Playing the numbers game (Part 3)

The best Marlins to wear numbers 61-99

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, #1-30 on Monday, it’s available here. Part 2, #31-60 on Wednesday, is available here.

Playing the numbers game

Playing the numbers game (Part 2)

Now, on to part 3.

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(Photo: Getty Images)

61-Livan Hernandez (1996-99)

There was some debate in the room on this one, and while Josh Beckett would get the nod over Livan Hernandez for his overall contribution to the Marlins, Livan is the pick because he wore #61 throughout his time in Miami, while Beckett switched to #21 mid-season 2003, and many of his finest moments as a Marlin came wearing 21. As for Livan, the franchise’s first Cuban-born star is best remembered for his performance in the 1997 postseason. He was MVP of both the NLCS against Atlanta and the World Series against Cleveland, earning 2 wins in both series and ringing up 15 strikeouts in game 5 of the NLCS against the Braves.