History of the Miami Marlins

Lore & Background

The franchise was awarded to Wayne Huizenga on June 10, 1991, for a $95 million expansion fee, after MLB announced plans to add two National League teams. The nickname 'Marlins' was adopted from previous minor league teams in Miami. The Marlins' first manager was Rene Lachemann, and they drafted their initial roster in the 1992 MLB Expansion Draft. Their first game was on April 5, 1993, against the Dodgers, with Charlie Hough as starting pitcher and Jeff Conine going 4-for-4. Gary Sheffield and Bryan Harvey became the club's first All-Star selections that season.

In 1997, under manager Jim Leyland, the Marlins signed free agents Bobby Bonilla, Moisés Alou, and Alex Fernandez. They earned a wild card berth, swept the San Francisco Giants in the NL Division Series, beat the Atlanta Braves in the NL Championship Series, and defeated the Cleveland Indians in seven games in the World Series. Following the championship, Huizenga dismantled the team in a series of trades, including sending Moisés Alou to the Houston Astros, Kevin Brown to the San Diego Padres, and a multi-player deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Despite this, the Marlins won a second World Series in 2003, with Jeff Conine—who played on both championship teams—returning via a late-season trade.

Reader's Guide

The Miami Marlins represent a unique case in Major League Baseball: an expansion franchise that, despite a low overall winning percentage and limited postseason success, captured two World Series titles in its first four playoff appearances. The team's early years were marked by aggressive spending under owner Wayne Huizenga, culminating in the 1997 championship, followed by an immediate dismantling of the roster—a 'fire sale' that traded away stars like Moisés Alou, Kevin Brown, and Gary Sheffield. This pattern of boom and bust, along with the team's relocation from Sun Life Stadium to LoanDepot Park and name change in 2012, defines its history. The Marlins' legacy includes notable players such as Jeff Conine, who bridged both championship teams, and a reputation for defying expectations in the postseason. As of 2025, they remain the active franchise with the fewest playoff berths, yet their two titles underscore an unpredictable and consequential history.

Did You Know?

• The Marlins' first signing was 16-year-old Dominican pitcher Clemente Núñez on December 16, 1991.
• Catcher Charles Johnson, drafted in 1992, led the league with a .995 fielding percentage in 1996 and won consecutive Gold Glove Awards.
• In 1997, rookie pitcher Liván Hernández struck out 15 Braves in Game 5 of the NLCS, outdueling Greg Maddux.
• The team retired number 5 in honor of Carl Barger's favorite player, Joe DiMaggio, but reissued it in 2012 when moving to Miami.