Jeff Conine
Encyclopedia
Jeffrey Guy Conine is a former Major League Baseball
first baseman
/outfielder
who played several years with the Florida Marlins
. Previously, Conine played with the Kansas City Royals
, Florida Marlins (-, -), Baltimore Orioles
(-2003), Philadelphia Phillies
(2006), Cincinnati Reds
, and New York Mets
(2007). He batted and threw right-handed. He became well-known as Niner and Mr. Marlin for his significant history as a Marlins player and ties to South Florida. He has also been called "The Barbarian" (after "Conan the Barbarian
").
In , Conine hit a career high .319 batting average
with 18 home run
s and 82 RBI
and made the Major League Baseball All-Star Game
, but his most productive season came in , when he posted a career high 105 RBI with a .302 average and 25 home runs. That season, he was named the All-Star Game MVP
after hitting a pinch-hit homer to win the game.
In , Conine finished with 26 home runs, a career high, 95 RBI, and a .293 average.
In his first stint with the Orioles, Conine hit at least .284 four times, with a high of .311 in . In his second stint with the Marlins, he collected 193 RBI in 314 games.
In a 17-season career, Conine was a .285 hitter with 214 home runs and 1071 RBI in 2024 games.
Conine has the distinction of being the only player to appear in the opener of the Marlins' inaugural season, the 1997 World Series
Marlins' championship team, and the 2003 World Series
Marlins' championship team.
He was signed by the Orioles to a one-year deal in the 2005 offseason. On August 27, 2006, Conine was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies. On December 21, 2006, he was traded by the Phillies to the Reds for two minor league prospects, Bradley Key and Javon Moran.
On August 20, 2007, Conine was traded to the New York Mets for minor leaguers Sean Henry and Jose Castro.http://www.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/2007-08-20-1505294444_x.htm Having won World Series titles with Florida in 1997 and 2003, and planning to retire after the 2007 season, Conine was delighted to spend the last months of his final season on a contending team. He was quoted as saying, "My initial thought is: 'First place.' I get to go back to another pennant race." This was not to be when the Mets lost their final series to his former team, the Marlins and first place in the division, to the Phillies.
On September 20, 2007, Conine announced that he was considering retirement before his final series in South Florida.http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/baseball/marlins/sfl-flspconine21nbsep21,0,6479304.story?track=rss
On September 30, 2007, Conine played his last game, against the Marlins, when he came in as a replacement for an injured player.
On March 16, 2008, Conine agreed to a one-day contract with the Florida Marlins, which he signed on March 28, 2008. The Marlins had a tribute to Conine before their home opener on March 31.
s. In October 2008 he completed the Ironman Triathlon
in Kona, Hawaii. He explained, "It’s the most grueling test in sports, and for some odd reason that really appeals to me."
Conine appeared as a color commentator on three Florida Marlins Fox Sports Net
telecasts, September 19–September 21, 2008, filling in for Tommy Hutton
. He currently works in the Marlins' front office as a special assistant to the team president, David Samson
.
players.
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
first baseman
First baseman
First base, or 1B, is the first of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a baserunner in order to score a run for that player's team...
/outfielder
Outfielder
Outfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder...
who played several years with the Florida Marlins
Florida Marlins
The Miami Marlins are a professional baseball team based in Miami, Florida, United States. Established in 1993 as an expansion franchise called the Florida Marlins, the Marlins are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Marlins played their home games at...
. Previously, Conine played with the Kansas City Royals
Kansas City Royals
The Kansas City Royals are a Major League Baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals are a member of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From 1973 to the present, the Royals have played in Kauffman Stadium...
, Florida Marlins (-, -), Baltimore Orioles
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
(-2003), Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
(2006), Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
, and New York Mets
New York Mets
The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
(2007). He batted and threw right-handed. He became well-known as Niner and Mr. Marlin for his significant history as a Marlins player and ties to South Florida. He has also been called "The Barbarian" (after "Conan the Barbarian
Conan the Barbarian
Conan the Barbarian is a fictional sword and sorcery hero that originated in pulp fiction magazines and has since been adapted to books, comics, several films , television programs, video games, roleplaying games and other media...
").
Professional career
A graduate from UCLA, Conine started his major league career with the Kansas City Royals and was selected by the Florida Marlins in the 1993 expansion draft. After a second stint with Kansas City and five seasons with Baltimore, he returned to the Marlins in the 2003 midseason.In , Conine hit a career high .319 batting average
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
with 18 home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
s and 82 RBI
Run batted in
Runs batted in or RBIs is a statistic used in baseball and softball to credit a batter when the outcome of his at-bat results in a run being scored, except in certain situations such as when an error is made on the play. The first team to track RBI was the Buffalo Bisons.Common nicknames for an RBI...
and made the Major League Baseball All-Star Game
Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The Major League Baseball All-Star Game, also known as the "Midsummer Classic", is an annual baseball game between players from the National League and the American League, currently selected by a combination of fans, players, coaches, and managers...
, but his most productive season came in , when he posted a career high 105 RBI with a .302 average and 25 home runs. That season, he was named the All-Star Game MVP
Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The Major League Baseball All-Star Game, also known as the "Midsummer Classic", is an annual baseball game between players from the National League and the American League, currently selected by a combination of fans, players, coaches, and managers...
after hitting a pinch-hit homer to win the game.
In , Conine finished with 26 home runs, a career high, 95 RBI, and a .293 average.
In his first stint with the Orioles, Conine hit at least .284 four times, with a high of .311 in . In his second stint with the Marlins, he collected 193 RBI in 314 games.
In a 17-season career, Conine was a .285 hitter with 214 home runs and 1071 RBI in 2024 games.
Conine has the distinction of being the only player to appear in the opener of the Marlins' inaugural season, the 1997 World Series
1997 World Series
-Game 1:Saturday, October 18, 1997 at Pro Player Stadium in Miami Gardens, FloridaThe first World Series game in the state of Florida, Game 1 featured a youngster and a veteran facing each other on the mound...
Marlins' championship team, and the 2003 World Series
2003 World Series
The 2003 World Series marked the 99th baseball World Series event. The Florida Marlins defeated the New York Yankees in six games, 4–2.-Background:...
Marlins' championship team.
He was signed by the Orioles to a one-year deal in the 2005 offseason. On August 27, 2006, Conine was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies. On December 21, 2006, he was traded by the Phillies to the Reds for two minor league prospects, Bradley Key and Javon Moran.
On August 20, 2007, Conine was traded to the New York Mets for minor leaguers Sean Henry and Jose Castro.http://www.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/2007-08-20-1505294444_x.htm Having won World Series titles with Florida in 1997 and 2003, and planning to retire after the 2007 season, Conine was delighted to spend the last months of his final season on a contending team. He was quoted as saying, "My initial thought is: 'First place.' I get to go back to another pennant race." This was not to be when the Mets lost their final series to his former team, the Marlins and first place in the division, to the Phillies.
On September 20, 2007, Conine announced that he was considering retirement before his final series in South Florida.http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/baseball/marlins/sfl-flspconine21nbsep21,0,6479304.story?track=rss
On September 30, 2007, Conine played his last game, against the Marlins, when he came in as a replacement for an injured player.
On March 16, 2008, Conine agreed to a one-day contract with the Florida Marlins, which he signed on March 28, 2008. The Marlins had a tribute to Conine before their home opener on March 31.
Post-career
After retiring from baseball, Conine began training to compete in triathlonTriathlon
A triathlon is a multi-sport event involving the completion of three continuous and sequential endurance events. While many variations of the sport exist, triathlon, in its most popular form, involves swimming, cycling, and running in immediate succession over various distances...
s. In October 2008 he completed the Ironman Triathlon
Ironman Triathlon
An Ironman Triathlon is one of a series of long-distance triathlon races organized by the World Triathlon Corporation consisting of a swim, a bike and a marathon run, raced in that order and without a break...
in Kona, Hawaii. He explained, "It’s the most grueling test in sports, and for some odd reason that really appeals to me."
Conine appeared as a color commentator on three Florida Marlins Fox Sports Net
Fox Sports Net
The Fox Sports Regional Networks, or simply Fox Sports Net , are a collection of cable TV regional sports networks in the United States owned and operated by News Corporation.- Beginnings :...
telecasts, September 19–September 21, 2008, filling in for Tommy Hutton
Tommy Hutton
Thomas George Hutton is a former Major League Baseball player and is currently the color analyst for Miami Marlins baseball broadcasts on FSN Florida and Sun Sports - a position he has held since the 1997 season...
. He currently works in the Marlins' front office as a special assistant to the team president, David Samson
David Samson (baseball)
David Samson is the President of the Miami Marlins, a Major League Baseball team located in Miami, Florida. He has held the position since 2002. He previously held the title of Executive Vice President with the Montreal Expos, from 1999–2002, working in both cities under team owner, Jeffrey...
.
Personal life
Jeff Conine and his wife Cindy Conine have three children. Jeff and Cindy are both world class racquetballRacquetball
For other sports often called "paddleball", see Paddleball .Racquetball is a racquet sport played with a hollow rubber ball in an indoor or outdoor court...
players.
See also
- List of top 300 Major League Baseball home run hitters
- List of Major League Baseball players with 1000 RBI
- List of Baltimore Orioles Opening Day Starting Lineups