Winter Haven Red Sox
- 1966–1992
- (1966-1967, 1969-1992)
- Winter Haven, Florida
- Class A-Advanced (1990-1992)
- Class A (1966-1989)
- Boston Red Sox (1969-1994)
- New York Mets (1967)
- Chicago White Sox (1966)
- Winter Haven Red Sox (1969-1992)
- Winter Haven Mets (1967)
- Winter Haven Sun Sox (1966)
- Deerfield Beach Sun Sox (1966)
The Winter Haven Red Sox were a minor league baseball team in the Florida State League (FSL), based in Winter Haven, Florida, from 1969–1992.
Team history
The franchise began in 1966 in Deerfield Beach, Florida, as the Deerfield Beach Sun Sox, a Class-A affiliate of the Chicago White Sox. However, on June 27, 1966, the team moved to Winter Haven becoming the Winter Haven Sun Sox. It was the city's first entry in Organized Baseball since the 1919 Bartow Polkers played part of their home schedule in Winter Haven. The Sun Sox were managed by Don Bacon and Bruce Andrew and had a 55–83 record overall.[citation needed]
In 1967, the Sun Sox were renamed the Winter Haven Mets after their new parent club, the New York Mets. The Mets posted a stellar 94–46 record, but were defeated by the St. Petersburg Cardinals for the western division title by two and a half games. Nolan Ryan, then 20, pitched for the 1967 team, appearing in one game as a starting pitcher and allowing one hit and one earned run in four innings pitched, with five strikeouts. It was Ryan's last year in the minors before he began his Baseball Hall of Fame big-league career.
The Mets left Winter Haven after only a single season, then the franchise lay dormant during 1968. In 1969, the Boston Red Sox, who had established their spring training home in Winter Haven in 1966, took over the Florida State League franchise. The Winter Haven Red Sox then played for the next 24 consecutive seasons. In 1983, 16 years after Ryan's one-game stint, Roger Clemens began his pro career with Winter Haven, winning three of four decisions in four starts, and striking out 36 in 29 innings pitched.
The Winter Haven Red Sox effectively folded after the 1992 season, when, after 27 years, the parent Red Sox moved their spring headquarters to Fort Myers and their FSL affiliate to Fort Lauderdale. Although the Cleveland Indians replaced the Red Sox as Winter Haven's spring training tenants from 1993 through 2008, they never revived an FSL franchise for the city.
The ballpark
The team played home games at Chain of Lakes Park, located at 500 Cletus Allen Drive.[1] The park still exists as part of the Chain of Lakes Sports Complex.
Notable alumni
Baseball Hall of Fame alumni
- Jeff Bagwell (1989) Inducted, 2017
- Jim Rice (1972) Inducted, 2009
- Nolan Ryan (1967) Inducted, 1999
Notable alumni
- Brady Anderson (1986) 3 x MLB All-Star
- Oil Can Boyd (1981)
- Ellis Burks (1984) 2 x MLB All-Star
- Rick Burleson (1970) 4 x MLB All-Star
- Roger Clemens (1983) 1986 AL Most Valuable Player, 7 x Cy Young Award
- Scott Hatteberg (1991)
- Bruce Hurst (1977) MLB All-Star
- Bob Ojeda (1979)
- Ben Oglivie (1969) 1980 AL Home Run Leader
- Paul Quantrill (1990) MLB All-Star
- Ken Singleton (1967) 3 x MLB All-Star
- Bob Stanley (1975, 1988) 2 x MLB All-Star
Year-by-year record
Year | Record | Finish | Manager | Playoffs |
---|---|---|---|---|
1966 | 55-83 | 8th | Don Bacon & Bruce Andrew | |
1967 | 94-46 | 2nd | Pete Pavlick | |
1969 | 76-53 | 3rd | Rac Slider | |
1970 | 61-71 | 7th | John K. Butler | |
1971 | 58-79 | 10th | ||
1972 | 61-70 | 10th | ||
1973 | 50-94 | 10th | Al Lehrer | |
1974 | 59-71 | 6th (t) | Rac Slider | |
1975 | 57-70 | 5th (t) | ||
1976 | 65-76 | 6th | ||
1977 | 70-66 | 5th | ||
1978 | 82-56 | 2nd | ||
1979 | 79-58 | 2nd | League Champs | |
1980 | 60-80 | 10th | ||
1981 | 62-77 | 9th | ||
1982 | 59-74 | 8th | Tom Kotchman | |
1983 | 49-83 | 9th | ||
1984 | 70-74 | 8th | Dave Holt | |
1985 | 71-68 | 7th | ||
1986 | 80-47 | 2nd | Lost in 1st round | |
1987 | 67-71 | 8th | Doug Camilli | |
1988 | 45-94 | 14th | ||
1989 | 52-87 | 13th | Dave Holt | |
1990 | 40-94 | 14th | ||
1991 | 43-85 | 14th | Mike Verdi | |
1992 | 51-86 | 13th | Felix Maldonado |
References
- ^ "Chain of Lakes Park - Winter Haven, Florida | Little Ballparks". 31 July 2021.
- v
- t
- e
- Bartow Polkers
- Baseball City Royals
- Bradenton Growers
- Brevard County Manatees
- Charlotte Rangers
- Charlotte Stone Crabs
- Clearwater Pelicans
- Clearwater Phillies
- 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
- Florida Fire Frogs
- Fort Lauderdale Red Sox
- Fort Lauderdale Tarpons
- Fort Lauderdale Yankees
- Fort Myers Palms
- Fort Myers Miracle
- Fort Myers Royals
- Gainesville G-Men
- Jacksonville Beach Sea Birds
- Jacksonville Indians
- Jacksonville Scouts
- Key West Conchs
- Key West Cubs
- Key West Padres
- Key West Sun Caps
- Kissimmee Cobras
- Lakeland Giants
- Lakeland Highlanders
- 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 Hustlers
- Miami Marlins
- Miami Miracle
- Miami Orioles
- Ocala Yearlings
- Orlando Bulldogs
- Orlando Caps
- Orlando C.B.s
- Orlando Colts
- Orlando Cubs
- Orlando Dodgers
- Orlando Flyers
- Orlando Gulls
- Orlando Rays
- Orlando Senators
- Orlando Seratomas
- Orlando Sun Rays
- Orlando Tigers
- Orlando Twins
- Osceola Astros
- Palatka Azaleas
- Palatka Cubs
- Palatka Redlegs
- Palatka Tigers
- Pompano Beach Cubs
- Pompano Beach Mets
- St. Augustine Saints
- 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 Gulls
- Sarasota Reds
- Sarasota Red Sox
- Sarasota Sun Sox
- Sarasota Tarpons
- Sarasota White Sox
- Tampa Tarpons (1957–1988)
- Tampa Smokers
- Tampa Yankees
- Vero Beach Devil Rays
- Vero Beach Dodgers
- West Palm Beach Braves
- West Palm Beach Expos
- Winter Haven Mets
- Winter Haven Red Sox
- Winter Haven Sun Sox
- West Palm Beach Indians
- West Palm Beach Sheriffs
- West Palm Beach Sun Chiefs