Marlin Memories

Palm Beach Post It's been 15 years since the Florida Marlins won their second world championship. That title was clinched on this day. After winning two straight to take a 3-2 series lead, the scene shifted to Yankee Stadium for Game 6 of the 2003 World Series between the Marlins and the New York Yankees. Getting the ball for the Fish would be a young starter with a powerful right arm who was in the middle of a stellar postseason. Josh Beckett had been solid in his Game 3 start, but a lack of run support ultimately led to him being the loser in the contest down in Miami. In his first series appearance at Yankee Stadium, it would be the Texas native that stole the show on baseball's grandest stage. Beckett went the distance for Florida, allowing just five hits and two walks while yielding no runs and striking out nine. In the bottom of the ninth, Beckett took the hill with a 2-0 lead, needing only three outs to clinch a second world championship for the Marlins in seve...

Palm Beach Post The 2018 World Series doesn't get underway until Tuesday, but that doesn't mean South Florida baseball fans can't start celebrating early. On this day 15 years ago came one of the most memorable moments in Florida/Miami Marlins' postseason history. Trailing the New York Yankees two games to one, nine innings wasn't enough for the Florida Marlins in Game 4 of the 2003 World Series on Oct. 22, 2003. New York designated hitter Ruben Sierra had come through with a 2-run triple in the ninth inning to force extra innings as the teams were tied 3-3 at the end of regulation. The Yankees put runners in scoring position in both the 10th and 11th innings but were unable to get any of them home. The Yankees had the bases loaded with one out in the top of the 11th, but Florida reliever Braden Looper was able to strike out Aaron Boone and get John Flaherty to pop out to end the threat. The Marlins hadn't had a hit since the eighth inning when shortst...

(Bob Rosato/Sports Illustrated) The Florida/Miami Marlins have only made the postseason just twice in 26 years of baseball, but both of those appearances ended in a world championship and more than one series ended in dramatic fashion. One of those took place on this day 15 years ago. One day after taking a 2-1 series lead on a walk-off 2-run single by catcher Ivan "Pudge" Rodriguez, the Florida Marlins remained in front of their home crowd the following afternoon to try to close the door on the San Francisco Giants in Game 4 of the National League Division Series. The series would end in unforgettable fashion with a collision at home plate on Oct. 4, 2003. With the contest tied at 5-5 in the bottom of the eighth, it appeared as though Florida would win in its last at-bat. The Marlins took a 7-5 lead into the top of the ninth following a 2-run single by rookie Miguel Cabrera -- his second of the day. Ugueth Urbina, the Florida closer, was given the ball in the ninth...

The first playoff game at Pro Player Stadium in six years brought a raucous crowd on Oct. 3, 2003 as the Florida Marlins hosted the San Francisco Giants in Game 3 of the National League Division Series. After having no answer for Jason Schmidt in Game 1, the Marlins had busted out the big bats in Game 2 to even the series at a game apiece and send it back to South Florida. The next two games in Miami would be absolute thrillers, including one that took place on this day 15 years ago. The prospect of facing elimination looked inevitable as Florida headed to the bottom of the 11th inning on the short end of a 3-2 score. San Francisco had taken the lead in the top half of the inning on an RBI single by Edgardo Alfonzo that scored shortstop Rich Aurilia. Braden Looper, the Florida reliever, was able to minimize the damage, but the Marlins needed a run in the bottom half to avoid falling behind two games to one. Florida caught a break in the bottom half after right fielder Jose Cruz...