Jump to content

Florida State League

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by NatureBoyMD (talk | contribs) at 14:29, 1 July 2020 (→History: less newsy ("It was announced...")). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Florida State League
ClassificationClass A-Advanced
SportBaseball
Founded1919
PresidentKen Carson[1]
No. of teams12
CountryUnited States
Most recent
champion(s)		Fort Myers Miracle (2018)
Most titlesOrlando Twins (7)
Official websiteOfficial Website

The Florida State League is a Minor League Baseball league based in the state of Florida. It is one of three leagues currently classified as Class A-Advanced, the third highest classification of minor leagues.[2] Each team in the league is affiliated with a Major League Baseball team, and most play in their affiliate's spring training facility.

The league was founded in 1919, and has continued almost entirely uninterrupted to the present day.

History

The league originated in 1919 with teams in Bartow, Bradenton, Lakeland, Orlando, Sanford, and Tampa, Florida. The league closed down in 1928 and resumed play in 1936. It has continued uninterrupted, except for a four-year (1942–1945) suspension during World War II.

In 2009, the Florida State League established a Hall of Fame commemorating the league's great players, managers, owners, and umpires. The awards and ceremonies for the inaugural class will take place at the FSL's winter meetings in Daytona Beach in November.

The championship series' first cancellation was in 2001, when playoffs were canceled after the September 11 attacks. Afterwards, the 2004 playoffs were canceled due to the threat of Hurricane Ivan. Years later, the 2017 FSL Championship finals were canceled on September 5, due to the threat of Hurricane Irma. The winners of the division series playoff games were named co-champions.[3] This marked the third time since 2000 that the championship series game was canceled.[4][5] In 2019, the end of the season and playoffs were cancelled due to the threat of Hurricane Dorian.[6]

The start of the 2020 season was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic before ultimately being cancelled on June 30.[7][8]

Current teams

class=notpageimage|
Current Florida State League team locations:
  North Division
  South Division
Division Team MLB Affiliation City Stadium Capacity
North Clearwater Threshers Philadelphia Phillies Clearwater Spectrum Field 8,500
Daytona Tortugas Cincinnati Reds Daytona Beach Radiology Associates Field at Jackie Robinson Ballpark 4,200
Dunedin Blue Jays Toronto Blue Jays Dunedin TD Ballpark 8,500
Florida Fire Frogs Atlanta Braves North Port CoolToday Park 8,000
Lakeland Flying Tigers Detroit Tigers Lakeland Publix Field at Joker Marchant Stadium 8,500
Tampa Tarpons New York Yankees Tampa George M. Steinbrenner Field 11,026
South Bradenton Marauders Pittsburgh Pirates Bradenton LECOM Park 8,500
Charlotte Stone Crabs Tampa Bay Rays Port Charlotte Charlotte Sports Park 7,000
Fort Myers Mighty Mussels Minnesota Twins Fort Myers Hammond Stadium 9,300
Jupiter Hammerheads Miami Marlins Jupiter Roger Dean Stadium 6,871
Palm Beach Cardinals St. Louis Cardinals Jupiter Roger Dean Stadium 6,871
St. Lucie Mets New York Mets Port St. Lucie Clover Park 7,160

All-time teams

Teams of the early FSL (1919–28)

Teams of the modern FSL (1936–present)

League timeline (1919-present)

Palm Beach CardinalsJupiter HammerheadsFlorida Fire FrogsKissimmee CobrasBrevard County ManateeDaytona TortugasBaseball City RoyalsSt. Lucie MetsCharlotte Stone CrabsCharlotte RangersKissimmee CobrasVero Beach Devil RaysDunedin Blue JaysDunedin Blue JaysPompano Beach CubsPompano Beach MetsKey West CubsWinter Haven Red SoxWinter Haven Red SoxJacksonville Beach Sea BirdsCocoa AstrosCocoa AstrosCocoa AstrosOcala YearlingsLeesburg AthleticsSt. Augustine SaintsPalatka RedlegsPalatka AzaleasGainesville G-MenDeLand Sun CapsDeLand Red HatsWest Palm Beach ExposWest Palm Beach IndiansWest Palm Beach SheriffsFort Lauderdale YankeesFort Lauderdale TarponsFort Myers MiracleFort Myers MiracleSarasota RedsSarasota Sun SoxSarasota GullsFort Myers Mighty MusselsFort Myers RoyalsFort Myers MiracleClearwater ThreshersDaytona Beach IslandersJacksonville IndiansSt. Petersburg SaintsSt. Petersburg SaintsDaytona Beach IslandersDaytona Beach IslandersDaytona Beach IslandersDaytona Beach IslandersTampa TarponsTampa Tarpons (1957–1988)Tampa SmokersSanford GreyhoundsSanford GreyhoundsSanford GreyhoundsOrlando RaysOrlando RaysOrlando RaysOrlando RaysLakeland TigersLakeland IndiansLakeland PilotsLakeland HighlandersBradenton MaraudersBradenton GrowersBartow Polkers

Current team Former team

Past champions

Main article: List of Florida State League champions

Awards

Florida State League Hall of Fame

The Florida State League Hall of Fame began in 2009.[9]

Main article: Florida State League Hall of Fame

See also

References

  1. ^ "Personnel and Staff". Florida State League. Minor League Baseball. Retrieved July 27, 2017.
  2. ^ "Standings | MiLB.com Standings | The Official Site of Minor League Baseball". Web.minorleaguebaseball.com. Retrieved 2011-03-11.
  3. ^ "Championship Series Cancelled". MiLB.com. September 5, 2017. Retrieved September 5, 2017.
  4. ^ Norris, Josh (September 5, 2017). "Florida State League cancels its Championship Series". Baseball America. Retrieved September 6, 2017.
  5. ^ Kirkland, Gary (March 19, 2005). "Are the minor leagues returning to Gainesville?". gainesville.com. Retrieved September 6, 2017.
  6. ^ Kolakowski, Ryan (August 29, 2019). "Hurricane Dorian prompts Florida State League to cancel rest of season". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved August 30, 2019.
  7. ^ "A Message From Pat O'Conner". Minor League Baseball. March 13, 2020. Retrieved May 5, 2020.
  8. ^ "2020 Minor League Baseball Season Shelved". Minor League Baseball. June 30, 2020. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
  9. ^ "FSL Hall of Fame - Florida State League About". Florida State League.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Florida State League.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Florida_State_League&oldid=965471750"