Both Miami Marlins on the HOF ballot didn't make it in

The Miami Marlins (then Florida Marlins) won the World Series in 1997. A big reason for that win was Gary Sheffield. Another former Miami Marlin is Mark Buehrle, who was supposed to lead the rotation back in 2012. Our writers wondered if either would make the Hall of Fame this year. As it turns out neither made it in. The only player elected into the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame was Scott Rolen. Rolen was a well-deserved selection with a career .281/.364/.490 batting line and 70.1 WAR. The veterans committee added Fred McGriff.

No Miami Marlins were elected into the Hall of Fame in 2023.

Gary Sheffield batted .250/.424/.446 with 21 home runs and 71 RBI in 135 games and 444 AB in that championship 1997 season. His best season with The Fish happened a year earlier however. In 1996, Sheffield batted .314/.465/.624 with 42 home runs and 120 RBI in 161 games and 519 AB. Overall during his time with the then Florida Marlins he was worth 13.0 WAR (he was worth 60.5 for his career). Overall career-wise, he batted .292/.393/.514 in 2576 games and 9217 AB with The Fish, New York Yankees, Atlanta Braves, Los Angeles Dodgers, Milwaukee Brewers, San Diego Padres, Detroit Tigers and New York Mets.

The problem with Gary Sheffield is his alleged use of steroids and reputation for having a bad attitude (he once purposely threw a ball into the stands to protest an earlier error call). He also has a history of making controversial comments, such as claiming that the biracial Derek Jeter "wasn't really Black". Steroids, a bad reputation and offensive comments mean that he's unlikely to ever be enshrined in the Hall of Fame.

Mark Buehrle has been one of the most reliable starting pitchers of the modern era. During his time with the Chicago White Sox from 2000 to 2011, he pitched to a 3.83 ERA/4.13 FIP with 5.1 K/9 and 2.0 BB/9 in 390 games and 2476.2 innings. He was also a key part of the 2005 World Series winning team. Buehrle only spent the 2012 season with the Miami Marlins, pitching to a 3.74 ERA/4.18 FIP with 5.6 K/9 and 1.8 BB/9 in 31 games and 202.1 innings. Buehrle finished his career with the Toronto Blue Jays and overall has a 3.81 ERA/4.11 FIP in 518 games and 3283.1 innings for a career 60.0 WAR.

Neither Gary Sheffield or Mark Buehrle was voted into the Hall of Fame this year and neither will likely be elected in the following seasons. Sheffield came closest receiving 55% of the vote, while Buehrle received just 10.8%.