Highlights
With a charismatic personality and a pitching delivery to match, Dontrelle Willis made his Major League Baseball debut in 2003 and helped the Florida Marlins win their second World Series championship. Willis won 14 of 20 decisions with a 2.63 ERA that season on his way to an All-Star selection and the Jackie Robinson Rookie of the Year award for the National League....
With a charismatic personality and a pitching delivery to match, Dontrelle Willis made his Major League Baseball debut in 2003 and helped the Florida Marlins win their second World Series championship. Willis won 14 of 20 decisions with a 2.63 ERA that season on his way to an All-Star selection and the Jackie Robinson Rookie of the Year award for the National League. A native of Alameda, Calif., Willis baffled hitters with a high leg kick he developed as a youth playing "strikeout." That deceptive windup, affable personality and commitment to community service made Willis a fan favorite and one of the game's most recognizable left-handed pitchers. In just four and half seasons Willis set the franchise records for career wins (68), strikeouts (757), complete games (15), shutouts (eight) and innings pitched (1,022.2). Willis also became the first 20-game winner in Marlins history in 2005, when he finished second behind St. Louis Cardinals right-hander Chris Carpenter in the National League Cy Young award balloting. The Marlins acquired Willis from the Chicago Cubs on March 27, 2002, along with right-handers Julian Tavarez, Jose Cueto and catcher Ryan Jorgensen in exchange for right-handers Antonio Alfonseca and Matt Clement. The Cubs selected him in the eighth round of the 2000 First Year Player Draft out of Encinal (Calif.) High School. He won California High School Player of the Year honors after going 10-1 with a 0.70 ERA and 111 strikeouts in 70 innings. Born on Jan. 12, 1982 in Oakland, Calif., Willis, who wears No. 35, grew up rooting for the Oakland Athletics. He became a full-time South Florida resident after joining the Marlins and now resides with his wife, Natalee, and their daughter, Adrianna Rose (4/24/07) in North Miami Beach.No Marlin player does more in the community than Willis. In 2005 and 2006 he was the team's nominee for the Roberto Clemente Award, which recognizes the major league player who best exemplifies the game of baseball, sportsmanship, community involvement and the individual's contribution to his team. He also is a two-time winner of the Marlins' All-Heart award, which goes to the player who best exemplifies the team's commitment to the South Florida community by making a positive impact and serving as a role model for others.
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Time For Manny To Play Ball
Los Angeles TimesALBUQUERQUE -- The man in the old Dodgers cap stood with his hands in his pockets. For an hour, Michael Maldonado waited, staring at the closed windows of the box office. The 51-year-old utility worker said he missed work Monday morning to be first in...Tags: Sports, Manny Ramirez, Mike Piazza, Hospitals and Clinics, Health
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Nolasco passes Willis as Marlins all-time wins leader
— Ricky Nolasco's name may not resonate with some of those on the Marlins' World Series teams, the likes of Beckett, Willis, Hernandez and Brown. But no pitcher has won as many games in a Marlins uniform as the right-hander from Beaumont, Calif....
Tags: Todd Helton, Sports, Wilin Rosario, Dexter Fowler, Austin Kearns
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Nolasco tries again to pass Willis for Marlins' wins record
— It's Take Three in Ricky Nolasco's bid to take sole possession of the Marlins' record for victories that he shares with Dontrelle Willis at 68. Coming off losses in his past two starts, Nolasco is most concerned with doing his part in...Tags: Sports, San Francisco Giants, Colorado Rockies, Miami Marlins, Philadelphia Phillies
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Miami Marlins can't solve Braves' Brandon Beachy in series finale
ATLANTA — Rarely in a single game in the last 18 days have the Marlins had the type of collective, team wide struggles that encompassed the rather dreary showing they had Thursday night at Turner Field. A night after earning a key win in the early-...
Tags: Sports, Logan Morrison, Atlanta Braves, Ozzie Guillen, National League East
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Ozzie Guillen pleased with latest changes to Marlins lineup
ATLANTA — As he chatted with reporters inside Turner Field's third-base dugout Wednesday afternoon, Marlins manager Ozzie Guillen calmly looked at those before him and made a proud proclamation. "The lineup we have," he said, "is a lot better."...Tags: Sports, Jeanmar Gomez, Emilio Bonifacio, Omar Infante, Justin Masterson
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Duquette: Miguel Tejada 'has a lot of enthusiasm for Baltimore'
The Baltimore SunThe return of former Oriole Miguel Tejada still has several steps to overcome before coming to fruition, according to Orioles executive vice president of baseball operations Dan Duquette. Tejada will report to the team’s spring training facility on...Tags: Sports, Baltimore Orioles, Baseball, Spring Training, MLB Most Valuable Player Award
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Nolasco ties Willis for franchise wins mark as Marlins sweep
SAN DIEGO Dontrelle Willis can still claim a share of the title. It shouldn't be long before Ricky Nolasco takes full ownership of it.
Nolasco allowed two runs over seven innings Sunday in the Marlins' 6-3 win at Petco Park, earning his 68th career...Tags: Sports, Henry Rodriguez, Dodger Stadium, Andy Parrino, John Buck
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Dontrelle Willis drops grievance against Orioles
The Baltimore SunLeft-hander Dontrelle Willis has dropped his grievance against the Orioles, and will return to the organization tomorrow, his agent confirmed. Willis, the 2003 NL Rookie of the Year and 2005 NL Cy Young Award runner-up, was signed by the Orioles to a...Tags: Sports, Tommy Hunter, Chris Tillman, MLB Rookie of the Year Award, Jason Berken
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Orioles notebook: Uehara finally settling in with Rangers
The last time Koji Uehara was around the Orioles, he was saying tearful goodbyes in the visitor's clubhouse at Yankee Stadium last July. This week, Uehara was back at Camden Yards, this time with the Texas Rangers, the club that acquired him from the...
Tags: Josh Hamilton, Sports, Chris Tillman, Oakland Athletics, Zach Britton
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Orioles' Showalter has no reservations about putting Reynolds back at third
Orioles manager Buck Showalter said he talked to third baseman Mark Reynolds before Wednesday's game and had no hesitation about putting the veteran back at third base. "Mark and I talked today. We have an off day [Thursday]," Showalter said. "Head out...
Tags: Sports, Raul Ibanez, Jason Hammel, Oriole Park at Camden Yards, Mariano Rivera
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Willis leaves minor league outing with forearm trouble
The Baltimore SunLefty Dontrelle Willis, who signed a minor league deal with the Orioles late in the spring, left a game for Triple-A Norfolk on Wednesday afternoon after throwing his ninth pitch in relief. Willis told the Virginian-Pilot that he had been dealing with...Tags: Baltimore Orioles, Spring Training, Minor League Baseball
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Dontrelle Willis heads to minor league disabled list
The Baltimore SunLeft-hander Dontrelle Willis, who left Triple-A Norfolk's game Wednesday after nine pitches, has been placed on the seven-day disabled list with a left forearm strain. Willis, whom the Orioles signed to a minor league deal late in spring, told the...Tags: Zelous Wheeler, Baltimore Orioles, Spring Training, Minor League Baseball
Jun 23, 2009
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May 22, 2012
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