- evidence of celebration with his teammates/friends (the terms were surely interchangeable with a man like Fernandez), and that almost rapturous smile.

Of course, the Fernandez's simple decency and abundance of joy wasn't just something for the cameras ...

For Fernandez, baseball was a exercise in joy and also a communal act to be shared. That was evident even in the moments after he recorded the last out of his life ...

Thank you, Jose Fernandez. Thank you.