30-year Marliniversary: Sheffield becomes first Marlin to hit 40 homers in a season

During his MVP season of 2017, Giancarlo Stanton set Miami Marlins records with 59 home runs and 132 RBIs. Prior to that, however, only one player in franchise history had ever hit 40 home runs in a season.

The first member of the Fish to do it hit the 40-homer mark on this day 30 years ago. In the Florida Marlins’ 2-1 loss to the Montreal Expos, Gary Sheffield’s solo blast provided all the team’s offense.  

Sheffield hadn’t yet had a chance to swing the bat as he came to the plate in the bottom of the eighth to face Ugueth Urbina, a future World Series champion with the Marlins, at Pro Player Stadium on Sept. 7, 1996. After walking in his first three plate appearances, Sheffield fell behind 0-2 in the count, but the third pitch would be one he wouldn’t miss.

Sheffield’s blast to left cleared the wall, broke up the shutout and cut the lead in half. It also ended Urbina’s night. Mel Rojas would come in and collect the final four outs for Montreal despite surrendering a walk in each inning.

Despite allowing just an earned run in five innings, Marc Valdes took the loss for Florida. Mark Leiter tossed 6.2 shutout innings for Montreal to earn the win.

Mark Lansing had three hits and an RBI for the Expos. Kurt Abbott had two of the five hits for Florida. Joe Osulak finished with three outfield assists for the Marlins.

Sheffield would finish the 1996 season with 42 home runs—a club record that would last for 21 years. He remains one of just two Marlins to hit 40 homers in a season. He got there on this day three decades ago.