Miami Marlins Mount Rushmore?

Feb 18, 2014; Jupiter, FL, USA; Miami Marlins

(15) bats in spring training action at Roger Dean Stadium Mandatory Credit: Brad Barr-USA TODAY Sports

The Mount Rushmore topic has become a hot topic of debate after Miami Heat superstar LeBron James brought it up in a recent interview, when discussing his place among the greatest NBA players to ever play the game. The topic has been beaten to death since the LeBron interview and has actually been a topic I have ignored as it has been overplayed.

However, when author and Fan Cave hopeful Marlin Maniac author Andy Salgado had the idea of discussing the Mount Rushmore for the Marlins franchise, it was an idea the entire staff of Marlin Maniac wanted to get on board of.

Here are what the writers had to say would be on their Mount Rushmore for the Marlins:

Ehsan Kassim, Senior Editor:

I decided to go with the top Marlins players according to Fangraphs wins above replacement (WAR):

Hanley Ramirez

Josh Beckett

Miguel Cabrera

Luis Castillo

I had to leave players like Jeff Conine, Gary Sheffield, Josh Johnson, Mike Lowell, and Ivan Rodriguez off the list, even though they also made significant contributions to the Marlins franchise. Giancarlo Stanton and Jose Fernandez could be the faces of the Marlins Mount Rushmore down the road in a season or two.

David Polakoff, Contributor:

Luis Castillo
Jeff Conine
Hanley Ramirez
Miguel Cabrera

(apologies to Sheffield, Beckett, Lowell, and Floyd)

Geoff Parkins, Staff Writer:

For fun: Loria, Samson, Beinfest, Billy the Marlin

For real: Stanton, Fernandez, Conine, Morrison (Miggy, Pudge, et al were brief blips as Marlins)

Chris Logel, Co-Editor:

I have to put Jeff Connie on there because people will kill me if I don’t, even though he isn’t close to one of the best four players we have had. My other three are Miguel Cabrera, Josh Beckett, and Hanley Ramirez. You know what, forget Conine, put Gary Sheffield on there instead.

Andy Salgado, Staff Writer:

Washington-Hough

Jefferson-Conine

Lincoln-Livan

Roosevelt-Pudge

 Placido Estevez, Staff Writer:

The Marlins make this a difficult exercise.  They never keep players long enough to truly be connected with the franchise. Here is my list:

• Jeff Conine
• MIke Lowell
• Hanley Ramirez
• Gary Sheffield

That is the Mount Rushmore of the Marlins from the staff’s perspective of Marlin Maniac. As you can see, there are varying differences in the views from the staff on who belongs on the list for the Marlins.

Who would you guys place on your Mount Rushmore for the Marlins? Does Jose Fernandez after just one season belong among the Marlins greats?