Call to the pen
Fansided

Today in Miami Marlins History: Two Franchise Milestones

By Sean Millerick

Florida Marlins pitcher Al Leiter throws a pitch in the first inning of Miami's game 21 May with the New York Mets at Pro Player Stadium in Miami, Florida. This was Leiters' first start after being placed on the disabled list 01 May with a bone bruise on his right knee. AFP PHOTO/RHONA WISE (Photo by RHONA WISE / AFP) (Photo credit should read RHONA WISE/AFP via Getty Images)
Florida Marlins pitcher Al Leiter throws a pitch in the first inning of Miami's game 21 May with the New York Mets at Pro Player Stadium in Miami, Florida. This was Leiters' first start after being placed on the disabled list 01 May with a bone bruise on his right knee. AFP PHOTO/RHONA WISE (Photo by RHONA WISE / AFP) (Photo credit should read RHONA WISE/AFP via Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 3
Next
(Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
(Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) /

Jack McKeon Makes Miami Marlins Debut

The 2003 Miami Marlins were never necessarily expected to compete for a World Series title.

However, that’s not to say they weren’t expected to play competitive baseball. At minimum, this squad was supposed to easily deliver on the desire to produce what would only be the second winning season in franchise history.

More from Miami Marlins

Through 38 games, Jeff Torborg’s 16-22 Marlins were showing no signs of delivering on such a mandate.  So not even two months into the season, a change was made. Torborg was fired on May 10th, 2003.

Enter “Trader Jack” McKeon.

The big league club wasn’t quite sure what to make of the move- though they were nice enough to make sure McKeon was a winner his first time out.  Providing an immediate example of things to come, Miami stole a blistering four bases that day in their 7-2 victory on May 11th. Talk about lighting a fire under someone. If nothing else, when even Luis Castillo hits a home run for you (only 28 in his career), you know something has changed in the clubhouse.

Things wouldn’t turn around overnight though. In fact, the Marlins would drop to ten games under .500 before the turnaround really got underway. Once it did though, the rest is history, with the septuagenarian guiding Miami to the best record in the National League over the final four months, culminating in a World Series title.

Next. If Nothing Else, 2020 Season Could Be Greenest Yet. dark

Obviously, there was a long road ahead, and a lot of baseball left to be played. But that journey needed to start somewhere, and May 11th, 2003, was the day.

Home/Miami Marlins