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 American professional baseball player. He played as a left fielder and first baseman. Jeff played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for 17 seasons. He was part of six different teams.
He was one of the first players for the Florida Marlins. He helped them win two World Series titles. Because of his long history with the team, he was nicknamed "Mr. Marlin".
Conine was born in Tacoma, Washington. He played baseball at UCLA. The Kansas City Royals drafted him in 1987. After playing briefly for the Royals, the Marlins chose him in a special draft in 1992. He became the team's first big star. He played five seasons with the Marlins. He won the Most Valuable Player (MVP) award at the 1995 Major League Baseball All-Star Game. He was also part of the team that won the 1997 World Series.
After the 1997 season, Conine was traded back to the Royals. Then he went to the Baltimore Orioles. In 2003, he was traded back to the Marlins. He helped the team win a second World Series title. He stayed with the Marlins until 2005. He later signed a special one-day contract to retire as a Marlin in 2008.
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Jeff Conine's Early Baseball Days
Conine played college baseball at UCLA. He started as a relief pitcher. In 1986, he won a championship with the Orleans Cardinals. The Kansas City Royals drafted him in 1987. They drafted him as a first baseman. A scout for the Royals thought he was a great hitter.
After playing three seasons in the minor leagues, Conine joined the Royals in 1990. He played in the minor leagues for two more years. During this time, he learned to play the outfield. He returned to the major leagues in 1992.
Playing in the Major Leagues
Becoming a Florida Marlin (1993–1997)
The Florida Marlins picked Conine in the 1992 Major League Baseball expansion draft. He became a full-time left fielder. In his first game as a Marlin, he got four hits. He played all 162 games in his first season. He hit for a .292 batting average. He also had 12 home runs and 79 RBIs. He finished third for the National League Rookie of the Year award.
The next season, Conine was hitting very well. He earned his first All-Star selection. He finished the 1994 season with a career-high .319 batting average. He also had 18 home runs and 82 RBIs.
In 1995, Conine had a great month in June. He won the National League Player of the Month award. He also made his second All-Star team. In the All-Star Game, he hit a home run that put his team ahead. He won the MVP award for that game. For the season, he had a career-high 105 RBIs. He also had a .302 batting average and 25 home runs. In 1996, Conine hit 26 home runs and had 95 RBIs.
Winning the World Series in 1997
In 1997, the Marlins' new manager moved Conine back to first base. The Marlins won the National League wild card spot. They beat the San Francisco Giants in the playoffs. Then they defeated the Atlanta Braves. Conine's hit in Game 5 helped them win that series.
The Marlins then beat the Cleveland Indians in a seven-game World Series. They became the youngest team to win a World Series title. Conine batted .214 in his first postseason. After winning, the Marlins' owner traded away many of their best players. Conine was traded back to the Kansas City Royals. When he left, Conine held many team records. These included records for hits, RBIs, and games played.
Playing for the Baltimore Orioles (1999–2003)
Conine played only 93 games with the Royals in 1998. The Royals then traded him to the Baltimore Orioles. Conine got healthy and played well for Baltimore. In 1999, he batted .291 with 13 home runs and 75 RBIs. He also played a few games at third base.
In 2000, he became a utility player. This means he played many different positions. In 2001, he had a great season. He batted .311 with 97 RBIs. He became the starting first baseman again. He played more than five seasons in Baltimore.
Second Time with the Florida Marlins (2003–2005)
Winning Another World Series in 2003
In 2003, the Florida Marlins were playing much better. On August 31, the Marlins traded for Conine. They were tied for a playoff spot. Conine batted .239 with five home runs and 15 RBIs in 25 games. The Marlins made it to the playoffs again.
Conine played very well in the playoffs. He batted .458 in Game 5 of the 2003 National League Championship Series. He also batted .333 in the World Series against the New York Yankees. He is the only player to be on the Marlins' first team in 1993. He was also on both their 1997 and 2003 World Series championship teams. He stayed with the Marlins until 2005. He then returned to the Baltimore Orioles in 2006.
Later Years in Baseball
In 2006, the Philadelphia Phillies traded for Conine. They wanted a strong right-handed hitter for their bench. Conine batted .280 with 17 RBIs in 28 games for the Phillies.
After that season, Conine was traded to the Cincinnati Reds. He played first base and batted .265 with six home runs. The New York Mets then 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 last game on September 30 against the Marlins.
On March 16, 2008, Conine signed a one-day contract with the Florida Marlins. The Marlins honored him before their home opener. He finished his career with the Marlins with a .290 batting average. He also had 120 home runs and 553 RBIs. He holds the Marlins' 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 any votes and was removed the next year.
Life After Baseball
After retiring from baseball, Conine started competing in triathlons. In 2007, he crashed his bicycle while training. He broke his collarbone. Even with the injury, he still competed in the Ironman and other races.
Conine also worked as a baseball commentator. He appeared on Marlins TV broadcasts in 2008. In 2014, he was honored in Miami. A special tour bus was named after him.
In 2021, Conine became a baseball coach at Florida International University. In 2022, the Miami Marlins hired him. He now works as a special assistant for the team.
About Jeff Conine's Family
Jeff Conine went to Eisenhower High School in Rialto, California. His father, Gerald Conine, was a wrestler. He represented the United States in the 1964 Summer Olympics.
Before baseball, Jeff was a top junior racquetball player. He won a national title in 1985. Conine met his wife, Cindy, at a racquetball tournament. They have three children.
Conine's son, Griffin, is also a professional baseball player.
See also
- List of Major League Baseball career runs batted in leaders
