Teal For Good: Florida Marlins Throwbacks Are Dope and They Should Just Switch Back

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While it’s been used for spring training purposes for the last 100 years, the state of Florida didn’t have an actual Major League Baseball team until 1993 when the Florida Marlins came along. Surprisingly, the new team found immediate success with their new league, winning a World Series in just their fifth season. By comparison, the San Diego Padres (1969), Milwaukee Brewers (1970), Texas Rangers (1972), and Seattle Mariners (1979) have never hoisted the trophy. It should be noted that they snagged another one in 2003.

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Like the Nets of the NBA, though, the Marlins underwent a complete overhaul a few years ago. New colors, new venue, and most significantly, a change to half of their name. Instead of the Florida Marlins, they became the Miami Marlins in 2012 and moved into a gigantic new building with an obnoxious…thing beyond the center-field fence. Success, however, has been few and far between since the shift. Anytime something good happened (ie: the hiring of Don Mattingly) something worse followed (ie: the roster deconstruction by Derek Jeter). Like the cliche goes…one step forward, two steps back.

Now, it’s 2018 and the team is floundering with little talent and a 23-40 record. But for what they lack on their roster, they’ve made up for it with nostalgia for their 25th anniversary. And while it’s sort of crazy to group ‘Marlins’ with ‘nostalgia’, it’s actually super cool and interesting. They recently rocked their retro duds in Game 1 of their three-game set with the Padres and the vintage teal-and-black pinstripes looked sooo dope. Somewhere, Gary Sheffield and Jack McKeon are puffing a cigar in celebration.

Embed from Getty Images
Embed from Getty Images
Embed from Getty Images

The vintage Florida Marlins throwbacks have gotten folks in Miami excited, with the Sun Sentinel‘s Dan Sweeney even asking if they should bring the teal back for good. The answer is, of course, a resounding YES — at least in my mind. After all, they won 4-0 in Game 1 so maybe it’s a look-good, play-good kind of thing. Whatever the case, Florida Marlins > Miami Marlins.