In an earlier entry, we mentioned that Luis Castillo is one of three Marlins to have won both of the Marlins’ World Series titles, but only one of the three was a starter in both. That man is Jeff Conine.
Conine would become an original Marlin, taken in the Expansion Draft from Kansas City after appearing in 37 Games for the Royals. In 1993, Conine demonstrated his high-frequency reliability by playing in all 162 games, finishing third in the Rookie of the Year voting after a standout 4-for-4 debut on Opening Day. He quickly became a professional mainstay, earning back-to-back All-Star selections in 1994 and 1995, including a high-stakes moment where he was named the 1995 All-Star Game MVP after a go-ahead pinch-hit home run.
Between 1995 and 1996, COnine had consecutive seasons with at least 25 home runs and set a career-high 105 RBIs in 1995. He demonstrated specialized versatility by alternating between first base and left field to accommodate the team’s evolving rosters of high-caliber players. During the 1997 World Series, although his regular-season performance declined, he remained a valuable technical asset in the clubhouse. He played a crucial role in the franchise's first championship, offering the veteran presence necessary to guide the team through a seven-game series against Cleveland. Ironically, he would be part of the Marlins’ first fire sale and was shipped back to Kansas City after their championship.
Conine's time in South Florida wasn't over, as he made a notable comeback in late 2003. He was acquired from the Orioles on the last day of August and became a key player the Marlins needed for their second championship run. Demonstrating a unique resilience, he quickly returned to left field, enabling a young Miguel Cabrera to move to third base. His exceptional performance in the 2003 postseason was impressive, batting .458 in the NLCS and .333 in the World Series against the Yankees. Conine stayed with the Marlins until he signed with the Orioles after the 2005 season.
With the Marlins, Conine had 1,005 Hits, 120 Home Runs with a Slash Line of .290/.358/.455.
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