Greatest Moments in Marlins History: #96 Trader Jack is Manager of the Year

Aug 3, 2013; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Marlins special assistant to the owner Jack McKeon is seen prior to a game against the Cleveland Indians at Marlins Park. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

Welcome back to the Greatest Moments in Marlins History. Let me start by wishing you all a Merry Christmas today. For the past few moments we have been praising the awards won by players, but the players aren’t the only part of the game. You have the managers, whose decisions can make or break the game at times. The Marlins have had some Manager of the Year winners; so for moment 96 we bring you the first ever Marlins manager to win Manager of the Year, Jack McKeon.

The year was 2003 and the Marlins started the season 16-22 when Jack McKeon took over for Jeff Torborg. From that moment on the Marlins were on fire! They finished the season 75-49.  This year Jack got to manage Mr. Triple Crown Miguel Cabrera in his first Major League season, was part of the Dontrell Willis “D-Train” ride, and made the decision to go for it all by playing Josh Beckett on only 3 days of rest to win the World Series. That win gave Jack the honor of being the oldest manger to ever win the World Series at the young age of 72. If it wasn’t for Jack and his “old school” style of baseball, who knows where the Marlins would have been in 2003.

Jack also won a manager of the year with the Reds in 1999 but Marlin fans will never forget that magical season in 2003 with Trader Jack. From everyone here at Marlin Maniac and myself we want to wish you a Merry Christmas. May all your dreams come true today, and enjoy this time with your loves ones.