Playing the numbers game (Part 2)

The best Marlins to wear numbers 31-60

Over 31 National League seasons, 717 players have appeared in at least one regular season game for the Marlins.

They’ve worn every uniform number from 1-99 with the exceptions of 69, 82, 85, 97 and 98.

The number worn most frequently? 50, by 22 different Marlins, from Terry McGriff for 3 games in 1993 to Shawn Morimando for 4 games in 2021.

Every uniform number below 71 has been worn by at least 2 players with the exception of the never-worn 69. And every number below 67 has been worn by at least 4 players with the exception of 42, which was worn by 3 Marlins before it was retired by MLB in 1997 to honor Jackie Robinson.

The lone Marlins players to wear 42: Rich Rodriguez (1993), Jeremy Hernandez (1994-95) and Dennis Cook (1997).

So who most distinguished himself as a Marlin wearing each uniform number? We asked our distinguished VIEW FROM THE BLEACHERS panel, and we’re sharing their consensus in a 3-part series.

If you missed part 1 of this series Monday, #1-30, it’s available here.

Playing the numbers game

Now, on to part 2.

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31-Steve Cishek (2012-15)

Hall of Famer Mike Piazza passed through town and wore #31 for 5 games in 1998, but closer Steve Cishek gets the easy nod here. The pride of Falmouth, MA wore #66 in 2010-11 before making the switch to 31. The submarining righthander posted a 2.86 ERA and saved 94 games in a Marlins uniform. Only Robb Nen (108) and Antonio Alfonseca (102) have saved more games in club history.