Doc Moorefield became St. Pete’s Mr. Baseball for 1920
Part 4
1920 Indianapolis Indians at Moorefield Ballpark, St. Petersburg, Fl.
On the field the Indians had a pretty good spring. They split two games with the Southern College nine, the first being prior to their full squad arriving and so early in camp that they borrowed a local from the winter league to pitch since his arm was likely in better shape. The second was such a blowout in the Indians favor that they quit keeping score and officially called it a 19 – 1 Indians win. They split the two games with the Washington and Cincinnati major leaguers in St. Pete while losing close games as the visiting team at their training camps. They also had success in three games hosting the Havana Cubans.
By late March, as the Indians are close to wrapping up their time in St. Pete. Rumors are flying that the park will be torn down as soon as the Indians break camp. Roser Park, the subdivision the park is located in, is in a boom period for lot sales. The owners of the plot the park is situated on are anxious to get their land back. Moorefield issues a denial and insists that the ballfield will stay intact until the lease runs out January 2, 1921.
The Saints become the primary occupants of the ballpark once the Indians depart. Their first season in the FSL ends poorly with a record of 39 wins and 64 losses. Elliot Bigelow of Tarpon Springs signs on to the team in late May. He had been here with the winter league Saints. Bigelow puts together a nice season hitting .287 with a slash line of .287/.451/.738 without any walks being factored in. Bigelow would remain with the Saints through 1924 before moving up the organized ball chain leading to the majors. Bigelow plays the 1929 season for the Red Sox. He hits a respectable .284 but it will be his only season in the majors. Bigelow had severely injured his arm prior to coming to the Saints and had a poor throwing arm the rest of his career. He was also considered big and slow while being listed as 5’ 11” and 180 pounds. Born on Oct. 13, 1897, in Tarpon Springs, Fl., Bigelow becomes the first major league player born on the Pinellas Peninsula. Pinellas did not become its own county until 1912. It was then considered West Hillsborough County (think Tampa).
Doc Moorefield appears to be out of the picture with the summer Florida State League Saints. A local company is formed to operate the team with the goal of raising $5,000 in stock sales. When the season opened, they had collected a little more than $4,000. Moorefield would continue to financially back the Saints winter league squad.
Through the summer months many teams make use of the field. The Pink Sox defeats the Roser Park neighborhood team. St. Petersburg High School is playing their home schedule at Moorefield. The Negro team (9th St. Club) behind star pitcher “Dynamite” Bell plays throughout the summer with a “Whites only” section in place. The Saints started R. E. Madden, a 7’ 7” pitcher, for a few pitches. Madden had Hollywood connections and was visiting for a movie premier. Moorefield also donates use of the park to the local Post 14 American Legion team.
The news picks up in August. On the 4th, the St. Petersburg Daily Times receives a letter from Al Lang, honeymooning in Philadelphia. Lang writes he is still working to bring a team to St. Pete for the Spring. He then proceeds to throw shade at Moorefield and his “little ballpark”. Lang vows to purchase property close to town and keep the new team out of that “tin horn park.”
On August 12 the Times reported that Moorefield is looking to purchase a parcel just west of town off Central Avenue to build a first-class ballpark. It is his intent at the close of the Florida State League season in the fall to tear down the present site and bring that lumber for fences and bleachers to the new facility in order to be ready for the winter league opening. He indicates that Clark Griffith of the Washington Nationals team that trains in Tampa will assist in St. Pete attracting a team for the spring.