Florida State League
Florida State League logo | |
Sport | Baseball |
---|---|
Founded | 1919 |
No. of teams | 12 |
Country | United States |
Most recent champion(s) | Bradenton Marauders |
Classification | Class A-Advanced |
TV partner(s) |
Fox Sports Florida Fox Sports Sun |
Official website | Official Website |
The Florida State League is a minor 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.[1] 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. Most players in the Florida State League do not reach this level until their third or fourth year of professional play.
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.
Current teams
All-time teams
Teams of the early FSL (1919–28)
Teams of the modern FSL (1936–present)
League champions
Since 1979, the winner of the League Championship Series has become the holder—until the following season's championship—of the Watson Spoelstra Florida State League Championship Trophy.[2]
- 1919: Sanford Celeryfeds and Orlando Caps (co-champions)
- 1920: Tampa Smokers
- 1921: Orlando Tigers
- 1922: St. Petersburg Saints
- 1923: Orlando Bulldogs
- 1924: Lakeland Highlanders
- 1925: Tampa Smokers
- 1926: Sanford Celeryfeds
- 1927: Orlando Colts
- 1928–35: League not in operation
- 1936: St. Augustine Saints
- 1937: Gainesville G-Men
- 1938: Gainesville G-Men
- 1939: Sanford Lookouts
- 1940: Orlando Senators
- 1941: Leesburg Anglers
- 1942–45: League not in operation
- 1946: Orlando Senators
- 1947: Gainesville G-Men
- 1948: Daytona Beach Islanders
- 1949: St. Augustine Saints
- 1950: DeLand Red Hats
- 1951: DeLand Red Hats
- 1952: Palatka Azaleas
- 1953: Daytona Beach Islanders
- 1954: Lakeland Pilots
- 1955: Orlando C.B.'s
- 1956: Cocoa Indians
- 1957: Tampa Tarpons
- 1958: St. Petersburg Saints
- 1959: St. Petersburg Saints
- 1960: Palatka Redlegs
- 1961: Tampa Tarpons
- 1962: Fort Lauderdale Yankees
- 1963: Sarasota Sun Sox
- 1964: Fort Lauderdale Yankees
- 1965: Fort Lauderdale Yankees
- 1966: Leesburg Athletics
- 1967: St. Petersburg Cardinals
- 1968: Orlando Twins
- 1969: Miami Marlins
- 1970: Miami Marlins
- 1971: Miami Orioles
- 1972: Miami Orioles
- 1973: St. Petersburg Cardinals
- 1974: West Palm Beach Expos
- 1975: St. Petersburg Cardinals
- 1976: Lakeland Tigers
- 1977: Lakeland Tigers
- 1978: Miami Orioles
- 1979: Winter Haven Red Sox
- 1980: Fort Lauderdale Yankees
- 1981: Daytona Beach Astros
- 1982: Fort Lauderdale Yankees
- 1983: Vero Beach Dodgers
- 1984: Fort Lauderdale Yankees
- 1985: Fort Myers Royals
- 1986: St. Petersburg Cardinals
- 1987: Fort Lauderdale Yankees
- 1988: St. Lucie Mets
- 1989: Charlotte Rangers
- 1990: Vero Beach Dodgers
- 1991: West Palm Beach Expos
- 1992: Lakeland Tigers
- 1993: Clearwater Phillies
- 1994: Tampa Yankees
- 1995: Daytona Cubs
- 1996: St. Lucie Mets
- 1997: St. Petersburg Devil Rays
- 1998: St. Lucie Mets
- 1999: Kissimmee Cobras
- 2000: Daytona Cubs
- 2001: Tampa Yankees and Brevard County Manatees (co-champions)
- 2002: Charlotte Rangers
- 2003: St. Lucie Mets
- 2004: Daytona Cubs and Tampa Yankees (co-champions)
- 2005: Palm Beach Cardinals
- 2006: St. Lucie Mets
- 2007: Clearwater Threshers
- 2008: Daytona Cubs
- 2009: Tampa Yankees
- 2010: Tampa Yankees
- 2011: Daytona Cubs
- 2012: Lakeland Flying Tigers
- 2013: Daytona Cubs
- 2014: Fort Myers Miracle
- 2015: Charlotte Stone Crabs
- 2016: Bradenton Marauders
Awards
- Florida State League Player of the Year Award
- Florida State League Pitcher of the Year Award
- Florida State League Manager of the Year Award
Florida State League Hall of Fame
The Florida State League Hall of Fame began in 2009.[3]
See also
References
- ↑ "Standings | MiLB.com Standings | The Official Site of Minor League Baseball". Web.minorleaguebaseball.com. Retrieved 2011-03-11.
- ↑ "Championship Trophy". Florida State League official website. Minor League Baseball. Retrieved 2012-01-01.
- ↑ http://www.milb.com/content/page.jsp?sid=l123&ymd=20090612&content_id=5287462&vkey=league3
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Florida State League. |
- Florida State League official website