Former Marlins manager Jim Leyland elected to Baseball Hall of Fame

What a way to kickstart the MLB Winter Meetings. Jim Leyland is part of the National Baseball Hall of Fame's Class of 2024, as announced on Sunday. The longtime manager was a near-unanimous selection by the Contemporary Baseball Era Committee, receiving 15 of the 16 possible votes (12 votes were needed for election).

In Leyland's two seasons with the Florida Marlins, he was at the helm of arguably the best team in franchise history (1997)...and inarguably the worst (1998). He led the Fish to their first-ever World Series title, racking up 92 wins, which still stands as a Marlins single-season record.

"It was the best team in baseball that year and I think we ended up proving that," Leyland said Sunday night on a media conference call. "We had a lot of stars on that team. A lot of people could've managed that team."

During the subsequent offseason, at the behest of owner Wayne Huizenga, the Marlins held their first and most notorious fire sale. Moises Alou, Kevin Brown, Jeff Conine, Al Leiter, Robb Nen and other valuable veteran players were traded before Opening Day; Bobby Bonilla, Charles Johnson and Gary Sheffield followed suit early the next year. The 1998 Marlins went 54-108.

Combining both years, Leyland had a .451 regular season winning percentage in Florida (146-178 record). He resigned after the '98 campaign.

Despite the awkward exit, Leyland has been involved in Marlins alumni events, most recently the 25th anniversary celebration of the '97 team, which was held at LoanDepot Park in 2022.

Leyland also managed the Pittsburgh Pirates (1986-1996), Colorado Rockies (1999) and Detroit Tigers (2006-2013) as well as Team USA during the 2017 World Baseball Classic. He's 18th on the all-time managerial wins list.

Leyland was the lone manager/executive/umpire to get elected by the committee this year. His formal induction will take place next summer in Cooperstown, New York alongside whichever players get at least 75% support from the Baseball Writers' Association of America.

One of those players on the BBWAA ballot? Gary Sheffield, who Leyland managed with both the Marlins and Tigers. Sheffield's in his 10th and final year of BBWAA eligibility.

"I think there was quite a long period of time that Gary Sheffield was the most-feared right-handed hitter in baseball," Leyland says. "I'm obviously pulling for him...Hopefully, Sheff's time is gonna come."

Photo by Al Tielemans/Sports Illustrated