The world series celebrated its 100 year anniversary in 2003. The series in that season will be remembered not only for its historical importance, but also for the unlikely match up that occurred as the two teams to make the series were the New York Yankees and the Florida Marlins. While the New York Yankees are considered to be annual favorites for the world series, their opponents in 2003 were a complete wild card and shocked many by making it all the way to the world series.
The Marlins were celebrating an anniversary that year too, as it was their tenth year in the league. While there was an expectation to acknowledge this birthday during the season, no one expected the Marlins to make the World Series much less win it by defeating the heavily favored, championship caliber team that was the 2003 Yankees. Even though Florida had won the World Series once before, in 1997, no one expected them to do it again so soon as their first victory was marked by the fact that they had never even qualified for the post season before then. After the victory in 1997, they failed to qualify for the playoffs every year after until the 2003 season.
In the season following the first championship, the team failed to qualify for the post season and finished with the worst record in the entire league. Having sold off or traded many of the players who had been an integral part of the world series victory, the team quickly tumbled down the standings and did not qualify for the post season.
Season after season of futility followed. In the fall of 2002, the Marlins started off poorly and their lackluster play was not viewed as a surprise by either local fans or sports analysts. Compiling an early record of 16 wins and 22 losses, the club fired manager Jeff Torborg and replaced him with Jack McKeon in an effort to stop the losing. It was a gamble that paid immediate dividends and the Marlins went on to finish the season from that point with 75 wins and 49 losses under McKeon. This was sufficient to win the wild card birth in the post season.
On their way to the finals, they defeated the San Francisco Giants three games to one in a tight series. Their next opponent, the Chicago Cubs, took a commanding three games to one lead in the series but rallied to win the final three games, defeating the Cubs four games to three. The next stop was the World Series.
Facing the New York Yankees was daunting, to say the least. The Yankees are one of the most winning and storied franchises in baseball and had the vet laden roster and 164 million dollar payroll to prove it. The Marlins, by contrast, were one of the youngest teams in the league and also had one of the lowest payrolls, fielding a team that cost a paltry 54 million. It was truly a "David versus Goliath" match-up.
The Yankees had every advantage, including home-field, and many expected the series to be a short one. The Marlins stole the first game, but the Yankees asserted themselves quickly and took a two games to one series lead with back to back six to one victories. But the Marlins prevailed, winning the next three games and taking the series by a score of four games to two. For the second time in less than ten years, and on the 100th birthday of the World Series and the 10th anniversary of the franchise, the Marlins had become World Champions once again.
The Marlins were celebrating an anniversary that year too, as it was their tenth year in the league. While there was an expectation to acknowledge this birthday during the season, no one expected the Marlins to make the World Series much less win it by defeating the heavily favored, championship caliber team that was the 2003 Yankees. Even though Florida had won the World Series once before, in 1997, no one expected them to do it again so soon as their first victory was marked by the fact that they had never even qualified for the post season before then. After the victory in 1997, they failed to qualify for the playoffs every year after until the 2003 season.
In the season following the first championship, the team failed to qualify for the post season and finished with the worst record in the entire league. Having sold off or traded many of the players who had been an integral part of the world series victory, the team quickly tumbled down the standings and did not qualify for the post season.
Season after season of futility followed. In the fall of 2002, the Marlins started off poorly and their lackluster play was not viewed as a surprise by either local fans or sports analysts. Compiling an early record of 16 wins and 22 losses, the club fired manager Jeff Torborg and replaced him with Jack McKeon in an effort to stop the losing. It was a gamble that paid immediate dividends and the Marlins went on to finish the season from that point with 75 wins and 49 losses under McKeon. This was sufficient to win the wild card birth in the post season.
On their way to the finals, they defeated the San Francisco Giants three games to one in a tight series. Their next opponent, the Chicago Cubs, took a commanding three games to one lead in the series but rallied to win the final three games, defeating the Cubs four games to three. The next stop was the World Series.
Facing the New York Yankees was daunting, to say the least. The Yankees are one of the most winning and storied franchises in baseball and had the vet laden roster and 164 million dollar payroll to prove it. The Marlins, by contrast, were one of the youngest teams in the league and also had one of the lowest payrolls, fielding a team that cost a paltry 54 million. It was truly a "David versus Goliath" match-up.
The Yankees had every advantage, including home-field, and many expected the series to be a short one. The Marlins stole the first game, but the Yankees asserted themselves quickly and took a two games to one series lead with back to back six to one victories. But the Marlins prevailed, winning the next three games and taking the series by a score of four games to two. For the second time in less than ten years, and on the 100th birthday of the World Series and the 10th anniversary of the franchise, the Marlins had become World Champions once again.
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