Florida Marlins defeat New York Yankees to win World Series

Jet, Nov 10, 2003

The Florida Marlins swam against a torrent of critics, naysayers and opponents to win the World Series.

The Marlins, who won the National League crown as a wild card team and came from behind in every stage of the post-season, followed the same formula in the World Series and won three games in a row after falling behind 2-1 to the New York Yankees.

Josh Beckett, a 23-year-old pitcher on three days' rest, hurled a complete-game, five-hit shutout, striking out nine and walking two in Game 6. He was named MVP of the series.

"Nobody gave us a chance, and here they are, the world champs," 72-year-old manager Jack McKeon said of the team's 2-0 win over the Yankees. "Tremendous story."

This Marlin team has been full of surprises ever since it started the season 19-29. The team won a tight wild card race, then rallied past San Francisco and stunned the Chicago Cubs in the playoffs. And lastly, the Marlins upset the Yankees, along with all of New York.

"We shocked the world!" center fielder Juan Pierre shouted while popping a bottle of champagne in the clubhouse.

The young, thrifty Marlins made the Yankees look old and overpaid. By the final game they had Andy Pettitte shouting angrily into his glove and Jeter muttering to himself. And when Beckett tagged Jorge Posada for the final out, the Marlins became the first visiting team to celebrate a World Series title at Yankee Stadium since the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1981.

"In my heart of hearts, I kept hearing that this was the little team that could," owner Jeffrey Loria said.

The Marlins overcame deficits in seven of the team's 11 postseason victories. The team was on the verge of elimination when it won three consecutive games to beat the Cubs in the NL championship series, and the Marlins also won its final three games against New York.