
Over the past 19 seasons, the Marlins discovered people dislike sitting in a football stadium to watch baseball games played in sweltering weather and interrupted by frequent showers. "There were a lot of rain delays," former Marlin Josh Willingham said, "and no fans."

It has gone by many names - Joe Robbie Stadium, Pro Player Park, Pro Player Stadium, Dolphins Stadium, Dolphin Stadium, Land Shark Stadium and now Sun Life Stadium. Both will be bigger, the Marlins pledge, once they leave the stadium where they've played since their first season in 1993, when they moved in with the Miami Dolphins. Next year they move into a retractable-roof ballpark built to rejuvenate a franchise long known for modest crowds and humble payrolls. In baseball the goal is to be safe at home, but the Marlins are glad to be out. "There are some good memories here for sure, but I won't shed a tear when we move." "If I was to say I'm sorry to see it go, I'd be lying - big time," Conine said. On Wednesday, the Marlins kiss their ballpark goodbye.
#MARLINS AT PRO PLAYER STADIUM SERIES#
This is where Conine went 4 for 4 as a rookie in the franchise's first game where he played on two World Series championship teams where he earned the nickname Mr. He looks up toward a sea of empty seats and remembers when they were full.
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MIAMI - As moving day nears for the Florida Marlins, Jeff Conine stands in front of the dugout, the crack of batting-practice swings echoing in the cavernous stadium.
