FISH ON FRIDAY: Marlins Should Just Kick it Old School

Nearly 35 years ago, the Sunshine State was graced with their first Major League Baseball franchise, and the Miami Marlins were unveiled - including their cool green jerseys that caught the eyes of baseball fans at the time.

A new team with a new style, the Fish were stylish even if they weren't successful. You could even argue that the look led to a lot of changes to more modern colors and pastels inked into unis all around the game - along with the trend of alternate jerseys.

The franchise was groundbreaking, and it wasn't just based on the duds they were wearing. For years, Florida was discussed as a potential target for expansion or an existing franchise to relocate. It made sense: the state had Major cities, plenty of potential fans, and terrific weather. Just a few years before the Marlins were born, Chicago White Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf had seriously floated the theory of moving his team south to the Tampa-St. Petersburg.

In every instance, the Commissioner's Office shot down the idea, citing that F-L-A had been the home of Spring Training for a number of organizations every year. While that may seem like a silly rationale today (particularly when there have been two teams in the Sunshine State for over a generation), it had the intended effect. The region became known more as leverage for team owners to get new stadiums where they already were, rather than a permanent destination for hardball.

The new team and their new colors went on to become a two-time World Series Champion within its first 15 years, and they seemingly went beyond the credibility of just a regular expansion squad to team that felt like it had been around since the dead ball era.

 At times, they were down and out. But when they looked good? They played good.

Of course there was the 'mid-life crisis' version of the caps and jerseys, one that featured a Sesame Street-style font and relied on a lot of black and a shade of orange that looked a lot like peach sherbet.

This was akin to a newly-divorced dad who went on to drastically change their appearance in an attempt to relive their youth. And while there's no record on whether or not Billy the Marlin went out and got an earring and an IROC with t-tops, there was definitely an identity crisis going on in South Florida at that time. Often, you didn't know if you were watching a Major League team or one that was sponsored by the American Legion.

The old-school green teal just has a different feel. Looking like a dark mint, it reminds you of body wash... or fresh breath.

That makes the return of teal in 2026 especially interesting. The Marlins already use them on Sundays now, complete with the old 'F' on the caps, rather than a reference to the name change. At the same time, they aren't abandoning their modern identity. They're acknowledging that before Miami blue, orange, and black, there was a color that made the franchise recognizable in the first place.

So why not just go with it and use the blue as the alternate for Sundays or special matchups? It's been a while since the 90s, and now the era is considered 'nostalgic.' Miami's legacy is tied to that teal green shade. So, how about reaching back to that heritage... just as a new generation of Marlins is poised to take the team into a new chapter of its existence?