Category: Uncategorized
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1924 Florida State League and the Advent of the Clearwater Pelicans
In 1985, the Phillies fielded a minor league team at its spring training home, Jack Russell Stadium in Clearwater, Fl. Clearwater began hosting spring training in 1923 when Charles Ebbetts brought the Brooklyn Robins to train in Clearwater while building his new winter residence in the nearby Harbor Oaks neighborhood. Brooklyn would train there for…
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1954 Florida State Negro Baseball League
The Final Season Teams: Daytona Beach Red Wings Owners – Steve Hale & Jim Taylor Gum Charles – Mgr. W. Gary – Field Captain St. Petersburg Pelicans Owner – Joe Bryant David Gomez – Mgr. Jim Oliver – Field Captain Orlando All-Stars Owner – F. E. (Felix) Crosby Charley Pelham – Mgr. Jimmie Thompson –…
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1952 Florida State Negro Baseball League
Standings with one game remaining Team Won Lost Pct. Bradenton Nine Devils 20 2 .903 Orlando All-Stars 17 6 .739 Daytona Beach 14 8 .636 Tampa All-Stars 13 8 .613 St. Petersburg Pelicans 11 12 .478 Cocoa Brownies 9 13 .403 Clearwater Black Sox 8 16 .333 Ocala Black Barons 0 21 .000 Bradenton Nine Devils…
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1949 Florida State Negro League
Standings as of 8/27/49 Team Won Lost Pct. Orlando All-Stars 14 3 .824 Tampa Rockets 12 3 ,800 St. Petersburg Pelicans 12 6 .667 Bradenton Nine Devils 9 10 .474 Palatka Blue Cats 5 13 .278 Daytona Beach Black Cats 5 14 .210 1st Round Play-offs: (Projected) Orlando All-Stars vs. Bradenton Nine Devils Tampa Rockets…
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Hall of Famers That Trained in the Region
Part 8: 1946 – 50 Boston Braves ’48 – 50 Bradenton – City Park Boston Red Sox ’46 – 50 Sarasota – Payne Park Cincinnati Reds ’46 – 50 Tampa – Plant Field Cleveland Indians ’46 Clearwater – Athletic Park (Green) Detroit Tigers ’46 – 50 Lakeland – Henley Field New York Yankees St. Petersburg…
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Brooklyn Attempts to Depart Clearwater
Homosassa Springs Comes Courting Charles Ebbets one of the owners and president of the Brooklyn Dodgers/Robins/Superbas, after coming to Florida for many years to hopefully improve his health decides to make camp in Clearwater. In 1922 he convinces the Clearwater doers to secure a lot, pass a referendum for funding and build a $25,000 facility…
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March Madness in Clearwater
The Phillies seemed to have a particular affinity for basketball players. While today’s game likes to feature very tall pitchers, the Phillies looked for tall guys early on. The starting five, a sixth man, and a coach for the squad are presented here. Center: Neil Johnston 6’8”. Pitcher in Clearwater, 1949-51 Johnston is the most…
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Hall of Famers That Trained in the Region
Part 7: 1940 – 42 Note: No team trained in Florida during the war years ’43 – ’45 Boston Braves ’40 Bradenton – City Park Boston Red Sox ’40 – 42 Sarasota – Payne Park Brooklyn Dodgers ’40 Clearwater – Brooklyn Field Chicago Cubs ’41 Spent one week on West Fl. coast Detroit Tigers ’40…
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Two I Coached
I was a head high school baseball coach in Pinellas County with three different schools for ten seasons. At my first two stops I had the pleasure of coaching future major leaguers. I got a first-hand view of what some of these guys look like when they are younger. Although both are big and strong…