Florida State League
From SoSH
| Founded: | 1936 |
| No. of Teams: | 12 |
| Class: | High A League |
| Most recent champion: | Clearwater Threshers |
Contents |
League Information
Current
The Florida State League is a minor league baseball league which operates in the state of Florida. Before 2002, it was classified as a "High-A" league, indicating its status as a Class A league with the highest level of competition within that classification, and the fifth step between Rookie ball and the major leagues. Although Minor League Baseball, the umbrella organization for minor leagues that are affiliated with Major League Baseball, has eliminated the distinction between High-A and other full-season A leagues, most major-league teams still use this league as a standard promotion step. A few draftees, generally early-round draftees with college experience, will be assigned to a "High-A" team upon signing a professional contract, but most High-A players do not reach that level until their third or fourth year of professional play.
Currently, the league is divided into two divisions: East and West. The twelve member teams play a 140 game schedule with 70 games at home and 70 games on the road. The six team divisions play a split season with the first half ending on 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.
History/Mission
The league originated in 1919 with teams in Bartow, Bradenton, Lakeland, Orlando, Sanford and Tampa. The league closed down in 1928 and resumed play in 1936 and has continued uninterrupted, except for a four-year (1942-45) suspension during World War II.
Teams
The Florida State League currently consists of 12 teams, in 2 divisions (MLB affiliate in parenthesis):
East Division
- Brevard County Manatees (Milwaukee Brewers)
- Daytona Cubs (Chicago Cubs)
- Jupiter Hammerheads (Florida Marlins)
- Palm Beach Cardinals (St. Louis Cardinals)
- St. Lucie Mets (New York Mets)
- Vero Beach Devil Rays (Tampa Bay Devil Rays)
West Division
- Clearwater Threshers (Philadelphia Phillies)
- Dunedin Blue Jays (Toronto Blue Jays)
- Fort Myers Miracle (Minnesota Twins)
- Lakeland Flying Tigers (Detroit Tigers)
- Sarasota Reds (Cincinnati Reds)
- Tampa Yankees (New York Yankees)
Teams of the Modern FSL (1936-)
- Baseball City Royals
- Brevard County Manatees
- Charlotte Rangers
- Clearwater Phillies
- Clearwater Threshers
- Cocoa Astros
- Cocoa Indians
- Daytona Beach Admirals
- Daytona Beach Astros
- Daytona Beach Dodgers
- Daytona Beach Islanders
- Daytona Cubs
- Deerfield Beach Sun Sox
- DeLand Red Hats
- DeLand Reds
- DeLand Sun Caps
- Dunedin Blue Jays
- Fort Lauderdale Red Sox
- Fort Lauderdale Yankees
- Fort Myers Miracle
- Fort Myers Royals
- Gainesville G-Men
- Jacksonville Beach Sea Birds
- Jupiter Hammerheads
- Key West Conchs
- Key West Cubs
- Key West Padres
- Key West Sun Caps
- Kissimmee Cobras
- Lakeland Giants
- Lakeland Indians
- Lakeland Pilots
- Lakeland Tigers
- Leesburg Anglers
- Leesburg Athletics
- Leesburg Braves
- Leesburg Dodgers
- Leesburg Gondoliers
- Leesburg Lakers
- Leesburg Orioles
- Leesburg Packers
- Leesburg Pirates
- Miami Marlins
- Miami Miracle
- Miami Orioles
- Ocala Yearlings
- Orlando C.B.s
- Orlando Dodgers
- Orlando Flyers
- Orlando Gulls
- Orlando Senators
- Orlando Seratomas
- Orlando Twins
- Osceola Astros
- Palatka Azaleas
- Palatka Cubs
- Palatka Redlegs
- Palatka Tigers
- Palm Beach Cardinals
- Pompano Beach Cubs
- Pompano Beach Mets
- St. Augustine Saints
- St. Lucie Mets
- St. Petersburg Cardinals
- St. Petersburg Devil Rays
- St. Petersburg Saints
- Sanford Cardinals
- Sanford Celeryfeds
- Sanford Giants
- Sanford Greyhounds
- Sanford Lookouts
- Sanford Seminole Blues
- Sanford Seminoles
- Sarasota Reds
- Sarasota Red Sox
- Sarasota Sun Sox
- Sarasota White Sox
- Tampa Tarpons
- Tampa White Sox
- Tampa Yankees
- Vero Beach Dodgers
- West Palm Beach Braves
- West Palm Beach Expos
- West Palm Beach Indians
- West Palm Beach Sun Chiefs
- Winter Haven Mets
- Winter Haven Red Sox
- Winter Haven Sun Sox
External Links
Florida State League Official site
