Hough to join Jeter in unveiling special logo
The sweeping makeover of the Miami Marlins this offseason under the new ownership group headed by Derek Jeter will extend to the look of the team.
Jeter will unveil a special logo for the 25th anniversary of the franchise in an invitation-only event Tuesday at Marlins Park.
The new CEO will be joined in the announcement by Charlie Hough, the popular former knuckleballer who threw the first pitch in Marlins history and also got credit for their first victory in a 6-3 win against the Los Angeles Dodgers on April 5, 1993 at then-Joe Robbie Stadium.
Hough also threw the ceremonial first pitch at the ground-breaking for Marlins Park in 2009.
Additional plans for the team’s 25th anniversary celebration also will be revealed during the event that is limited to current seasonticket members who have had an account since the inaugural season.
Hough, who got his start in baseball at Hialeah High, will participate in a Q&A with Marlins radio
Glenn commentator Geffner.
Now 70, Hough concluded a 25-year career in the major leagues by making 55 starts for the Marlins in 1993-94. He was 216-216 with a 3.75 ERA while pitching for four teams.
The original logo of the Florida Marlins was unveiled by team founder H. Wayne Huizenga on July 18, 1991. It depicted a black, aqua, white and gray marlin leaping through a gray life raft, which bore the lettering FLORIDA MARLINS. On the inside of the “raft” were orange baseball seams.
Huizenga, an avid deepsea fisherman who caught dozens of black marlin off the coast of Australia and Pacific blue marlin off Mexico and Panama, had selected the name for team a month earlier.
In revealing the logo to a gathering of about 1,500, including then-baseball Commissioner Fay Vincent, at the Turnberry Isle Resort in North Miami, Huizenga explained the reason for the choice.
“A Marlin is sleek, proud, agile, powerful, alert, a fierce fighter and an adversary that tests your mettle, and one that can shake itself loose just when you think ist` in trouble,” Huizenga said. “Those are the attributes we want the Marlins to represent, and we think we have found a logo to represent all of those characteristics.”
When the team rebranded to become the Miami Marlins with the move to Marlins Park in 2012, the logo was redesigned to the multi-color M topped by a stylized leaping marlin. That theme was incorporated in a logo for the All-Star Game hosted by the Marlins last July.
Tuesday’s event may provide an indication whether Jeter and principal owner the Bruce Sherman will continue with the general look of the team since the move to Little Havana or seek to further distance the franchise from previous owner Jeffrey Loria.
Jeter has already expressed a preference for removing the large, mechanical home run feature in leftcenter field that has been an object of distinction and derision since Marlins Park opened.
The agent for J.T. Realmuto has reiterated the catcher’s desire to join the exodus of high-profile players out of Miami.
Agent Jeff Berry , of CAA baseball, told the Miami Herald that Realmuto wants to be traded before spring training rather than remain with the Marlins while the team rebuilds around unproven prospects.
Berry, who first went public with Realmuto’s desire to be traded six weeks ago, said that Friday’s salary arbitration ruling, which favored the Marlins over Realmuto, was not a factor. Realmuto prefers to play for a team that can contend for a championship now rather than in several years, the Herald reported.
Realmuto, in his first year of arbitration eligibility, will make $2.9 million in 2018 rather than the $3.5 million he sought.
The Marlins have already traded away outfielders Giancarlo Stanton, Marcell Ozuna and Christian Yelich, and second baseman Dee Gordon since the ownership change was finalized in October.
Whether or not Realmuto’s wish is granted may depend more on other teams than the Marlins, who have indicated a willingness to trade him but only if they receive a package of premier prospects in return.
Realmuto, 26, has emerged as one of the best and most athletic catchers in the major leagues but won’t be eligible to become a free agent until after the 2020 season.
At least a dozen teams reportedly have had discussions with the Marlins about Realmuto, with the Washington Nationals making a strong push.
The Marlins are believed to be seeking either of Washington’s two top-ranked prospects, outfielders Victor Robles or Juan Soto. The Nationals reportedly are willing to part with shortstop Carter Kieboom and right-hander Erick Fedde, ranked third and fourth on the team’s list of prospects by mlb.com.
Although there would seem to be no urgency for trading Realmuto, Jeter did say after making the deal that sent Stanton to the New York Yankees that he preferred to not retain a player who doesn’t want to be part of the team. That sentiment was also believed to be a factor in hastening the trade of Yelich to the Milwaukee Brewers.
The Marlins are set to begin spring training in Jupiter with pitchers and catchers reporting on Feb. 14 at the Roger Dean Stadium complex.
cldavis@sun-sentinel .com, Twitter @CraigDavisRuns