All Time (Infield)

"All time" pinch hit leader Lenny Harris.

What better time than during a Pandemic to bring out the Marlins All Time Team. Here is my take on the legends of Florida baseball. Starting with the Infield.

Backstop: 

Ivan 'Pudge' Rodriguez

We'll start with one of the toughest decisions on the list. Who would be the man behind the plate on this All Time Marlins Team? Charles Johnson was the Marlins 1st ever Draft pick and was from Fort Pierce Fla, he won 4 Gold Glove Awards, caught the first 3 No-Hitters in Franchise History, was a 2 time All-Star (on 2 separate stints with the Fish), helped win the 1997 World Series, and yet he comes in second on my list?? 2nd only to Ivan Rodriguez whom only played 1 season in South Florida?! Oh but what a Season it was! Pudge was the highest profile signing the Franchise had ever had, for he'd already established his place in the Hall of Fame during his career in Texas. But you can say Rodriguez meant the most to the Marlins during their 2003 World Series Championship season. I-Rod hit .313 that '03 Postseason, drove in 17 runs with an incredible knack to produce in the clutch, and was named NLCS MVP. All while guiding an incredible Pitching Staff which had never tasted October Baseball.

FIRST Base: 

Jeff "Niner" Conine 

Your'e not gonna have an All-Time Marlins Team and not have "Mr. Marlin" himself, Jeff Conine. 'Niner' was on the Inaugural Marlin Squad in 1993, oh btw only went 4-4 that day introducing Florida to Major League Baseball. Went to 2 All-Star games, including winning MVP honors in 1995. Helped bring the Marlins' 1st World Series Title in 1997. Returned to the Club in 2003, oh, just in time to help the Fish win Title number 2. Conine signed a 1 day contract in 2008 so that he could retire a Marlin, the only player who the Franchise has given such honor to. Here's to you "Mr Marlin". 

2nd base:

Luis "Louie" Castillo 

Another difficult choice laid at second base, where the best Rule 5 Draft Pick in Club History Dan Uggla played for 5 seasons. Ugg'z, a 2 time All-Star, and Silver Slugger winner, hit 154 Homers (2nd most in Marlin History). But he comes in 2nd to Luis Castillo. Castillo, part of both World Series in Florida, is the Team Leader in Games Played, Base Hits, Stolen Bases, and owner to the Team Record 35-Game-Hitting Streak (a Major League Record for a foreign born player). The Dominican Native went to 3 All-Star Games, won 3 straight Gold Gloves, and was an absolute on-base machine in Florida.  

Shortstop: 

Hanley "H2R" Ramirez 

As easy a choice as can be at the Shortstop position, Hanley Ramirez goes down as one of the most talented Marlins to ever lace up a pair of cleats. Often times in baseball you hear of the "5 Tool Player" essentially a player who can do it all. Rarely though can they demonstrate it so fluidly as Hanley did. The Rookie of the Year in 2006 stole 51 bases in back to back seasons, hit over 20 bombs in 4 straight seasons, went to 3 All-Star games (including becoming only the 2nd Marlin ever to be voted in), and won a batting title while hitting .342 in 2009. 

Third Base:

Mike "Mikey" Lowell 

The South Florida native, Mike Lowell was a fan favorite in Miami. The 2003 World Champ is fourth in Team History in Homers (Including becoming the first Marlin to hit 3 in a Game in 2004). "Mikey" (a cancer survivor in the beginning of his Marlins career) went to 3 straight All-Star Games, won a Silver Slugger in 2004, and has a Gold Glove on his resume that he picked up in 2005.