Florida Marlins Renamed Miami Marlins

The Florida Marlins baseball franchise officially changed their name to the Miami Marlins on Friday. The date 11-11-11 has numerical significance to some people in society, but it will be known throughout South Florida as the day the Marlins renamed their organization. The organization will be wearing new uniforms and caps starting in the 2012 season. Fans knew when the change would happen at the Marlins final home game in 2011 when team owner Jeffrey Loria and former manager Jack McKeon ripped down the last panel of the games remaining sign on the left field wall at Sun Life Stadium. It revealed Miami Marlins 11.11.11 in a black box. The main reason for the name change was that if the city of Miami would build a new stadium for the team, then the team would implement Miami and eliminate Florida from the franchise name. A baseball stadium has almost been completely done where the Orange Bowl once stood in Little Havana. The facility will be open by the first week of April. The Marlins will face the defending World Series champion St. Louis Cardinals opening day on April 4. The team had been known as the Florida Marlins after original owner Wayne Huizenga and South Florida was rewarded an expansion franchise by Major League Baseball in June 1991. The Marlins had played all their home games in Miami Springs since April 1993. The original team logo and cap design are history. There were minor league teams named the Miami Marlins previously. The Philadelphia Phillies and the Baltimore Orioles had a Florida State League affiliate with the same name from 1962-1970 and 1982-1988 that played at Bobby Maduro Miami Stadium.