Miami Marlins

The Miami Marlins is a United States professional baseball team based in Miami, Florida. They compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) and is a member of the National League (NL) East division.

They were founded in 1991 as the Florida Marlins and commenced play in 1993. Originally, they were based in the suburb Miami Gardens and had the Joe Robbie Stadium as their home ballpark. In 2012, they moved to the city of Miami, got LoanDepot Park (then named Marlins Park) as their home arena and switched name to the Miami Marlins. The name change was prompted by an agreement with ballpark owner Miami-Dade County.

The Marlins have qualified for the postseason three times, and won the World Series in both 1997 and 2003. All three playoff appearances were wild card opportunities, and they have never won a division title. The Marlins were the first wild card team to win the World Series.

Short facts about the Miami Marlins

Established: In 1993, as the Florida Marlins

Major league affiliations: National League 1993 – present, East Division 1993 – present

Colours: Midnight black – Miami blue – Caliente red – Slate grey

Nickname: The Fish

Ballpark: LoanDepot Park 2012 – present,  Joe Robbie Stadium 1993-2011

Retired numbers: 42 (retired by the MLB)

World Series titles

  • 1997
  • 2003

NL Pennants

  • 1997
  • 2003

East Division titles

  • None

Wild card berths

  • 1997
  • 2003
  • 2020

Miami Marlins origins

When the MLB wanted to add two new teams to the National League, Wayne Huizenga was awarded one of the expansion franchises and paid a $95 million expansion fee. He created the Florida Marlins in 1991, and the team commenced operations in 1993. The name Marlins was adopted from the three previous minor league teams called the Miami Marlins.

  • In their inaugural Spring training game, the Florida Marlins defeated the Houston Astros 12-8.
  • The Florida Marlins won their first regular game on April 5, 1993, against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
  • Gary Sheffield and Bryan Harvey represented the Florida Marlins as the club´s first All-Star Game selections.

1997: First World Series title

In 1997, the Marlins got the wild card berth. They swept the San Francisco Giants 3-0 in the National League Division Series, and defeated the Atlanta Braves 4-2 in the National League Championship series. Kevin Brown was unable to play the Atlanta Brave game due to a virus, and Alex Fernandez was unavailable because of a torn rotator cuff. Rookie pitcher Liván Hernández replaced Brown, and struck out 15 Braves.

The Marlins faced the Cleveland Indians in the 1997 World Series and won in seven games.

2003: Second World Series title

The Marlins were plagued by injury in 2003 as well, and took in Dontrolle Willis and Miguel Cabrera from the Double-A Carolina Mudcats to help. Former Marlin player Jeff Conine returned from Baltimore, and Ugueth Urbina arrived from the Texas Rangers. The Marlins finished ten game behind the Braves, but got the NL wild card.

On October 15, the Marlins defeated the Chicago Cubs four games to three in the Championship series, coming back from a 3-1 deficit. In the 2003 World Series, the Marlins attained victory over the New York Yankees (who were predicted to win) in six games. Game 6 was played in the Yankee Stadium.

The 2003 win made Jack McKeon the oldest manager to win a baseball World Series title.

Billy the Marlin

Billy the Marlin is the official mascot of the Miami Marlins. The name Billy, which was selected by Wayne Huizenga, alludes to the fact that a marlin is a billfish. For the first ten years (1993-2002), the man inside the Marlin costume was John Routh.

Billy the Marlin is present at every Marlin homegame, both in person and in a computer-animated motorboat race video game shown on the screen. Between innings, Billy the Marlin invites children to dance with him on the field, and he is also known to sometimes visit the Fan Zone.

On Mother´s Day and Father´s Day, Billy the Marlin is accompanied by his parents, Bill Sr. and Betty the Marlin.