 Florida State League logo |
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| Sport | Baseball |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1919 |
| No. of teams | 12 |
| Country(ies) | USA |
| Most recent champion(s) | Lakeland Flying Tigers |
| Official website | www.fslbaseball.com |
The Florida State League is a Class A-Advanced minor league baseball league operating in the state of Florida. They are one of three leagues currently operating in Class A-Advanced, the third highest of six classifications 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. Attendance averages around 500–1,000 per game.
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History [edit]
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.
The league was realigned following the 2008 season, and is currently divided into two divisions: North and South. The twelve member teams play a 140 game schedule with 70 games at home and 70 games on the road (20 against geographically closest division opponent, 18 against each of the other 4 division teams, 8 against each of the 6 non-division opponents). The six team divisions play a split season with the first half ending in June and the second half ending in September.
Four teams participate in the play-offs. Winners of both halves within each division play each other in a best-of-three game series for the Division Championships. If there is a repeat division winner, a wild card team will qualify for the play-offs. The Division Champions will move on to the League Championship Series and play a best-of-five game series.
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 Tampa Yankees defeated the Charlotte Stone Crabs 3-2 in the 2010 Florida State League Championship Series.
In the 2011 championship, the Daytona Cubs swept the St. Lucie Mets 3-0 and claimed their fourth title in 11 years.
Current teams [edit]
- 1 Hosting 2013 Florida State League All-Star Game
All-time teams [edit]
Teams of the early FSL (1919–28) [edit]
Teams of the modern FSL (1936–present) [edit]
League champions [edit]
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
Hall of fame [edit]
See also [edit]
References [edit]
- ^ "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.
External links [edit]
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Florida State League |
- Florida State League official website
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