Led by gruff and outspoken manager Jim Leyland the surprising 1997 Florida Marlins became the first Wild Card playoff team to win the World Series in just the fifth year of the franchise’s existence. A well assembled team of veteran free agents included slugging outfielders Bobby Bonilla, Moises Alou and Gary Sheffield complimented by young draft picks like catcher Charles Johnson and second baseman Luis Castillo. The Marlins pitching staff was led by veterans Al Leiter, Kevin Brown and Alex Fernandez but it was young Cuban defector Livan Hernandez who stepped up and emerged as the MVP of the NLCS and World Series posting a 4-0 record in the post season. Shortstop Edgar Renteria delivered the game-winning, walk-off single in the bottom of the 11th inning of the dramatic Game Seven finale to defeat the AL champion Cleveland Indians.

This 12-inch tall scale model of the Commissioner’s [World Series] Trophy created by the Balfour sports industry jewelers was presented to World Series MVP Livan Hernandez. The classic design features 28 gold colored pennants labeled with the names of every Major League team circling a golden crown on top of a golden band with a silver baseball set at the base of the ring’s interior starting with the Baltimore Orioles on the left and the Atlanta Braves on the right. The flags are in alphabetical order by league. Cleveland Indians and Florida Marlins press pins are mounted on smaller golden flag poles in front of the crowned band. “WORLD SERIES CHAMPIONS FLORIDA MARLINS 1997 LIVAN HERNANDEZ - MVP” is printed on a gold band circling the 23” diameter black wooden base.

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