Marlin Memories

(Photo: Getty Images) When the Florida Marlins headed to St. Louis in mid-May of 1993, the team had already crossed a number of firsts off its list. On May 15, 1993 at Busch Stadium however, the team was able to add another one. At 15-20, the Marlins were performing better than most had expected in their inaugural season of baseball, but what the team had yet to do was shut out an opponent. On that Saturday evening in St. Louis, starting pitcher Ryan Bowen made sure that would change. In a contest that lasted just over two and a half hours, the Marlins topped the St. Louis Cardinals, 8-0, for their first shutout win ever. Bowen not only got the win for Florida, but he went the distance. Bowen became the first-ever Florida hurler to toss a complete game shutout. Bowen threw 119 pitches over nine innings, scattering six hits and four walks while striking out three. Bowen worked out of trouble in the sixth, seventh and eighth innings and was helped throughout the night by gett...

(Mandatory Credit: Robert Mayer-USA TODAY Sports) Whether you're just enjoying a day with mom, taking her out to the ballgame or trying just to leave her alone, there's one thing about Mother's Day and the Florida/Miami Marlins. They've played on that day every year since their inception in 1993. This year's opponent for the second Mother's Day in a row will be the Atlanta Braves. Whether you get to watch the action or are busy with mom, we've got the good times for you. Here's a look at the top five moments in Marlins' history on Mother's Day: 5. Moore's Pinch-Hit Blast May 14, 2017 For most of last season's Mother's Day contest, the Miami Marlins had been unable to figure out Atlanta Braves' starting pitcher R.A. Dickey. Through six innings, the Marlins had been kept off the scoreboard and held to three hits. Trailing 1-0 in the seventh however, the Marlins had something brewing. After Giancarlo Stanton doubled and A.J...

(Photo: Associated Press) Jim Leyland's success in Pittsburgh was well-documented when he took over as manager of the Florida Marlins in 1997 and led them to their first World Series title.  The Marlins won the 2003 World Series with a manager with a history of success in Jack McKeon, but unlike Leyland, McKeon didn't begin the championship season as the skipper. On this day 15 years ago, the change was made. On May 11, 2003, the Marlins cut ties with Jeff Torborg and named McKeon his replacement.  After a 79-83 finish in his first season as manager in 2002, Torborg was fired 38 games into 2003. The Marlins at the time were just 16-22. McKeon hadn't managed since 2000 when he led the Cincinnati Reds to 85 wins. Losing seasons for McKeon had been few and far between, but "Trader Jack" had never reached postseason. Things in 2003 for McKeon in South Florida didn't get off to the greatest of starts. In his first 10 games in Miami, the Mar...

(Photo: Jon Way-USA TODAY Sports) Throughout their history, the Florida/Miami Marlins have had just four pitchers make multiple All-Star Games. One of them made their big league debuts on this day 15 years ago. It was May 9, 2003 as the Colorado Rockies came to Pro Player Stadium to open a 3-game series. On the mound for the Rockies was veteran left-hander Darren Oliver. His opponent for the Florida Marlins? A left-handed rookie named Dontrelle Willis, who was making his Major League debut. Willis didn't pick up the win that day, but his quality start led the Marlins' organization to believe that it had something special. Willis allowed three runs in six innings of work, scattering seven hits and striking out seven. He left with his team down 3-1 in the sixth inning, but the Marlins evened the contest in the bottom of the frame with a 2-run double from outfielder Juan Encarnacion. The teams traded runs in the eighth inning before Florida won the game in walk-off fas...

(Photo: Getty Images) The Miami Marlins' 2018 season is 30 games old. It wasn't a start that set the world on fire, but the Fish have won six of eight after losing 17 of their first 22. Overall, Miami finished the first 30 games with a record of 11-19. Here's how that stacks up to the previous 25 years: 1993: 14-16 1994: 17-13 1995: 7-23 1996: 11-19 1997: 17-13 1998: 11-19 1999: 7-23 2000: 14-16 2001: 13-17 2002: 15-15 2003: 15-15 2004: 17-13 2005: 18-12 2006: 8-22 2007: 14-16 2008: 16-14 2009: 16-14 2010: 14-16 2011: 19-11 2012: 15-15 2013: 8-22 2014: 15-15 2015: 14-16 2016: 16-14 2017: 13-17 2018: 11-19 Winning Records Through 30 Games:  Eight. In 26 years of baseball, the Marlins have only had winning records through 30 games eight times. That's not bad considering the team has had just six winning seasons. Losing Records Through 30 Games: 14. In more than half of the Marlins' 26 seasons in baseball, the team has had a losing...

Now in their 26th season as a Major League Baseball franchise, the Florida/Miami Marlins have had plenty of thrilling finishes and heartbreaking defeats. Few things in baseball are as thrilling as the walk-off victory. The Marlins experienced their first one ever on this day 25 years ago. It was May 1, 1993 as the Florida Marlins welcomed in their expansion sister, the Colorado Rockies, for the middle game of a 3-game set at Joe Robbie Stadium. It also marked the beginning of the first ever May for both franchises. The contest had gone scoreless for four innings until the 12th. After Bryan Harvey worked a perfect top half of the inning for the Marlins, Rick Renteria, who entered the game during a double switch in the 11th inning, hit a sharp single to left field to score Jeff Conine and give the Marlins their first ever walk-off victory. Conine looked as though he might be the hero earlier in the game. In the bottom of the fifth inning, he took Colorado's David Nied deep ...