This Date in Marlins History: March 29th

On this date in Miami Marlins History, the team has played exactly two games.

Coincidentally, the two games played on this date by the Miami Marlins were played over the past two seasons. This year, they were supposed to play for a third time, with the earliest Opening Day on record set for March 26th. As we all now know, that never came to pass, and in fact, opening day will likely be later than any in recorded baseball history — in 1995, when the lockout prevented the season from beginning prior to April 26th.

1996

The Marlins released Tom McGraw. The southpaw was coming off a 5-0, 1.81 ERA campaign at the Double-A level for the Portland Sea Dogs in 1995, with 60 K’s in 74 2/3 innings. McGraw would eventually reach the majors, playing in two games for the 1997 St. Louis Cardinals.

2001

Eventual 16-season professional baseball veteran Chad Mottola was optioned by the Marlins to the Triple-A Calgary Cannons, with whom the outfielder hit .295/.343/.453 in 119 contests that year. In five games at the major league level for the Marlins, he was 0-for-7 with two walks, an RBI, and a run.

2003

Gerald Williams and Tommy Phelps had their contracts from Triple-A purchased by the Florida Marlins. Williams was four-for-31 in 27 games for the eventual World Champions, and Phelps struck out 43 in 63 innings, going 3-2 with a 4.00 ERA in 27 games.

2006

Kerry Ligtenberg and Lenny Harris were released from the Florida Marlins. Harris, an 18-season MLB veteran, would retire with 1055 hits, 131 stolen bases, and 37 home runs. In his final three seasons, with Florida, he hit .257/.309/.341 in 175 games.

2008

In preparation for the 2008 campaign, the Marlins unleashed a flurry of moves just prior to opening day. The most notable of them was the calling up of Brett Carroll, Jason Wood, and Paul Hoover to the parent club.

2009

"Dontrelle Willis is placed on the 15-day disabled list by the Tigers. D-Train, unsuccessful since winning 22 games with the Marlins in 2003, has been diagnosed with an anxiety disorder, believed by the doctors to be easily treatable, according to the southpaw. – Today in Marlins’ History"

2010

The Marlins lost Hayden Penn to the Pittsburgh Pirates and gained Jason Lane.

2011

Just prior to the final opening day of the “Florida” Marlins, the team optioned Brad Davis, Burke Badenhop, and Osvaldo Martinez to Triple-A, released Brett Sinkbeil, and called up Aaron Mathews, Chris Gutierrez, Jake Smolinski, and Luke Montz.

2012

Aaron Rowand was released and Bryan Petersen, or “Petey Pipes” was optioned to Triple-A. Folks who were paying attention at the time remember Petey Pipes and LoMo (also known as Logan Morrison) as a bit of an internet sensation:

2015

Reed Johnson was released. The left fielder had appeared in 113 games for the 2014 Marlins, hitting .235/.266/.348 with two homers.

2016

The Marlins released Justin Maxwell and Don Kelly. Kelly eventually appeared in 13 games for the Marlins later that year, going four-for-27 from the plate, with two triples.

2018

The Marlins DFAd Austin Nola and called up pitcher Jacob Turner, catcher Bryan Holaday, and utility infielder Yadiel Rivera to fill out their opening day roster.

Cubs 8, Marlins 4

Opening day 2018 was noteworthy in the annals of Marlins history in that Ian Happ started the year by homering on the first pitch in the majors. Jose Urena (0-1, 11.25) gave that one up, and was eventually saddled with the loss. He ended up allowing five runs over four innings, on six hits and four walks. Junichi Tazawa opened the season with two hitless innings of relief, striking out a pair and surrendering only a walk.

Offensively, Derek Dietrich and Brian Anderson led the Miami Marlins with two hits apiece. Former Miami Marlins pitcher Steve Cishek (1-0, 0.00) was the winning pitcher of record for the Cubbies.

2019

Rockies 6, Marlins 1

With 6,503 on hand at Marlins Park, Rockies starter German Marquez led Colorado’s pitching staff to a combined two-hit shutout. He struck out seven and walked three, surrendering one run on two hits in six frames. DJ Johnson, former Miami Marlins pitcher Mike Dunn, and Bryan Shaw combined for three no-hit innings in the Miami loss.

The only Marlins to collect a hit in the near-whitewash were outfielder Curtis Granderson, with a solo homer in the fourth, and Rosell Herrera, who had a harmless sixth-inning single.

Trevor Richards actually matched Marquez through six innings, giving up only one run on four hits for the Marlins. Adam Conley (0-1, 9.00) took the loss. Sergio Romo did himself no favors by allowing four runs on three hits in the ninth inning to end the game with a seasonal 108.00 ERA.

Maybe 2021 will add another chapter to the story of March 29th, but for now, we can only look back.