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JUPITER — Outfielder Logan Morrison said he did not initiate the discussion with the Marlins about switching to number 5 and that he is honored to wear the number that was once retired in recognition of the late Carl Barger, the franchise's first team president.
"It was up on the flag and I knew the story about Carl," Morrison said Tuesday. "I'm honored to wear it. Hopefully somebody will want to wear 5 because of me one day."
The Marlins have given Morrison permission to switch from number 20 and will continue to honor Barger with a plaque at the new stadium. The Marlins retired the number before their inaugural season (1993) after the death of Barger.
Barger's favorite player was Joe DiMaggio, who wore number 5. Morrison cherishes the number because it was worn by George Brett, his father's favorite player. His father, Tom, died in December 2010 after battling lung cancer.
Morrison said he modeled his game after Brett because of his father.
"The way he played, how hard he played, he was always dirty, he was old school," Morrison said. "He had great talent and put up great numbers but he is going to be remembered for the way he played the game more than anything."
When the Marlins decided to unretire the number 5, there was confusion as to whether the Barger family was notified. The family said they were unaware of the move until told by a Palm Beach Post reporter.
Morrison has never spoken to members of Barger's family but said he would make the call to "let them know how much it means to me." Clean slate: Manager Ozzie Guillen said Tuesday everybody is starting with a clean slate Wednesday when the pitchers and catchers work out for the first time.
"I don't care what happened," he said about the past. "Whatever was, was. This is a new attitude, new Marlins, new goal."
One thing is for sure, Guillen will not manage scared.
"I'm not afraid to get fired. I'm not," Guillen said. "If we lose I will take the blame because I am strong enough to do that. They spent a lot of time, a lot of money. There's a lot of weight on your shoulders and I don't worry about failing."
"It was up on the flag and I knew the story about Carl," Morrison said Tuesday. "I'm honored to wear it. Hopefully somebody will want to wear 5 because of me one day."
The Marlins have given Morrison permission to switch from number 20 and will continue to honor Barger with a plaque at the new stadium. The Marlins retired the number before their inaugural season (1993) after the death of Barger.
Barger's favorite player was Joe DiMaggio, who wore number 5. Morrison cherishes the number because it was worn by George Brett, his father's favorite player. His father, Tom, died in December 2010 after battling lung cancer.
Morrison said he modeled his game after Brett because of his father.
"The way he played, how hard he played, he was always dirty, he was old school," Morrison said. "He had great talent and put up great numbers but he is going to be remembered for the way he played the game more than anything."
When the Marlins decided to unretire the number 5, there was confusion as to whether the Barger family was notified. The family said they were unaware of the move until told by a Palm Beach Post reporter.
Morrison has never spoken to members of Barger's family but said he would make the call to "let them know how much it means to me." Clean slate: Manager Ozzie Guillen said Tuesday everybody is starting with a clean slate Wednesday when the pitchers and catchers work out for the first time.
"I don't care what happened," he said about the past. "Whatever was, was. This is a new attitude, new Marlins, new goal."
One thing is for sure, Guillen will not manage scared.
"I'm not afraid to get fired. I'm not," Guillen said. "If we lose I will take the blame because I am strong enough to do that. They spent a lot of time, a lot of money. There's a lot of weight on your shoulders and I don't worry about failing."
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