gold star for USAHOF
Committee Chairman

Committee Chairman

Kirk Buchner, "The Committee Chairman", is the owner and operator of the site.  Kirk can be contacted at [email protected] .

26. Juan Pierre

One of the best base-stealers in Marlins history, Juan Pierre began his career with the Colorado Rockies, leading the NL in Stolen Bases in 2001.  A year later, the speedy Outfielder was traded to the Marlins, where he became their leadoff hitter and continued the swipe bases at will.

In his first season in Florida, Pierre led the NL in SB with 65, had 204 Hits, and batted a healthy .305.  Pierre was instrumental in the Marlins winning the 2003 World Series, and he batted .333 over the series.  This was the last time that Pierre was a champion, but not his final year as an impactful baseball player.  

Pierre led the NL in Hits (221) and Triples (12), and he batted .326 in 2004.  His stats dropped in 2005, but he was still decent and productive, stealing over 40 Bases in 2004 and 2005.  The Marlins traded him for three players to the Cubs after 2005, but he returned to Miami for one final season in 2013, but he was not the same player and retired after the season.  With the Marlins, he batted .295 with 682 Hits and 190 Stolen Bases.

24. Derrek Lee

Derrek Lee was a First Round Pick by the Padres in 1993, and he made it to their main roster four years later, playing 22 Games in 1997.  The Padres had the chance to trade for pitching ace, Kevin Brown, and they gave up Lee to get him.

Lee would become Florida's starting First Baseman the year he arrived, but he struggled for two years before he broke out with a 28 HR/.281 BA year, and this would be the type of numbers that he provided the Marlins over the next three seasons.  From 2001 to 2003, Lee had at least 20 Home Runs with a .270 Batting Average, which were respectable metrics.  Defensively, he was also good, winning the Gold Glove in 2003.  

Lee was a large part of Florida’s World Series win in 2003, and the Marlins did what they always did, jettison off their best players.  He was traded to the Cubs, and with the Marlins, he blasted 129 Home Runs with a .822 OPS.

While his overall offensive numbers indicate that he should be a few spots higher, for a First Baseman, they were not up to the standard that they need to be to have an elite rank on this list.

The Marlins aren't known for trading for All-Stars, but in a seven-player deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers after the 2014 Season, Dee Strange-Gordon, a reigning All-Star, was sent to South Beach.

Strange-Gordon's first year as a Marlin was his best in the sport.  Not only did he repeat as a National League All-Star, the Second Baseman won the Batting Title (.333) and was the top leadoff man in the league.  Strange-Gordon led the NL in Hits (204) and Stolen Bases (58), and while his power numbers were light, he was still awarded the Silver Slugger.  Throw in the Gold Glove, and you have one hell of a year!

Strange-Gordon might have answered where this league came from as he was popped for an 80-Game Suspension in late April of 2016 for PEDs.  He played 79 Games that year, accruing 30 SB with 87 Hits, but the suspension crippled his reputation.  DSG had another year with the Marlins, a good one where he batted .308, had 201 Hits, and led the NL in Stolen Bases (60).  The Marlins sent him to Seattle, where his career fell off, and he left Miami with a .309 Batting Average, 493 Hits, and 148 Stolen Bases.

19. A.J. Burnett

A versatile yet streaky Pitcher, A.J. Burnett began his 17-year career with the Florida Marlins over seven seasons (1999-06).

Burnett bounced back and forth from the Majors and Minors in 1999 and 2000, with 2001 as the year entrenched himself in the Marlins rotation while throwing a no-hitter.  He had a breakout of sorts in 2002, winning 12 Games to 9 Losses and leading the league in Shutouts (5) and H/9 (6.7).  Burnett showed his ability to fan batters, whiffing 203 that year, but his control was an issue, and he was prone to Wild Pitches.

The Marlins won the World Series in 2003, though Burnett had nothing to do with it due to Tommy John surgery.  He came back during the 2004 campaign and had a solid 2005, with a 12-12, 3.44 ERA year with 198 Strikeouts.  This ended Burnett's run with Florida, as he signed with the Toronto Blue Jays as a Free Agent.

He posted a 49-50 record with 753 Strikeouts and a 3.73 ERA with Florida.