Two former Marlins elected to Hall of Fame

Ivan Rodriguez and Tim Raines have been elected to the highest honor in Major League Baseball.

The two former Marlins, along with Jeff Bagwell, have been elected into the Baseball Hall of Fame as part of the 2017 class.

Rodriguez, more widely known as “Pudge”, received 76 percent of the vote and was elected in his first year on the ballot. Raines received 86 percent of the vote and was elected in his 10th and final year of eligibility.

Pudge was a Marlin for only one year — 2003. He was signed by Florida on a one-year deal in January of 2003 after choosing to not re-sign with the Texas Rangers.

Rodriguez was easily given the starting catcher spot and he thrived for the Marlins. In 578 plate appearances in the regular season, Pudge hit .314 with a .369 on-base percentage and an .843 OPS. He hit hit 16 home runs and added 85 RBI. His 4.4 WAR season helped him finish 23rd in NL MVP voting.

Pudge also came up big in the playoffs that year. He hit .313 and drove in 17 runs in 17 playoff games and was named NLCS MVP. He also hit .273 in the World Series and helped lead the Marlins to their second ever World Series title.

The Marlins, however, did not re-sign him, and Rodriguez signed with the Detroit Tigers that offseason.

Raines, unlike Pudge, was a Marlin at the very end of his career. He spent his 23rd and final season with the Marlins in 2002 after signing as a free agent that offseason.

The then 42-year-old hit .191 but posted a .351 OBP in 114 plate appearances that season. It wasn’t the greatest season of Raines’ career, and he retired after that year.

The third former Marlin on the ballot, Gary Sheffield, got only 13.3 percent of the vote. It was only his third year on the ballot, so he still has time to get into Cooperstown.