The Florida Marlins All-Time Team
In a short seventeen years of existence the Florida Marlins have managed to win two world series, both after clinching a wild card berth. They're the team that everyone underestimates every year, but towards the end of the season they are always in the thick of things.
The Marlins are notorious for not keeping their stars and trying to win by bringing up players out of their farm system.
So let's take a look, position by position, who the best are to put on a Marlins uniform.
Manager: Jim Leyland
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He was only with the Marlins for two years, 1997 and 1998, managing just a 146-178 record.
Despite the sub-par record and only managing for two years, Jim Leyland put the Florida Marlins on the map. In 1997 his first year as the manager, he took a four year old team and led them to a 92-70 record, the best record in Marlin history. That was also the year they won their first world series.
In the offseason, owner Wayne Huizenga dismantled the team in what became known as "the fire sale." Leyland remained as manager, but resigned after an awful 1998 season, finishing 54-108.
Honorable Mention - Jack McKeon
Catcher: Charles Johnson
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Charles Johnson was an amazing defensive catcher who played seven years with the Marlins. He caught three no hitters, was a two time all star, a four time gold glove winner, and was on the 1997 championship team. (where he batted .357 to help the Marlins win their first World Series).
Johnson also played in 123 games without committing a single error, a Major League record.
Johnson played 587 games in a Marlins uniform, earning 467 hits, 75 home runs, 277 RBI with a batting average of .241.
Honorable Mention - Ivan Rodriguez
First Baseman: Jeff Conine
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Jeff Conine had to make this list. After all, his nickname is Mr. Marlin.
He is the only play to appear in the Marlins' inaugural season, the 1997 World Series, and the 2003 World Series.
In addition to being a two time World Series winner, he is also a two time all star, and in 1995 he was the All-Star Game MVP. He was the first Marlin ever to receive the honor after hitting the game winning home run for the National League.
Mr. Marlin played over one thousand games in a Florida uniform, hitting 120 home runs, 553 RBI and finishing with a .290 batting average. He was also productive when it counted most, getting 31 hits in 32 postseason games.
Honorable Mention - Derrek Lee
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Second Baseman: Luis Castillo
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This is probably the easiest position to fill on the list. Luis Castillo made his Major League debut on August 8, 1996 and he's put together a solid career.
Castillo played ten years for Florida where he got 1,273 hits. It all started with his first Major League hit, it came in a game against the New York Mets, where he knocked in the game-winning run in the 10th inning. He also has the longest hitting streak in Marlins history at 35 games, he accomplished that feat in 2002.
Getting on base was only half the battle for this second baseman because when he got on, he would steal. Castillo stole 281 bases as a Marlin, including 62 in 2000 and 48 in 2002, which lead the league both years.
Although Castillo was on both championship teams, he was sent to the minors in 1997 with a heel injury. Not being able to play for the Marlins during the World Series, he only gets credit for the 2003 championship.
He is also a three time all star and a three time gold glove winner.
Honorable Mention - Dan Uggla
Shortstop: Hanley Ramirez
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This is a no brainier. Hanley Ramirez has only been in the Majors for six years and can already arguably be the greatest Marlin ever.
Ramirez has been a top player in the game ever since his rookie year in 2006. He became the second Marlin ever to win the National League Rookie of the Year award (the first was Dontrelle Willis). He also became the fifth big league player since 1900 to hit 45 plus doubles and have 50 plus stolen bases, joining Hall of Famers Ty Cobb, Tris Speaker and Lou Brock.
He is a two time Sliver Slugger Award winner, joined the 30-30 club in 2008 and, in 2009, he became the NL batting champion.
We have yet to see the best of what this two time All Star has to offer. With Ramirez locked up in a long term deal at the young age of 26, he will shatter all of the Marlins hitting records in due time.
Honorable Mention - Edgar Renteria
Third Baseman: Miguel Cabrera
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Miguel Cabrera instantly became a fan favorite the moment he stepped on the field. In his Major League debut at twenty years old, he hit a walk off homerun.
Cabrera played five years for the Marlins, finishing with a .312 batting average, 842 hits, 138 home runs and 523 RBI. He also set the Marlins single season record in 2006 for doubles, with 50.
Miguel is a two time Silver Slugger award winner and a four time all-star. But the key contributions as a Marlin came in 2003 when he helped the fish win the World Series. In 17 playoff games Miguel raked 18 hits, including four home runs and 12 RBI.
Honorable Mention - Mike Lowell
Left Fielder: Moises Alou
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Left field has been a weak spot for the Marlins over their sixteen years of existence, but Alou may have earned this spot with his contribution to the 1997 championship season alone.
Although Alou only played one season with the fish, he led the team with 23 home runs and 115 RBI. Alou then went on to hit .321 with three home runs and nine RBI in the World Series, as the Marlins defeated the Indians in seven games.
Honorable Mention - Josh Willingham
Center Fielder: Juan Pierre
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In 2002 Pierre was traded from the Rockies to the Marlins for Charles Johnson and a few others. The three years Pierre had in a Marlins uniform were pretty solid. He didn't miss game as a Marlin, playing in all 162 games each of the three years.
He was a major contributor during the Marlins 2003 World Series season in which he led the NL in games played, at bats, stolen bases, sacrifice hit, and strike out percentage 5.2.
Pierre went on to bat .333 in the World Series to earn his first World Series ring and the Marlins second as a franchise.
In 2004 Pierre may have had his best season in his career in which he once again led the NL in at bats, triples, hits, bunt hits, games played and infield hits. He was also the only player to play every inning of his teams games that season.
Pierre finished his three year career as a Marlin with 606 hits, 32 triples, 167 stolen bases, and a .303 batting average. He also holds the single season Marlins records for triples with 13, hits with 221, and stolen bases with 65. Pierre was also the first Marlin ever to have a 200 hit season, the only other player to do so is Hanley Ramirez.
Honorable Mention - Preston Wilson
Right Fielder: Gary Sheffield
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In 1993, Gary Sheffield was traded from the San Diego Padres to the Florida Marlins for Trevor Hoffman. Hoffman went on to have a fabulous career in San Diego, but Sheffield's in Florida wasn't too shabby.
Sheffield was a two time All Star playing for the Marlins, and won the Silver Slugger award in 1996. He helped lead the Marlins to their first World Series title in 1997, a season where he hit 21 home runs, for 71 RBI. In the World Series Sheffield hit for .292 with one home run and five RBI.
Sheffield finished his six year career in a Marlins uniform with 588 hits, 122 home runs, 380 RBI's and a batting average of .288. He also holds the Marlins records for on base percentage, slugging percentage and home runs with 42, a feat he accomplished in 1996.
Honorable Mention - Cody Ross
Pitcher: Josh Beckett
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Josh Beckett is one of the best young pitchers this Florida Marlins franchise has ever seen. Beckett started his career in Florida and played his first five years in the big leagues there.
When you look at Beckett's wins and loss record his numbers don't seem that impressive at just 41-34. However, Beckett does hold the Marlins record for walks and hits per inning pitched at 1.2 in 609 innings. He also holds the record for strikeouts per nine innings pitched at 8.9, in which he finished his Marlin career with 607. Beckett also suffered for most of his career with blister problems, often having to wipe blood on his pants in between pitches.
The moment that sticks out the most with Josh Beckett's time with the Florida Marlins is his performance against the New York Yankees in the 2003 World Series.
With the Marlins up 3-2 in the series, Josh Beckett pitched on just three days rest leading them to their second World Series title in franchise history. Beckett pitched a complete game shutout, striking out nine batters and getting the final out on a tag. The performance earned him World Series MVP honers.
In 2005 Beckett was traded to the Boston Red Sox for Hanley Ramirez.
Honorable Mentions - Livan Hernandez, Alex Fernandez, Carl Pavano, Josh Johnson, Dontrelle Willis
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