Jeff Conine facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Jeff Conine |
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Conine in 2019
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| First baseman / Left fielder | |||
| Born: June 27, 1966 Tacoma, Washington, U.S. |
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| debut | |||
| September 16, 1990, for the Kansas City Royals | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| September 30, 2007, for the New York Mets | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .285 | ||
| Home runs | 214 | ||
| Runs batted in | 1,071 | ||
| Teams | |||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
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Jeffrey Guy Conine (born June 27, 1966) is a former professional baseball player from the United States. He played as a left fielder and first baseman in Major League Baseball (MLB) for 17 seasons. He played for six different teams during his career.
Jeff Conine was one of the first players for the Florida Marlins team. He was part of the team when they won both of their World Series championships. Because of his long history with the club, he earned the nickname "Mr. Marlin."
Conine was born in Tacoma, Washington. He played college baseball at UCLA. The Kansas City Royals drafted him in 1987. After playing a few games with the Royals, the Marlins chose Conine in the 1992 expansion draft. He quickly became a star player for the Marlins. He played five seasons with them and was named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) at the 1995 Major League Baseball All-Star Game. He also helped the team win the World Series in 1997.
After the 1997 season, Conine was traded back to the Royals and then to the Baltimore Orioles. He returned to the Marlins in 2003 and helped them win a second World Series title. He stayed with the Marlins until 2005. He officially retired as a Marlin in 2008 by signing a special one-day contract. In 2025, he became the first player inducted into the Marlins Legends Hall of Fame.
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Early Baseball Days
Jeff Conine played college baseball at UCLA. He started as a relief pitcher. In 1986, he won a championship with the Orleans Cardinals in the Cape Cod Baseball League.
The Kansas City Royals drafted him in 1987 as a first baseman. Before the draft, scouts thought he was an average pitcher. However, a Royals scout named Guy Hansen told the team's general manager that the best hitter at UCLA was actually a pitcher. This led to Conine being drafted. After playing three seasons in the minor leagues, where he hit well, he joined the Royals in 1990. He spent two more seasons in the minor leagues, learning to play the outfield, before returning to the major leagues in 1992.
Playing in Major League Baseball
Florida Marlins: First Time (1993–1997)
The Florida Marlins picked Jeff Conine in the 1992 expansion draft. He became a full-time left fielder. Even though the Marlins were a new team and didn't win many games, Conine became a star. In his first game as a Marlin, he got four hits in a win against the Los Angeles Dodgers. He played all 162 games in his first season. He hit for a .292 batting average with 12 home runs and 79 RBIs. He finished third in the Rookie of the Year award voting.
The next year, Conine was hitting very well by mid-season. He earned his first All-Star selection. He finished the 1994 season with a career-high .319 batting average, 18 home runs, and 82 RBIs.
In 1995, Conine had a great June, hitting .340 with nine home runs. This earned him the National League Player of the Month award and his second All-Star selection. In his only All-Star Game at-bat, he hit a home run that put his team ahead. He won the MVP award for that game. For the whole season, he had a career-high 105 RBIs, a .302 batting average, and 25 home runs. In 1996, he hit 26 home runs, had 95 RBIs, and a .293 batting average.
Winning the 1997 World Series
In 1997, the Marlins' new manager, Jim Leyland, moved Conine back to first base. The team had signed Moisés Alou to play left field. The Marlins finished second in their division but earned a wild card spot for the playoffs. They swept the San Francisco Giants in the first round. Then, they beat their rivals, the Atlanta Braves, to win the National League Championship Series. Conine's hit in Game 5 helped win that game.
The Marlins then defeated the Cleveland Indians in a seven-game World Series. This made them the fastest expansion team to win a World Series title. After winning, the Marlins' owner decided to trade many of their best players. Conine was traded back to the Kansas City Royals. When he left, Conine held the Marlins' records for hits, RBIs, and games played.
Baltimore Orioles (1999–2003)
Back pain limited Conine's playing time with the Royals in 1998. After just one season, the Royals traded him to the Baltimore Orioles. Conine got healthy and played well for Baltimore. In 1999, he hit .291 with 13 home runs and 75 RBIs. He also played a few games at third base. In 2000, Conine became a utility player, playing in different positions. In 2001, he had a strong season, hitting .311 with 97 RBIs, and became a starting first baseman again. He played more than five seasons in Baltimore, hitting .287 with 79 home runs and 410 RBIs.
Florida Marlins: Second Time (2003–2005)
Winning the 2003 World Series
In 2003, the Florida Marlins improved a lot under their new manager, Jack McKeon. On August 31, the Marlins traded for Conine to help them in the playoff race. Conine played 25 games back in Florida, hitting five home runs and 15 RBIs. The Marlins made it to the playoffs for the second time in their history.
Conine played very well in the 2003 National League Championship Series against the Chicago Cubs. He also hit well in the World Series against the New York Yankees. He is the only player to have been on the Marlins' first team in 1993, the 1997 World Series championship team, and the 2003 World Series championship team. He stayed with the Marlins until the end of the 2005 season.
Later Career (2006–2007)
In 2006, the Philadelphia Phillies acquired Conine to help them in their playoff push. He played well for the Phillies, hitting .280 with 17 RBIs in 28 games.
After the Phillies signed another player, Conine was traded to the Cincinnati Reds. He played first base and hit .265 with six home runs and 32 RBIs in 80 games. He was very good as a pinch-hitter, hitting .409. Because of this, the New York Mets traded for him in August 2007. He hit an RBI single in his first at-bat as a Met. On September 20, Conine said he was thinking about retiring. He played his final game on September 30 against the Marlins.
On March 28, 2008, Conine signed a special one-day contract with the Florida Marlins. This allowed him to officially retire as a member of the team. The Marlins honored Conine before their home opener on March 31. During his career with the Marlins, he hit .290 with 120 home runs and 553 RBIs. He holds the team record for grand slam home runs with six.
In 2012, Conine was on the ballot for the Baseball Hall of Fame. He did not receive enough votes and was removed from the ballot the next year.
After Baseball
After retiring from baseball, Jeff Conine started competing in triathlons. In 2007, he had a bicycle accident while training for a race, which broke his collarbone. Even though he was injured, he still competed in the Ironman and other races that year.
Conine also worked as a baseball commentator for Fox Sports Network in 2008. He was later let go from his broadcasting and special assistant roles in 2017.
In 2014, Conine was honored in Miami, and a special tour bus was dedicated to him.
In 2021, Conine became an associate head coach for Florida International University's baseball team. In November 2022, the Miami Marlins hired him as a special assistant. On March 30, 2025, Jeff Conine became the first person to be inducted into the Miami Marlins Hall of Fame.
About Jeff Conine's Life
Jeff Conine went to Eisenhower High School in Rialto, California. His father, Gerald Conine, was a wrestler who represented the United States in the 1964 Summer Olympics. Before focusing on baseball, Jeff was a top junior racquetball player. He won a national title in 1985. Conine met his wife, Cindy, at a professional racquetball tournament. They have three children.
Jeff Conine's son, Griffin Conine, is also an MLB player.
See also
- List of Major League Baseball career runs batted in leaders
