20-year Marliniversary: Girardi wins NL Manager of the Year

[Mike Ferguson]

Since the award's inception in 1983, only one manager has ever won Manager of the Year with a losing record. He did so as the skipper of the Florida Marlins.

On this day 20 years ago, Joe Girardi claimed that honor. On Nov. 15, 2006, he was named the National League Manager of the Year after guiding Florida to a 78-84 record.

Tasked with replacing Jack McKeon, who had been the first Marlins skipper to earn the NL Manager of the Year distinction in 2003, Girardi's squad consisted of a slew of rookies. That, however, didn't stop from Florida from remaining alive in the National League wild card race into the final weeks of the season.

With a roster that included eventual Hall of Fame infielder Miguel Cabrera, shortstop and 2006 National League Rookie of the Year Hanley Ramírez, second baseman Dan Uggla, outfielder Josh Willingham and pitchers Dontrelle Willis, Josh Johnson, Aníbal Sánchez and Scott Olsen, the Marlins overcame an 11-31 start to get over .500 by the early parts in September. In the process, Florida became the first team ever to go from 20 games under .500 to even their record.

That season, the Marlins finished with three of the top four vote-getters for Rookie of the Year and six of the top 12. Having to replace the likes of Carlos Delgado, Paul Lo Duca, Mike Lowell, Luis Castillo, Juan Pierre, Josh Beckett and others, Florida exceeded all expectations.

Although the Marlins fizzled down the stretch, they instilled hope for a bright future in South Florida. As for Girardi, the 2006 season would be his only campaign as manager of the Fish. Personal disagreements between Girardi and owner Jeffrey Loria ultimately led to his departure. Girardi was fired two days following the season finale.

Don Mattingly (2020) and Skip Schumaker (2023) have since claimed Manager of the Year honors with the Miami Marlins. 

Girardi would go on to manage the New York Yankees to the 2009 World Series title. After 10 years back in the Bronx, Girardi spent parts of three seasons as manager of the Philadelphia Phillies.

Despite 11 winning seasons, six postseason appearances, three division titles and one World Series championship, Girardi's lone Manager of the Year honor came for his efforts in South Florida. He took home the hardware on this day two decades ago. 

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