Florida State League

The Florida State League (FSL) is a Minor League Baseball league based in the state of Florida. It is one of three leagues classified as Class A, the fourth highest classification of minor leagues. Each team in the league is affiliated with a Major League Baseball (MLB) team, and most play in their affiliate's spring training facility.

Florida State League
SportBaseball
Founded1919
PresidentTerry Reynolds[1]
No. of teams10
CountryUnited States
Most recent
champion(s)		Fort Myers Miracle (2018)
Most titlesOrlando Twins (7)
ClassificationClass A
Official websiteOfficial Website

The league was founded in 1919 and has continued almost uninterrupted to the present day. Initially, the FSL was classified as a Class D circuit. It was elevated to Class C from 1921 to 1924 before reverting to Class D from 1925 to 1928. The league went dormant from 1929 to 1935, but it was revived as a Class D circuit from 1936 to 1941. After another period of inactivity from 1942 to 1945, it continued at Class D from 1946 to 1962. When the minor leagues were reconfigured in 1963, the FSL was reclassified as a Class A league. There it continued until the next reorganization in 1990 when it was elevated to Class A Advanced.[2] With MLB's reconfiguration of the minor leagues in 2021, the league was made a Low Single-A circuit.[3]

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.

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.[4] This marked the third time since 2000 that the championship series game was canceled.[5][6] In 2019, the end of the season and playoffs were cancelled due to the threat of Hurricane Dorian.[7]

The start of the 2020 season was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic before ultimately being cancelled on June 30.[8][9]

Current teams
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
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
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 (1919–1928)

Teams of the modern FSL (1936–present)

League timeline
Palm Beach CardinalsJupiter HammerheadsFlorida Fire FrogsKissimmee CobrasBrevard County ManateesDaytona 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.[10]

Main article: Florida State League Hall of Fame

See also

References
  1. "About the Florida State League". Florida State League. Minor League Baseball. Retrieved January 21, 2021.
  2. "Florida State League (Adv A) Encyclopedia and History". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved November 11, 2020.
  3. Reichard, Kevin. "Affiliate Dance 2020". Ballpark Digest. Retrieved November 10, 2020.
  4. "Championship Series Cancelled". MiLB.com. September 5, 2017. Retrieved September 5, 2017.
  5. Norris, Josh (September 5, 2017). "Florida State League cancels its Championship Series". Baseball America. Retrieved September 6, 2017.
  6. Kirkland, Gary (March 19, 2005). "Are the minor leagues returning to Gainesville?". gainesville.com. Retrieved September 6, 2017.
  7. Kolakowski, Ryan (August 29, 2019). "Hurricane Dorian prompts Florida State League to cancel rest of season". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved August 30, 2019.
  8. "A Message From Pat O'Conner". Minor League Baseball. March 13, 2020. Retrieved May 5, 2020.
  9. "2020 Minor League Baseball Season Shelved". Minor League Baseball. June 30, 2020. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
  10. "FSL Hall of Fame - Florida State League About". Florida State League.
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