History of the Miami Marlins facts for kids
The Miami Marlins are a professional Major League Baseball team based in Miami, Florida. They started playing in 1993 as the Florida Marlins, located in Miami Gardens. In 2012, the team moved into the city of Miami and changed its name to the Miami Marlins. Since then, they have played their home games at LoanDepot Park, which was previously called Marlins Park.
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Team History
Starting Out (1990–1996)
In 1990, a businessman named Wayne Huizenga decided he wanted to bring a baseball team to Florida. Major League Baseball (MLB) was planning to add two new teams to the National League, and Florida was a top choice. Huizenga's group in Miami competed with others from Orlando and Tampa Bay. Finally, in 1991, Miami was chosen, and Huizenga paid $95 million for the new team. The team was named the "Marlins," a name used by earlier minor league teams in Miami.
The Marlins hired their first manager, Rene Lachemann, and picked their first players in a special draft in 1992. Their very first game was on April 5, 1993, against the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Marlins won! Jeff Conine was a big hit with fans, earning the nickname "Mr. Marlin." Two players, Gary Sheffield and Bryan Harvey, were even chosen for the All-Star Game that year.
In 1996, the Marlins' pitching got much stronger. Kevin Brown had a great season, and Al Leiter pitched the first no-hitter in Marlins history. A no-hitter is when a pitcher plays an entire game without allowing the other team to get any hits. The team finished the year with a winning record. After the season, Jim Leyland was hired as the new manager.
First World Series Win (1997)
Before the 1997 season, the Marlins signed some big-name players like Bobby Bonilla, Moisés Alou, and Alex Fernandez. This made fans very excited!
On June 10, Kevin Brown pitched the Marlins' second no-hitter. The team had a strong pitching staff and a mix of experienced and young players. They made it to the playoffs as a "wild card" team, meaning they had one of the best records among teams that didn't win their division.
The Marlins surprised everyone by beating the San Francisco Giants and then the strong Atlanta Braves to win the National League championship. Rookie pitcher Liván Hernández was a hero in the series against the Braves, striking out 15 batters in one game.
In the 1997 World Series, the Marlins faced the Cleveland Indians. It was a thrilling series that went all seven games. In the final game, Édgar Rentería hit a special single that scored the winning run in the 11th inning, giving the Marlins their first-ever World Series title!
The "Fire Sale" (1997-1998)
After winning the World Series, the team's owner, Wayne Huizenga, decided to trade away many of the team's best players. This was called a "fire sale" because it was like selling off valuable items quickly. He said the team was losing money. Many star players, including Moisés Alou, Kevin Brown, Bobby Bonilla, and Gary Sheffield, were traded.
Even with these changes, the Marlins managed to win another World Series just six years later in 2003. Interestingly, Jeff Conine, "Mr. Marlin," played on both championship teams!
Tough Times and New Owners (1998–2002)
After the "fire sale," the Marlins had a very tough year in 1998, losing 108 games. This was the most losses in the team's history and the only time a team has lost 100 games the year after winning the World Series. Manager Jim Leyland left, and Huizenga sold the team to John W. Henry.
In 1999, the Marlins were part of a historic moment when instant replay was used for the first time in an MLB game to check a home run call. The team continued to struggle, finishing with the worst record in baseball.
The team slowly started to improve in 2000 with young stars like A. J. Burnett, Brad Penny, and Luis Castillo. Burnett even pitched the Marlins' third no-hitter in 2001. After the 2001 season, the team got a new owner, Jeffrey Loria, and a new management team.
In 2002, the Marlins made some important trades, bringing in players like Dontrelle Willis and Carl Pavano. They also made their first-ever triple play in team history. The team finished with a better record, but still had a losing season.
Second World Series Win (2003–2005)
Before the 2003 season, the Marlins signed star catcher Iván Rodríguez and speedy outfielder Juan Pierre. The team started slowly and even lost their manager, Jeff Torborg, who was replaced by 72-year-old Jack McKeon.
But then, things turned around! Young players like pitcher Dontrelle Willis and slugger Miguel Cabrera were called up from the minor leagues and played incredibly well. The team also brought back fan-favorite Jeff Conine. These additions helped the Marlins get into the playoffs as a wild card team.
The Marlins surprised everyone again by winning the Division Series against the San Francisco Giants. Then, they faced the Chicago Cubs in the Championship Series. The Marlins were down 3-1 in the series, but they made an amazing comeback, winning three straight games to take the National League pennant. This included a famous moment in Game 6 involving a fan named Steve Bartman.
In the 2003 World Series, the Marlins faced the powerful New York Yankees. Against all odds, the Marlins won the series in six games, clinching the title in Yankee Stadium! Pitcher Josh Beckett was named the Most Valuable Player of the series. Jack McKeon became the oldest manager to win a World Series.
After the Second Win (2004–2005)
After their second World Series win, the Marlins continued to make changes to save money. They traded away players like Derrek Lee and lost others like Iván Rodríguez. However, they still had a winning season in 2004, finishing with an 83-79 record. Dontrelle Willis won the Rookie of the Year award, and Jack McKeon was named Manager of the Year.
In 2005, the Marlins signed Carlos Delgado to the biggest contract in team history at the time. Dontrelle Willis had an amazing season, winning 22 games and becoming a favorite for the Cy Young Award, which is given to the best pitcher. The team was in the playoff race late in the season but lost many games in September and missed the playoffs.
After the 2005 season, Jack McKeon retired, and Joe Girardi was hired as the new manager. The team also traded away many more key players, including Josh Beckett, Mike Lowell, Carlos Delgado, Paul Lo Duca, Luis Castillo, and Juan Pierre. The team called this a "market correction" because they didn't have a new stadium deal yet.
Rebuilding and New Stars (2006–2011)
In 2006, the Marlins had the lowest team salary in MLB and started the season with six rookies in their lineup. Many people thought they would lose over 100 games, but the young team surprised everyone! They improved greatly throughout the season. Four rookie pitchers—Josh Johnson, Scott Olsen, Ricky Nolasco, and Aníbal Sánchez—each won at least ten games, which was a first in MLB history. Aníbal Sánchez even pitched the team's fourth no-hitter.
Hanley Ramírez won the National League Rookie of the Year award, and Joe Girardi was named Manager of the Year. However, Girardi was fired shortly after the season due to disagreements with the owner. Fredi González became the new manager.
In 2007, injuries hit the team hard, especially the pitching staff. Despite good seasons from stars like Hanley Ramírez and Miguel Cabrera, the team finished in last place. After the season, the Marlins traded away their two biggest stars, Miguel Cabrera and Dontrelle Willis, to the Detroit Tigers for a group of young players.
Back to Winning Records (2008–2009)
In 2008, the Marlins surprised everyone again by starting the season very well, leading their division for a while. This was thanks to strong hitting from players like Mike Jacobs, Hanley Ramírez, Dan Uggla, and Jorge Cantú. Pitchers Josh Johnson and Aníbal Sánchez also returned from injuries. Hanley Ramírez signed a big contract, making him the highest-paid Marlin ever at the time. The team finished with a winning record, hitting a franchise record 208 home runs.
In 2009, the Marlins' long search for a new stadium finally ended with an agreement to build a new ballpark in Miami. The team hoped to move into the new stadium in 2012 and change their name to the Miami Marlins. The team started the season strong, winning their first four games for the first time in history. Rookie Chris Coghlan had a fantastic season and was named the National League Rookie of the Year. The Marlins finished with their third-best record in franchise history, 87-75.
Rookie Success and Changes (2010)
In 2010, the Marlins announced that their road jerseys would no longer say "Florida" as they prepared for the move to the new ballpark and the name change. The team signed pitcher Josh Johnson to a big contract, keeping him with the team beyond the new stadium's opening.
Despite high hopes, the season was disappointing. Manager Fredi González was fired in June and replaced by Edwin Rodriguez. The team also dealt with many injuries to key players. However, rookie outfielders Michael Stanton and Logan Morrison emerged as exciting new talents. The Marlins finished the season with a losing record.
After the season, the team continued to make big changes. They traded away players like Andrew Miller, Cameron Maybin, and All-Star second baseman Dan Uggla. They also signed new players, including All-Star catcher John Buck and pitcher Javier Vázquez, showing a new approach to signing free agents.
Move to Miami and New Challenges (2012–2017)
In 2012, the team officially became the Miami Marlins and moved into their brand-new home, Marlins Park. They also brought in a new manager, Ozzie Guillén, and signed several well-known players like Jose Reyes and Mark Buehrle.
The Marlins opened their new stadium on April 4, 2012, but struggled throughout the season. They traded away more key players, including Omar Infante, Aníbal Sánchez, and Hanley Ramírez. The team finished with a very poor record, and Ozzie Guillén was fired after just one season. Mike Redmond became the new manager.
In 2013, the team had another tough year, losing 100 games. However, there were some bright spots: Henderson Álvarez pitched the team's fifth no-hitter in the final game of the season, and pitcher José Fernández won the National League Rookie of the Year award.
Before the 2014 season, the Marlins added more hitters to their team. They finished with a better record, but both José Fernández and Giancarlo Stanton suffered major injuries. After the season, Giancarlo Stanton signed the largest contract in MLB history at the time: 13 years for $325 million. The team continued to add players, including Dee Gordon and baseball legend Ichiro Suzuki.
The 2015 season started with high hopes, but the team struggled, and manager Mike Redmond was fired. General Manager Dan Jennings took over as manager, even though he had never coached before.
On September 25, 2016, the Marlins faced a very sad event when pitcher José Fernández died in a boating accident. The team honored him in a special game the next day, with every player wearing his jersey. Dee Strange-Gordon hit an emotional home run in that game.
Jeter and Sherman Era (2018–Present)
In 2017, the team's owner, Jeffrey Loria, decided to sell the Marlins. A group led by Bruce Sherman and including former New York Yankees star Derek Jeter bought the team for $1.2 billion. Jeter became the team's new CEO. The new ownership group immediately traded away more star players, including Marcell Ozuna and Giancarlo Stanton, to rebuild the team.
In 2018, the team revealed new logos, colors, and uniforms for the 2019 season, changing from their colorful "rainbow" look. In 2019, the Marlins had another difficult season, finishing with a 57-105 record.
However, in the shortened 2020 season (due to the COVID-19 pandemic), the Marlins surprised everyone by making the playoffs for the first time since their 2003 World Series win! They finished with a winning record and won their first playoff series against the Chicago Cubs. They were then swept by the Atlanta Braves, which was their first playoff series loss ever.
After the 2020 season, the Marlins made history by hiring Kim Ng as their new general manager. She became the first woman to hold an executive position in any major American sports league and the first Asian American general manager in MLB.
In 2022, Marlins pitcher Sandy Alcántara won the National League Cy Young Award unanimously, becoming the first Marlins pitcher to win this award for the best pitcher.
In 2023, the Marlins had a winning record of 84-78 and made the playoffs in a full season for the first time since 2003. While Alcántara had a tougher year, the rest of the pitching staff stepped up. They lost in the Wild Card round to the Philadelphia Phillies.
