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MIAMI - The loudest cheers from the tens of thousands of Marlins fans lined up to celebrate their World Series champions came when team owner Jeffrey Loria made a simple promise: The team won't be broken up.
With that declaration Tuesday, six years of malcontent and mistrust between South Florida baseball fans and the Marlins vanished.
"This is not 1997. This is 2003. We are not dismantling. Thank you," said Loria, who hoisted the World Series trophy as he was ferried in a convertible through the streaming ticker tape and jersey-clad fans.
Keeping the team intact means manager Jack McKeon will be back next year. He agreed to a one-year extension, Loria announced during the celebration.
"I have some good news and a little bad news. The good news is Jack is coming back," Loria said. "The bad news is there's no bad news."
McKeon, 72, took over when manager Jeff Torborg was fired in May and engineered the Marlins' turnaround from last place team to World Series champions.
"I always had no doubt I was coming back," said McKeon, who refused to formally announce his intentions during the season.
When Florida won the title in 1997, the celebration was tempered as fans braced for cost cutting by then-owner H. Wayne Huizenga. The result was a last-place finish in 1998 and a steady decline in attendance, which lasted until this year's surprising playoff run.
"In 1997 we were on top of the world," said Danny Parra, a sales representative who brought his two sons to Tuesday's rally. "In '98, we hit rock bottom. I think everybody knows they won't be able to keep everybody, but if they keep a nucleus intact, we'll be happy."
Leaning from windows along the start of the parade route, fans threw clumps of ticker tape while some commuter trains were plastered with signs declaring: "We love the Marlins."
A victory drive through the Little Havana neighborhood followed. City workers shredded two tons of paper to serve as ticker tape while banners and balloons streamed off office buildings along the route festooned with freshly painted team and World Series logos.
HALL MEMORABILIA: The jersey worn by Marlins pitcher Josh Beckett during his World Series-clinching shutout victory over the Yankees will be displayed at baseball's Hall of Fame along with items from Roger Clemens' last career start.
Also headed for the museum in Cooperstown, N.Y., are the bat Florida shortstop Alex Gonzalez used to hit the winning home run in Game 4 and shoes worn by Florida outfielder Juan Pierre, who had seven hits in the Series.
In addition, the Hall said it will get a cap worn by McKeon, the bat used by New York's Hideki Matsui to hit a home run in Game 2, and catcher's equipment used by Florida's Ivan Rodriguez.
FRANCONA MAKES PITCH: Terry Francona became the fifth person to interview for the Orioles manager job, and the first with firsthand knowledge of the job. Now the A's bench coach, Francona was 285-363 from 1997-2000 as Phillies manager.
Devil Rays third base coach Tom Foley is expected to interview today, followed by Yankees first-base coach Lee Mazzilli on Thursday.
McLAIN SEEKS WORK: Denny McLain is sorry and ready to start a new life. The former Tigers ace recently finished a six-month work-release program after spending six years in federal prison for embezzlement, money laundering, mail fraud and conspiracy.
"No one is sorrier for what happened than I am. Nobody," McLain, 59, told the Detroit News.
McLain would like to return to radio, where he once was a local morning talk-show host.
LET THE BIDDING BEGIN: Seibu Lions shortstop Kazuo Matsui became a free agent. Matsui is expected to attract interest from several major-league teams, but he has not said if he wants to leave Japan. It is not known if he has selected an agent.
METS: Jim Duquette was hired as general manager four months after taking the job on an interim basis. Duquette had been running the team's baseball operations since Steve Phillips was fired in June. "I'm convinced we're going to turn around and do it quickly," Duquette said.
TWINS: Minnesota declined its $1-million option on Chris Gomez, making the former Devil Rays shortstop a free agent.
WHITE SOX: General manager Kenny Williams is waiting for Frank Thomas to make up his mind. The slugger has until Thursday to decide whether he wants to exercise a $6-million contract option or void the deal altogether. His decision will affect what other moves Williams can make, and how much money he'll have to make them, this offseason.