Highlights
With a charismatic personality and a pitching delivery to match, Dontrelle Willis made his Major League Baseball debut in 2003 and helped the Florida Marlins win their second World Series championship. Willis won 14 of 20 decisions with a 2.63 ERA that season on his way to an All-Star selection and the Jackie Robinson Rookie of the Year award for the National League. A native of Alameda, Calif., Willis baffled hitters with a high leg kick he developed as a youth playing "strikeout." That deceptive windup, affable personality and commitment to community service made Willis a fan favorite and one of the game's most recognizable left-handed pitchers. In just four and half seasons Willis set...
With a charismatic personality and a pitching delivery to match, Dontrelle Willis made his Major League Baseball debut in 2003 and helped the Florida Marlins win their second World Series championship. Willis won 14 of 20 decisions with a 2.63 ERA that season on his way to an All-Star selection and the Jackie Robinson Rookie of the Year award for the National League. A native of Alameda, Calif., Willis baffled hitters with a high leg kick he developed as a youth playing "strikeout." That deceptive windup, affable personality and commitment to community service made Willis a fan favorite and one of the game's most recognizable left-handed pitchers. In just four and half seasons Willis set the franchise records for career wins (68), strikeouts (757), complete games (15), shutouts (eight) and innings pitched (1,022.2). Willis also became the first 20-game winner in Marlins history in 2005, when he finished second behind St. Louis Cardinals right-hander Chris Carpenter in the National League Cy Young award balloting. The Marlins acquired Willis from the Chicago Cubs on March 27, 2002, along with right-handers Julian Tavarez, Jose Cueto and catcher Ryan Jorgensen in exchange for right-handers Antonio Alfonseca and Matt Clement. The Cubs selected him in the eighth round of the 2000 First Year Player Draft out of Encinal (Calif.) High School. He won California High School Player of the Year honors after going 10-1 with a 0.70 ERA and 111 strikeouts in 70 innings. Born on Jan. 12, 1982 in Oakland, Calif., Willis, who wears No. 35, grew up rooting for the Oakland Athletics. He became a full-time South Florida resident after joining the Marlins and now resides with his wife, Natalee, and their daughter, Adrianna Rose (4/24/07) in North Miami Beach.No Marlin player does more in the community than Willis. In 2005 and 2006 he was the team's nominee for the Roberto Clemente Award, which recognizes the major league player who best exemplifies the game of baseball, sportsmanship, community involvement and the individual's contribution to his team. He also is a two-time winner of the Marlins' All-Heart award, which goes to the player who best exemplifies the team's commitment to the South Florida community by making a positive impact and serving as a role model for others.
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Time for this season's baseball awards
One day into the postseason, let's take one last look back at the regular season. The envelopes, please: National League Most Valuable Player: Albert Pujols, St. Louis. Whether you're a stats geek or an old-school scout, you can't deny this man his...Tags: Cy Young, Andruw Jones, Isiah Thomas, Jim Edmonds, Brian Cashman
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The best of the best in 2008
More Tylenol, please. The regular season is over, which means it's time to pass out the hardware for performances exceptionally well done. Frankly, it's going to take an exceptional performance to get the 2008 awards correct. Statistical analysts and...Tags: Cy Young, Vladimir Guerrero, Lance Berkman, Mark McGwire, Boston Red Sox
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It's the last dance
South Florida Sun-SentinelWhether today's game is the last at Shea Stadium remains to be seen. What's certain is the 44-year-old facility's lights no longer will shine on the Marlins after this afternoon's regular-season finale. "I'm excited," first baseman and former Met Mike...Tags: Todd Zeile, New York Mets, Baseball, Florida Marlins, Major League Baseball
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Pujols Homers, Lifts Cardinals
Albert Pujols hit his 37th home run and reached 100 runs for the seventh time in his first eight seasons in the Cardinals' 8-5 victory over the Cincinnati Reds Saturday night in St. Louis. Todd Wellemeyer pitched into the seventh inning and Troy Glaus'...Tags: Gary Sheffield, Nelson Cruz, San Diego Padres, Felipe Lopez, Baltimore Orioles
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Minnesota loses -- but maintains lead
The Minnesota Twins fell flat again, forcing themselves into another white-knuckle night of keeping tabs on the Chicago White Sox in the AL Central. Ryan Shealy blooped a two-run single over a drawn-in infield for the lead in the seventh inning, and...Tags: Toronto Blue Jays, Gary Sheffield, Nelson Cruz, Javier Vazquez, Baltimore Orioles
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Marlins season in review: They coulda been a contender
South Florida Sun-SentinelThey came into the year with no expectations whatsoever. Dontrelle Willis and Miguel Cabrera were gone, and most experts predicted they would finish fourth, at best, in the National League East. So how come the third-highest win total (84) in Marlins...Tags: Tampa Bay Rays, Baseball, Florida Marlins, Major League Baseball, Miguel Cabrera
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Florida Marlins' Lo Duca looks to revive career in 2009
South Florida Sun-SentinelCatcher Paul Lo Duca didn't get too choked up about returning to Washington for the first time since the Nationals cut him Aug. 1. Signed to a $5 million, one-year contract, Lo Duca spent time on the Nationals' disabled list with a fractured right hand...Tags: Kevin Brown, Paul Lo Duca, Ryan Dempster, A.J. Burnett, Mountains
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Playoffs out of reach, but some set to cash in
South Florida Sun-SentinelSan Francisco-based agent Matt Sosnick doesn't represent all the Marlins arbitration-eligible players. It just seems that way. Sosnick met the club in Washington to strategize with his stable of Marlins clients. One of them, Scott Olsen, started Tuesday'...Tags: Florida Marlins, Arbitration, Trials
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Marlins end Phils' streak
Of The Associated PressThe Philadelphia Phillies' winning streak was no match for the surging Florida Marlins and their .818 hitter, newcomer Cameron Maybin. And it cost them first place in the NL East. The rookie had four hits for the second straight game, tied a franchise...Tags: New York Mets, John Baker, Baseball, Florida Marlins, Major League Baseball
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NO ONE EXPECTED SOX-TWINS BATTLE
Chicago Tribune reporterMINNEAPOLIS — Nearly 10 months ago, White Sox general manager Ken Williams was taken to task for the manner in which he went about defending his off-season attempts to improve his team shortly after the Tigers acquired slugger Miguel Cabrera and...Tags: Gavin Floyd, Nick Swisher, Torii Hunter, Jose Contreras, Carlos Quentin
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Marlins end Phils' win streak
Of The Associated PressThe Philadelphia Phillies' winning streak was no match for the surging Florida Marlins and their .818 hitter, newcomer Cameron Maybin. And it cost them first place in the NL East. The rookie had four hits for the second straight game, tied a franchise...Tags: New York Mets, Wine, Beer, and Spirits, John Baker, Baseball, Florida Marlins
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Tigers having season to forget
Whatever you want to say about the Yankees' disappointing 2008 season, they did warn us, sort of, beforehand. When they passed on trading for Johan Santana, the Yankees essentially announced that they were thinking big-picture. Missing the playoffs...Tags: Gary Sheffield, Edgar Renteria, Boston Red Sox, Baseball, Major League Baseball
Oct 2, 2008
|Column| Newsday
Oct 4, 2008
|Column| Chicago Tribune
Sep 28, 2008
|Story| South Florida Sun-Sentinel
Sep 28, 2008
|Story| Associated Press
Sep 28, 2008
|Story| Orlando Sentinel
Sep 29, 2008
|Story| South Florida Sun-Sentinel
Sep 24, 2008
|Story| South Florida Sun-Sentinel
Sep 24, 2008
|Story| South Florida Sun-Sentinel
Sep 20, 2008
|Story| Allentown Morning Call
Sep 23, 2008
|Story| Chicago Tribune
Sep 19, 2008
|Story| Allentown Morning Call
Sep 3, 2008
|Column| Newsday
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