2003 World Series vs Yankees

Lore & Background

The Marlins started the season 16–22 when they fired manager Jeff Torborg and hired McKeon, who had been retired from baseball for over two years. They went 75–49 under McKeon to win the wild card. At 72, McKeon became the oldest manager to win a World Series. The Marlins lost the first game of the National League Division Series to the San Francisco Giants, but came back to win the final three. After going down three games to one to the Cubs in the National League Championship Series, they rallied to win the final three games. In the World Series, the Marlins put up their young roster with a $54 million payroll against the Yankees' $164 million payroll.

Reader's Guide

The series was played from October 18 to 25, 2003. The Yankees had home-field advantage because the AL won the 2003 All-Star game. The Marlins won Game 1 at Yankee Stadium behind Brad Penny, Dontrelle Willis, and Ugueth Urbina. Game 2 went to the Yankees behind Andy Pettitte. Game 3 was won by the Yankees at Marlins' home park. Game 4 featured a walk-off solo home run by Álex González in the twelfth inning to even the series. The Marlins won the series four games to two.

Did You Know?

• The Yankees outscored the Marlins 21–17 in the series but lost.
• This was the most recent Series in which the losing team outscored the winning team until 2025.
• The Marlins would not return to the postseason until 2020.