Miami Marlins: Who Are the Top 5 Fish of All Time?

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Miami Marlins Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports /

The Miami Marlins have fielded many great rosters over the years with extraordinary players.

We have all seen what the Miami Marlins can do when they field a team with solid talent. The Fish have presented us with memories that will be everlasting.

Through both the good and the hard times, the Fish faithful have watched this team go to the highest of highs in 1997 and 2003, to the lowest of lows.

We have all had joyous memories of Craig Counsell hopping on home plate to clinch the 1997 World Series in extra innings. Who could forget Josh Beckett and his masterful complete game shutout in the 2003 World Series?

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On that same token we have all sat by and watched the terrible seasons as well. We have seen the franchise renamed, rebuilt, and new manager after new manager put in place. We have also seen the rebuilt teams get torn apart and sold off to the highest bidder, time and time again.

As Fish fans, some would say that we are the most abused fan base in the Majors. I would disagree. We aren’t abused. Our resolve is tested. The very essence that makes us fans is put to the grind every year. Yet, we stay faithful. We sit quietly waiting for our rise to the top.

Today we are going to list out five of the greatest Marlins of all time. Not just statistically greatest, but, personality and leadership greats as well. These players have all had some impact on the Marlins and their fan base.

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Gary Sheffield

The big bat of the Marlins from 1993-1998, Gary Sheffield was a force to be reckoned with. Mashing 122 long balls during his tenure with the Fish, Sheffield held the team record for quite some time. Sheffield still holds the record for most home runs by a Marlin in a single season at 42.

Originally acquired from the Padres for future Hall of Famer, Trevor Hoffman, and two other prospects, Sheffield quickly became a household name for the Marlin faithful. The same season that he was acquired, 1993, Sheffield made the All-Star team for the National League as their starting third baseman.

Sheffield was also part of the 1997 World Series team and was a Silver Slugger for the Fish in 1996. Forever remembered by his batting stance and the bat waggle that accompanied it, Sheffield’s power was unrivaled by any Marlin for quite some time.

Sheffield fell victim to the Marlins and their notorious trades in 1998. Along with Charles Johnson, Bobby Bonilla, and a few others, the Fish made a deal with the Dodgers for future Hall of Famer Mike Piazza and Todd Zeile. We all know how long Piazza stayed with the Marlins after that.

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Mike Lowell

The home grown Mike Lowell was a fan favorite in Miami. Lowell had it all, he attended high school and college locally and was of Cuban heritage. Oh yeah, he could also rake.

During his time with the Fish, Lowell batted a nasty line of .272/.339/.462. More importantly he held down the hot corner for the Marlins and won his first, and only, Gold Glove in 2005.

Lowell was originally acquired from the Yankees in 1999 for Mark Johnson and Ed Yarnall. With 981 games played in a Marlins uniform, Lowell places 3^rd all-time for most games played for the Fish. We will actually be talking about number two shortly.

The Fish, eager once again to sell off their talent, completed a trade with the Boston Red Sox in 2005. That deal was headlined by Lowell, Josh Beckett, Guillermo Mota being shipped off for future center pieces Hanley Ramirez and Anibal Sanchez.

Lowell went on to be a Red Sox great. With the Sox he finished his career winning an additional World Series in 2007 and being name MVP of the series for the Sox. All of these accolades were enough to get Lowell on the ballot during the 2016 Hall of Fame elections, however, received zero votes.

Miguel Cabrera

Miguel Cabrera was only with the Marlins for five seasons before being shipped off to Detroit. But, during those five seasons, Miggy proved that he was in the big leagues to stay.

Originally signed as an undrafted free-agent, Cabrera began to ascend through the minor leagues. Making his debut in 2003, Miggy was a driving force behind the Marlins’ second World Series Championship.

Cabrera established himself as a potential power threat early in his career belting 12 homers in a shortened rookie season. From 2004 to 2007 Cabrera earned the title of All-Star, making appearances in all games. Among his Marlins accolades, Cabrera was also a two-time Silver Slugger with the Fish.

Now regarded as one of the best pure hitters in MLB and likely a first ballot Hall of Famer, Cabrera is a member of the Detroit Tigers. In the same deal that sent Dontrelle Willis to the Tigers to receive future starters Andrew Miller and Cameron Maybin, Cabrera fell victim to ownership dismantling a talented team.

Since taking his talents to Detroit, Cabrera has won a Triple Crown, been a four-time batting champion, two-time MVP, and been a seven-time All-Star. Oh what could have been if Miggy and Giancarlo Stanton joined forces.

Jeff Conine

Mr. Marlin himself, Jeff Conine. Anyone who considers themselves a Marlins fan knows exactly who this legend is. Was he the best player that the Fish ever had? No, not even close. But he was one of the most consistent we had and has continued to work with the franchise even after his retirement.

Conine is the epitome of all that is Marlins. I personally believe that Conine is the best representation of what Marlins fans are. No matter how battered or beaten he was by the franchise, he still returned, he still showed loyalty to the team.

Mr. Marlin was part of the inaugural team and was drafted from the Royal in 1992 expansion draft. I believe that we could say that Conine was arguably the first face of the Marlins franchise. In his rookie season Conine went and batted .292 with 12 long balls and 79 RBIs, not to mention, one of the few bright spots on the dismal inaugural season.

Conine was also part of both World Series Championships in 1997 and 2003 making him the only player to be a part of those two rosters, as well as the inaugural season roster. Mr. Marlin also earned both of his All-Star appearances, including All-Star MVP, as a Marlin.

Much like the rest of the 1997 talent, Conine was sold off. Sent to the Royals in return for a minor league prospect, the fan favorite was gone. However, Conine returned back to the Fish just in time for the second World Series Championship and played a vital role the entire Post-Season.

After retiring, Mr. Marlin signed a one day contract with the Marlins in order to retire in the same city that gave him the opportunity to begin his career.

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Jose Fernandez

No one had made as big of a splash in the community and with the team as Conine had. Then along came a kid who fled from Cuba and went to High School in Tampa. That kid was Jose Fernandez.

The Fish drafted Fernandez in the first round of the 2011 draft straight out of high school. The Marlins knew what they had right off the bat, and when called up in 2013, so did the rest of the Nation.

In his first professional year, Fernandez made the All-Star team, was named Rookie of the Year, and finished 3^rd in Cy Young voting.

Sidelined with Tommy John surgery, the Fish were without their Ace for 2014 and most of 2015. However, Fernandez bounced back with a strong 2016 campaign that saw him named to his second All-Star appearance.

Unfortunately, Fernandez’s life was cut short in a tragic boating accident at the end of the season in 2016. Fernandez finished his shortened careers with a 2.58 ERA which is second among Marlins.

The Marlins are planning on honoring Fernandez’s memory with a statue at Marlins Park later this year.

Next: Miami Marlins: Faceless, Aceless, Five Most Lackluster Rotations

Honorable mentions: Dontrelle Willis, Josh Beckett, Livan Hernandez, Luis Castillo, Juan Pierre

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