1997 Fifth-Seed World Series Championship

Lore & Background

The Marlins made their first postseason appearance four years into their existence. They swept the San Francisco Giants in the NLDS, then defeated the two-time defending National League champion Atlanta Braves in six games in the NLCS to advance to their first World Series. In the World Series, they defeated the Cleveland Indians in seven games.

Reader's Guide

The Marlins entered the postseason as the National League wild card with a 92–70 record. In the NLDS, they swept the Giants, with Édgar Rentería winning Game 1 with a walk-off RBI single and Moisés Alou winning Game 2 with a walk-off RBI single. Alex Fernandez pitched a complete game in Game 3. In the NLCS, Kevin Brown pitched six solid innings in Game 1, Liván Hernández pitched a complete game with 15 strikeouts in Game 5, and Brown pitched a complete game in Game 6 to clinch the pennant. The NLCS MVP was Liván Hernández.

Did You Know?

• The 1997 postseason was the last edition in which teams were not seeded by their win-loss record.
• Game 3 of the NLDS was the last postseason game ever played at Candlestick Park.