Josh Beckett and Dontrelle Willis Headline 2026 Marlins Legends Hall of Fame Class
It’s been nearly 23 years since the Florida Marlins shocked the baseball world by winning their second World Series title. That 2003 team, full of swagger, youth, and grit, still holds a special place in South Florida’s sports memory. And now, two of its most iconic figures - Josh Beckett and Dontrelle Willis - are set to receive one of the franchise's highest honors.
The Marlins announced at FanFest on Saturday night that Beckett and Willis will be inducted into the 2026 Marlins Legends Hall of Fame, joining the likes of Jeff Conine, Luis Castillo, Jim Leyland and Jack McKeon, who were part of the inaugural class last year. It's a fitting tribute to two pitchers who didn’t just help bring a championship to Miami - they became symbols of a magical run that baseball fans still talk about.
Josh Beckett: The Firestarter Who Lit Up October
When the Marlins drafted Josh Beckett second overall in 1999, they knew they were getting electric stuff. What they didn’t know - at least not right away - was just how clutch he’d become when it mattered most.
Beckett’s time in Miami (2001-2005) was often interrupted by blister issues, but in 2003, everything clicked. He went 9-8 with a 3.04 ERA in 24 games, but those regular-season numbers don’t tell the full story. It was in October that Beckett truly became a legend.
Pressed into action on just three days’ rest in Game 6 of the World Series against the Yankees, Beckett delivered one of the most iconic performances in franchise history. He threw a complete-game shutout - just the second of his postseason - needing only 107 pitches to finish the job.
The final out? A tag of Jorge Posada in front of a stunned Yankee Stadium crowd.
That moment sealed the Marlins’ championship and etched Beckett’s name into baseball lore. It remains the only shutout to clinch a World Series since 1991.
Statistically, Beckett still ranks among the Marlins' all-time greats. He’s eighth in bWAR (10.7), second in ERA (3.46), ninth in wins (41), fourth in WHIP (1.235), and first in strikeouts per nine innings (8.97). He also sits in the franchise’s top 10 for strikeouts (607), shutouts (2), ERA+ (118), and FIP (3.38).
Dontrelle Willis: The D-Train That Took Over the League
If Beckett was the flamethrower, Dontrelle Willis was the spark plug. Acquired in a 2002 trade with the Cubs, Willis burst onto the scene in May 2003, coming straight from Double-A Carolina. With his high leg kick, funky delivery, and ever-present sideways cap, Willis quickly became a fan favorite - and a nightmare for opposing hitters.
At just 21 years old, he earned a spot on the National League All-Star team and was named NL Rookie of the Year after going 14-6 with a 3.30 ERA in 27 starts. But that was just the beginning.
Two years later, in 2005, Willis delivered one of the most dominant pitching seasons in franchise history. He led the Majors in wins (22), complete games (7), and shutouts (5), finishing second in the NL Cy Young voting. To this day, he remains the only 20-game winner in Marlins history.
Over five seasons (2003-2007), Willis racked up numbers that still hold strong in the Marlins record books: third in bWAR (17.2), sixth in ERA (3.78), second in wins (68), 10th in WHIP (1.359), third in innings pitched (1,022.2), fourth in strikeouts (757), third in starts (162), and first in both complete games (15) and shutouts (8). His ERA+ (111) and FIP (3.98) also rank in the franchise’s top 10.
A Well-Deserved Honor
Beckett and Willis will be honored during pregame ceremonies this season - Beckett on September 6, Willis on September 13 - with plaques installed in the Marlins Museum, located on the fifth floor behind home plate at loanDepot park.
For a franchise that’s often been defined by its highs and lows, 2003 remains a peak moment - and Beckett and Willis were right at the heart of it. Their induction into the Marlins Legends Hall of Fame isn’t just a celebration of their stats. It’s a nod to two players who brought energy, edge, and excellence to a team that defied expectations and delivered a championship.
South Florida won’t forget what they did - and now, neither will the walls of the ballpark they helped put on the map.