15-Year Marliniversary: Fish Fire Torborg, Hire Jack McKeon

(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 Marlins went just 3-7. They had fallen to 10 games below .500 at 19-29 on May 22.

Florida was able to get to .500 for the first time at 39-39 on June 24. The Marlins got over .500 for the first time on July 1 and stayed that way from Independence Day on.

From July 4 forward, Florida finished 48-28, clinching the wild card spot in the National League. After taking down the San Francisco Giants in four games in the National League Division Series and rallying from a 3-1 series deficit against the Chicago Cubs to win the pennant, the Marlins won the final three games of the 2003 World Series to beat the New York Yankees in six.

McKeon would manage two more seasons in Miami, going 83-79 in each. After taking five years off, McKeon spent a second stint with the team as interim manager in 2011.

The Marlins haven't been to the postseason since the magical 2003 campaign, but it's possible that it wouldn't have happened then had the team not made a managerial change. That change was made on this day 15 years ago.

Mike Ferguson is the founder of Marlins Memories. Follow Mike on Twitter @MikeWFerguson.



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