With just eight winning seasons in 33 years, the Florida/Miami Marlins’ history isn’t what most people would refer to as “rich.” In a short amount of time, however, the Florida Marlins rose to baseball’s pinnacle twice, winning the World Series in 1997 and 2003.

In each of those two seasons, the first Marlin to come to the plate was Luis Castillo. Born Sept. 12, 1975, Castillo celebrates his 50th birthday today.

A native of the Dominican Republic, Castillo spent parts of 10 seasons with the Marlins. A switch-hitting second baseman with rare speed on the base paths, Castillo remains one of the most accomplished players in team history. Castillo was a three-time All-Star and a three-time Gold Glove winner. 

Castillo debuted for the Marlins in 1996, but was back and forth from the minors over his first three seasons. Castillo began the 1997 season as the team’s everyday second baseman and lead-off hitter, but was sent down after the team traded for Craig Counsell.

From 1999 to 2005, Castillo was a mainstay in the Florida lineup. After hitting .302 during the 1999 season, Castillo led baseball with 62 stolen bases in 2000
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—a franchise record at the time. His final four seasons in South Florida from 2002 to 2005 would be his most memorable.

In 2002, Castillo made his first All-Star Game and set a Marlins record that still stands by hitting in 35 straight games. He was the first foreign-born player to accomplish that feat while leading baseball that season with 48 steals.

From 2003 to 2005, Castillo won a Gold Glove each year, joining former catcher Charles Johnson as the only Marlins to do so in three straight seasons. In 2003, Castillo made a second straight All-Star Game while hitting .314. 

Hitting behind leadoff man Juan Pierre for much of the year, Castillo helped the Marlins win their second World Series. Although Castillo’s postseason was relatively quiet, it was his foul ball that led to the infamous Steve Bartman incident during Florida’s eight-run eighth in Game 6 of the National League Championship Series against the Chicago Cubs. His only RBI of the World Series would plate the final run of the season for the Marlins as his sacrifice fly in the sixth inning capped the scoring in a 2-0 victory over the New York Yankees in series-clinching Game 6.

After a solid 2004, Castillo would make his final All-Star Game in his final season with the Marlins in 2005. He hit .301 that year and set a career-high with four home runs. 

Following the 2005 campaign, the Marlins sent Castillo to the Minnesota Twins as the franchise began a rebuild. Castillo spent parts of two seasons with Minnesota and helped it win the American League Central in 2006 before being dealt to the New York Mets at the trade deadline in 2007. Castillo spent four seasons with the Mets, last appearing in 2010.

Although Castillo hit .285 after leaving South Florida, his best years came with the Marlins. It’s been two decades since he last played for the Marlins, but he remains the franchise’s all-time leader in games played (1,128), runs scored (675), hits (1,273), triples (42), walks (533), stolen bases (281) and sacrifice hits (65).

Along with Rick Helling and Jeff Conine, Castillo is one of just three players to play for both of the Marlins’ championship teams. The Marlins legend is 50 today. 

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