JUPITER, Fla. (AP) – Florida Marlins newcomer Aaron Boone sits at his spring training locker and surveys the clubhouse, a roomful of youngsters confirming what he already knew.

He’s old – by Marlins standards, at least.

At 33, Boone figures he still has a few good years left. But he’s one of the few players in Florida’s spring training camp who can remember when Jimmy Carter was president.

“I looked at the 40-man roster and at the lack of 1970s birthdays,” said Boone, born in 1973. “It’s unbelievable. You’d think I was like 40.”

Boone was the most extravagant offseason acquisition for the cost-conscious Marlins, who signed him to a $925,000, one-year contract in part because they sought veteran leadership. When the season begins, he might be the oldest player on baseball’s youngest team.

“He has been around a little bit,” manager Fredi Gonzalez said. “We need that.”

With the offseason departures of Joe Borowski, Brian Moehler, Wes Helms and Matt Herges, the Marlins will have fewer thirtysomethings than last season. That’s why they were willing to make Boone one of their highest-paid players, even though he’s slotted for the role of utility infielder.

“We don’t have as many veteran guys this year,” said first baseman Mike Jacobs, a second-year fulltime big-leaguer. “It’s good to have Aaron here, and obviously we’re going to watch the way he works. It always helps when you have a veteran guy who can put you in your place when you need it.”

Boone has played third base since breaking into the majors in 1997, but in Miami, that position is manned by All-Star Miguel Cabrera. The right-handed hitting Boone will see action primarily as a backup to Jacobs, a left-handed hitter, and can also fill in at second base and shortstop.

The job requires learning a new position, because Boone has never started a game at first. He has been working there in camp on footwork and other fundamentals with infield coach Perry Hill, considered one of the best in the game.

Boone lost his starting third-base job at midseason last year with Cleveland, where he hit .251 and committed 16 errors in 104 games.

He’s hoping the move to Miami will rejuvenate his career, as it did for Helms, who hit .329 in 140 games last season and then signed a $5.45 million, two-year contract with Philadelphia.

A .264 career hitter, Boone is remembered for one swing – and it affected the Marlins. He hit only the second Game 7 walkoff home run in postseason history, clinching the 2003 AL championship series for the New York Yankees against the Boston Red Sox. The Yankees then lost the World Series to Florida.

Strangers mention the homer often to Boone, he said.

“It comes up a lot,” he said. “People ask you about it – “I saw it, that was great.’ And it’s great. But for me, it’s a little bittersweet in that we weren’t able to finish it off and win the World Series, and that’s my lasting memory of that season.”

Now he’s with the team that denied him a ring, although Florida’s only holdovers from 2003 are Cabrera and Dontrelle Willis.

The Marlins had five rookies in their everyday lineup and four in the rotation in 2006, and all are back this season. What will it be like surrounded by youngsters?

“Tiring,” Boone said. “I’m going to have to say, “Guys, you go do your thing. I’ve got to lay the body down. I need my rest.”‘

AP-ES-02-26-07 1557EST