Florida Marlins history

 

In 1991, the National League awarded a franchise to Wayne Huizenga, chief executive officer of Blockbuster Entertainment Corporation for a $95 million expansion fee. Huizenga announced plans to convert Joe Robbie Stadium from a football only field to a multipurpose stadium. The renovation only cost $100 million, largely because Dolphin owner Joe Robbie had anticipated baseball coming to South Florida and built the stadium with a wider field than is normally the case for the NFL.

 The Marlins first manager was Rene Lacheman, a former catcher who had previously managed the Seattle Mariners and Milwaukee Brewers. In 1992, the Marlins announced the signing of their first free agents, by signing infielder Dave Magadan and veteran pitcher Charlie Hough.

 On April 5, 1993, the Marlins played their first game against the Los Angeles Dodgers before a sellout stadium of 42,334 fans at Joe Robbie Stadium, as they defeated the Dodgers 6-3. Gary Sheffield and Bryan Harvey where’re the first Marlins to represent Florida in the All-Star Game and Sheffield hit the first home run in an All-Star Game for the Marlins. The Marlins finished their inaugural season 64-98, five games ahead of the last place Mets.

 After the Marlins finished the 1994 season in last place with a 51-64 record, they continued to slide in 1995, posting a record of 67-76. After the 1995 season, the Marlins replaced Lacheman and hired John Boles as the team’s new skipper.

 In 1996, the Marlins improved with a record of 80-82. The team had an ERA of 3.95, which was third in the NL, behind Kevin Brown, who finished the season with a 17-11 record and an impressive 1.89 ERA. On May 11, Al Leiter pitched the first no-hitter in Marlins history against the Rockies. Catcher Charles Johnson led the league with an impressive .995 fielding percentage and collected his second straight Gold Glove Award. After the season, Boles returned to the front office and was replaced by Jim Leyland to manage the club in for the 1997 season.

 The 1997 season started during the off season when the Marlins signed third baseman Bobby Bonilla, outfielder Moises Alou, and pitcher Alex Fernandez. On June 10, pitcher Kevin Brown tossed the Marlins second no-hitter in their young franchise history. With Leiter, Brown, Fernandez and Rob Nen closing out games, the Marlins featured a devastating pitching rotation. Behind young stars Darren Daulton and Edgar Renteria, the Marlins finished the season with a 92-70 record, finishing second in the NL East, and earning the clubs first ever wild card berth. In the NLDS, they swept the Giants 3-0 and defeated the Atlanta Braves in the NLCS four games to two, giving the Marlins their first ever National League pennant, behind rookie pitcher Livan Hernandez, who struck out 15 braves in game five.

 The Marlins were the underdog against the Cleveland Indians in the 1997 World Series. In the bottom of the 11th-inning of game seven, Edgar Renteria hit a two-out, walk-off 11th-inning single, scoring Craig Counsel, giving the Marlins their first World Series championship. Livan Hernandez was named series MVP.

 After the Marlins World Series triumph, owner Wayne Huizenga claimed massive financial losses. He dismantled the team by traded away the teams star players. Bobby Bonilla, Gary Sheffield, Kevin Brown and Moises Alou were among those who were traded in the “fire sale”.

 In 1998, the Marlins became the first team to lose 100 games after winning the World Series the year before. Leyland re singed as manager in October of 1998 after his disgust at the teams fire sale and was replaced by former Marlin manager John Boles. Soon after, MLB owners unanimously approved the sale of the Marlins from Huizenga to John W. Henry. The Marlins had the second overall pick in the 1999 draft and drafted pitcher Josh Beckett from the state of Texas. The Marlins finished the 1999 season with the worst record in baseball as they went 64-98. During the season, the Marlins announced Bicentennial Park in downtown Miami as their site for a new ballpark.

 After finishing in last place in 1999, the Marlins posted a 79-82 record with a third place finish in the NL East. The Marlins were led by Preston Wilson who had 31 home runs and 121 RBI’s. Derrek Lee and Luis Castillo both had a break out year, Castillo posted a .334 batting average and Lee had 28 home runs in his first full season.

 In 2001, the Marlins worked back into becoming a respectable team with the emergence of A.J Burnett, Brad Penny, Preston Wilson, Mike Lowell and Luis Castillo. Burnett pitched the Marlins third no-hitter against the Padres on May 12. The Marlins still finished in fourth place with a 76-86 record. During the season, the Marlins fired John Boles and replaced him with Hall of Fame player Tony Perez.

 After the 2001 season, Marlins owner John Henry sold his share of the Marlins to Jeffrey Loria. Once Loria was owner, he hired Jeff Torborg as manager.

 Before the 2002 season, the Marlins traded for pitcher Dontrell Willis. The club would be distracted by owner Jeffrey Loria by becoming a co-defendant in a RICO Act lawsuit filed by former minority partners of the Montreal Expos, the team Loria had previously owned. Luis Castillo set the club record when he recorded a 35 game hitting streak. The Marlins still finished in fifth place with a 79-83 record.

 The Marlins showed promise entering the 2003 season with Josh Beckett, Carl Pavono, Brad Penny and A.J Burnett as rotation starters. During the off season, the Marlins signed catcher Ivan Rodriguez, a 10-time Gold Glove Award winner. In the beginning of the 2003 season the Marlins struggled after loosing pitchers Beckett and Burnett to injuries. On May 11, Florida replaced manager Jeff Torborg with 72-year old Jack McKeon. The Marlins season seemed to be ruined after having a 19-29 record and having lost six straight games. With the help of Dontrell Willis, Miguel Cabrera, closer Ugueth Urbrina and original Marlin Jeff Conine, the Marlins finished the season with a 91-71 record finishing second in the NL East and capturing the NL wild card. At the end of the season, pitcher Dontrell Willis was named NL Rookie of the Year and Jack McKeon was voted Manager of the Year.

 In the postseason, the Marlins defeated the Giants in the NLDS three games to one. The series ended in dramatic fashion when J.T. Snow was thrown out at the plate in game four to end the series. In the NLCS, the Marlins faced off against the Chicago Cubs. The Cubs were leading the series 3 games to 2, when in game six in Chicago, Cubs fan Steve Bartman interfered with a foul ball, that could have been caught costing the Cubs the game. In game seven, the Marlins closed out the Cubs, winning their second National League pennant.

 In the World Series, the Marlins beat the New York Yankees in six games. Josh Beckett won the series MVP after pitching a five-hit complete game in game six at Yankee Stadium. Skipper Jack McKeon is the oldest manager to win a World Series.

 After another World Series victory, the Marlins traded star Derrek Lee to the Chicago Cubs. Catcher Ivan Rodriguez and Ugueth Urbina were lost to free agency. The Marlins started off the 2004 season 30-20, but struggled the rest of the way. During the season, the Marlins traded Brad Penny to the Dodgers for Guillermo Mota, Paul LoDuca and Juan Encarnacion. The trade didn’t work out as the Marlins missed the postseason even though they had a winning record of 83-79.

 In 2005, the Marlins signed Carlos Delgado, raising hopes of another great season for the club. Delgado’s contract was the biggest in Marlins history. However, at the All-Star break the club’s record was 44-42. The club tied a team record by sending four players (Willis, LoDuca, Castillo, and Cabrera) to the midsummer classic. During the season, Dontrell Willis became the 13th member of the Black Aces, when he notched his 20th win against the Washington Nationals.

 The Marlins led the NL wild card race in late September, but lost their last 12 of 14 games. The Marlins finished the season 83-79, missing postseason action.

 In 2006, the Marlins made MLB history by starting six rookies on Opening Day. During the season, rookies Dan Uggla, Josh Willingham and Mike Jacobs became the first rookie teammates to 20 home runs in the same season. Shortstop Hanley Ramirez won the the NL Rookie of the Year Award. For the first time in MLB history, six of the twelve players that received Rookie of the Year votes were Marlins. Despite the individual awards, the Marlins finished the season with a 78-84 record. Shortly after the season, manager Joe Giradi was fired, right after he was voted NL Manager of the year.

 In 2007, the youthful, energetic squad that surprised so many people in 2006 could never overcome a rash of injuries that plagued the team all year, especially the pitching rotation. Josh Johnson and Anibal Johnson, missed just about the entire season with their setbacks, and Ricky Nolasco missed allot of time with a sore elbow. Even with losing three in the rotation from last year, the club had two lefties who were projected to have a big year. But Willis and Scott Olsen had their worst year in the majors. For the first time in franchise history, no pitcher logged in a complete game. Hanley Ramirez challenged for the batting title, and emerged as one of the games elite hitters. Pitcher Kevin Gregg secured the closer spot and was the leader of an overworked bullpen. Third baseman Miguel Cabrera posted his usual big numbers, and the offense set a club record for home runs. The Marlins finished the 2007 season in fifth place with a 71-91 record.