In Major League Baseball, teams can qualify for playoff play even if they do not win their division. When a team does this, they are called a wildcard team. They have a disadvantage in that they are never given home field advantage during any of the playoff series. The Florida Marlins have been wildcards on two separate occasions and both times walked away with championships. This is not an easy thing to do and therefore the Marlins are a team worth talking about. Here we will talk about their history.
The Marlins entered the National League in 1993 as an expansion team. They play their games in Miami, Florida. From their inception they have played at Sun Life Stadium (formerly named Dolphin Stadium, one of many former names for the stadium.) Starting in 2012 the team is planning to play in a new park, the former site of the Orange Bowl.
From 1993 to 1996 things were bleak for the franchise. They finished their debut season in last place, losing 98 games. It is worth noting, though, that over the next few years, they got progressively better. They crept to 5th, then 4th, then 3rd. By 1996 they ended up only two games below . 500. This gave fans good reason to be hopeful about their team.
The wait for fans was not very long. 1997 was a season only usually dreamt about. They came in second that year, only two games behind division winner, the Atlanta Braves. They entered the playoffs as the wildcard. First they swept the San Francisco Giants in round one. In round two they defeated the Braves in six games. Next up would be the Cleveland Indians for the championship.
The Fish came into that series as sizeable underdogs. Cleveland had just polished off the New York Yankees in quite an impressive fashion. This Indian series would be a good one, going all seven games. Losing in the ninth, they were able to tie it up and send it into extra innings. They proceeded to win in the eleventh.
Looking ahead to 2003, we see them again coming in second to Atlanta. Again they were the wildcard. And again, they defeated the Giants in the first round. This time, they would be facing the Chicago Cubs in round 2. It did not look good for Florida, as they were trailing in the eighth inning of the sixth, and possibly last, game of the series. In a mind blowing turn of events, a Cub fan interfered with a Cub player who was attempting to make a catch for the third out. This breathed new life into the Marlin team, who went on to win that game and the next.
Now, we said that Florida was an underdog in 1997. To say they were underdogs in 2003 would be an understatement. Up against the New York Yankees, nobody gave them the slightest chance of winning. The Yanks had just had an amazing and tiring series against the Boston Red Sox. Maybe that is what caused them to come out a bit flat. Whatever the reason, the Marlin pitching was right on target and the Fish took another championship.
Recently, the team has been coming in around the middle of the standings. This is in no small part due to the fact that they consistently have one of the lowest payrolls in the league.
The Marlins entered the National League in 1993 as an expansion team. They play their games in Miami, Florida. From their inception they have played at Sun Life Stadium (formerly named Dolphin Stadium, one of many former names for the stadium.) Starting in 2012 the team is planning to play in a new park, the former site of the Orange Bowl.
From 1993 to 1996 things were bleak for the franchise. They finished their debut season in last place, losing 98 games. It is worth noting, though, that over the next few years, they got progressively better. They crept to 5th, then 4th, then 3rd. By 1996 they ended up only two games below . 500. This gave fans good reason to be hopeful about their team.
The wait for fans was not very long. 1997 was a season only usually dreamt about. They came in second that year, only two games behind division winner, the Atlanta Braves. They entered the playoffs as the wildcard. First they swept the San Francisco Giants in round one. In round two they defeated the Braves in six games. Next up would be the Cleveland Indians for the championship.
The Fish came into that series as sizeable underdogs. Cleveland had just polished off the New York Yankees in quite an impressive fashion. This Indian series would be a good one, going all seven games. Losing in the ninth, they were able to tie it up and send it into extra innings. They proceeded to win in the eleventh.
Looking ahead to 2003, we see them again coming in second to Atlanta. Again they were the wildcard. And again, they defeated the Giants in the first round. This time, they would be facing the Chicago Cubs in round 2. It did not look good for Florida, as they were trailing in the eighth inning of the sixth, and possibly last, game of the series. In a mind blowing turn of events, a Cub fan interfered with a Cub player who was attempting to make a catch for the third out. This breathed new life into the Marlin team, who went on to win that game and the next.
Now, we said that Florida was an underdog in 1997. To say they were underdogs in 2003 would be an understatement. Up against the New York Yankees, nobody gave them the slightest chance of winning. The Yanks had just had an amazing and tiring series against the Boston Red Sox. Maybe that is what caused them to come out a bit flat. Whatever the reason, the Marlin pitching was right on target and the Fish took another championship.
Recently, the team has been coming in around the middle of the standings. This is in no small part due to the fact that they consistently have one of the lowest payrolls in the league.
About the Author:
Bobbie Barton is a fitness trainer She likes SportsFanTreasures.com and recommends you check out their info on San Francisco Giants Watch and Atlanta Braves Bedding
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