Florida Marlins Welcom Return of 'Mr. Marlin' Jeff Conine

By admin - Posted on March 31st, 2008

03/28/2008, MIAMI -- Jeff Conine, "Mr. Marlin," has signed a contract with the Florida Marlins organization and retired from Major League Baseball as a Florida Marlin after a 17-year Major League career. The announcement was made by Florida Marlins Owner and CEO Jeffrey H. Loria and Jeff Conine.

Jeff Conine was a valuable member of both Florida Marlins World Series championships during two separate stints with Florida, from 1993-1997 and 2003-2005. He was originally acquired by Florida in the 1992 Expansion Draft from the Kansas City Royals, and after stops in Kansas City and Baltimore, returned to the Marlins at the trade deadline in 2003 for the team's playoff run. He re-signed with Baltimore prior to the 2006 season and was traded three times in two years (to Philadelphia, to Cincinnati, to New York) before finishing his MLB career after 2,024 games. His career totals include 1,982 hits, 385 doubles, 214 home runs, 1,071 RBIs and a .285 average.

A two-time All-Star (1994, '95), Conine was twice named the Marlins MVP by the South Florida Chapter of the BBWAA (1994, '95), and was named the MVP of the 1995 MLB All-Star Game. For his Marlins career, Conine hit .290 and ranks among the all-time Marlins leaders in games (1,014: 2nd), hits (1,005: 2nd), RBIs (55: 2nd), at-bats (3,471: 3rd) and home runs (120: 5th). He also hit six grand slams as a Marlin, more than any other player. He was the Marlins' Opening Day left fielder in their inaugural game in 1993, going 4-for-4 with the first stolen base in club history, and was in the Marlins' Opening Day lineup six times.

Born in Tacoma, Wash., Conine and his family -- wife Cindy, daughter Sierra, and sons Griffin and Tucker -- reside in South Florida. The family has been active in the South Florida community since his arrival in 1993, including founding the Conine All-Star Classic, an annual golf tournament to raise money for the Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital in Hollywood, Fla.

In addition, the South Florida chapter of the BBWAA announced today its plans to honor Jeff with an annual award, the Jeff Conine Mr. Marlin Award, given to the Marlins player who best embodies the spirit of the game through integrity and unselfish play.

Source: MLB

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