Baseball has a rich history in the state of Florida, dating back to the early 1900s. Here’s a brief overview of the history of baseball in Florida:
1900s-1910s:
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In the early 1900s, baseball was played in cities throughout Florida, primarily by semiprofessional and amateur teams.
In 1914, the Federal League, a short-lived rival to Major League Baseball, established a team in St. Petersburg called the St. Petersburg Saints.
1920s-1930s:
In the 1920s and 1930s, several Major League Baseball teams began to hold their spring training in Florida, including the New York Yankees, Philadelphia Athletics, and Brooklyn Dodgers.
In 1925, the city of Winter Haven built a stadium called Henley Field, which would become a popular spring training site for Major League Baseball teams in the following decades.
1940s-1950s:
During World War II, many Major League Baseball teams moved their spring training operations to Florida due to travel restrictions and the need to stay close to the United States. This helped establish Florida as a popular spring training destination.
In 1946, the Florida State League was established as a Class D minor league. Teams included the Daytona Beach Islanders, Gainesville G-Men, Lakeland Pilots, and St. Augustine Saints.
1960s-1970s:
In the 1960s and 1970s, several Major League Baseball teams moved their spring training operations to Florida, including the Boston Red Sox, St. Louis Cardinals, and Pittsburgh Pirates.
In 1962, the Houston Colt .45s (later renamed the Astros) became the first Major League Baseball team to play in Florida, when they held their first-ever spring training in Cocoa Beach.
In 1973, the Florida State League was upgraded to Class A, and teams included the Miami Marlins, St. Petersburg Cardinals, and West Palm Beach Expos.
1980s-1990s:
In the 1980s and 1990s, several Major League Baseball teams relocated to Florida, including the Baltimore Orioles, Philadelphia Phillies, and Texas Rangers.
In 1989, the Florida State League was upgraded to Class A Advanced, and teams included the Dunedin Blue Jays, Fort Myers Miracle, and Tampa Tarpons.
In 1993, the Florida Marlins became a Major League Baseball team, and they played their first season at Joe Robbie Stadium (now Hard Rock Stadium) in Miami Gardens.
2000s-Present:
In the 2000s and beyond, several Major League Baseball teams moved their spring training operations to Florida, including the Atlanta Braves, Houston Astros, and Washington Nationals.
In 2011, the Florida Marlins were renamed the Miami Marlins and moved to a new stadium, Marlins Park, in Miami.
Today, Florida is home to two Major League Baseball teams, 15 spring training sites, and several minor league baseball teams.
Overall, baseball has become an integral part of Florida’s culture and economy, and it continues to thrive in the state to this day.
Heres the details on spring training teams and ballfields:
- Atlanta Braves: CoolToday Park (North Port) CoolToday Park is a state-of-the-art stadium that opened in 2019. It has a seating capacity of 8,000 and features modern amenities such as a 360-degree concourse, suites, and party decks. The stadium also has a variety of food and beverage options. https://www.mlb.com/braves/ballpark/travel-guide/spring-training
- Baltimore Orioles: Ed Smith Stadium (Sarasota) Ed Smith Stadium has been the spring training home of the Orioles since 2010. It has a seating capacity of 8,500 and features a modern clubhouse, suites, and picnic areas. The stadium also has a variety of food and beverage options, as well as a kid’s zone. https://www.mlb.com/orioles/ballpark/travel-guide/spring-training
- Boston Red Sox: JetBlue Park (Fort Myers) JetBlue Park, also known as Fenway South, opened in 2012 and has a seating capacity of 11,000. The stadium is modeled after Fenway Park in Boston and features a replica Green Monster wall, as well as a variety of other features that pay homage to the iconic ballpark. The stadium also has a variety of food and beverage options, as well as a kid’s zone. : https://www.mlb.com/redsox/ballpark/travel-guide/spring-training
- Detroit Tigers: Joker Marchant Stadium (Lakeland) Joker Marchant Stadium has been the spring training home of the Tigers since 1966. It has a seating capacity of 8,500 and features modern amenities such as a 360-degree concourse, suites, and picnic areas. The stadium also has a variety of food and beverage options, as well as a kid’s zone. https://www.mlb.com/tigers/ballpark/travel-guide/spring-training
- Houston Astros: FITTEAM Ballpark of the Palm Beaches (West Palm Beach) FITTEAM Ballpark of the Palm Beaches is a state-of-the-art stadium that opened in 2017. It has a seating capacity of 7,700 and features modern amenities such as a 360-degree concourse, suites, and party decks. The stadium also has a variety of food and beverage options, as well as a kid’s zone. Website: https://www.mlb.com/astros/ballpark/travel-guide/spring-training
- Miami Marlins: Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium (Jupiter) Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium has been the spring training home of the Marlins since 2003. It has a seating capacity of 6,871 and features modern amenities such as a 360-degree concourse, suites, and picnic areas. The stadium also has a variety of food and beverage options, as well as a kid’s zone. Website: https://www.mlb.com/marlins/ballpark/travel-guide/spring-training
- Minnesota Twins: Hammond Stadium (Fort Myers) Hammond Stadium has been the spring training home of the Twins since 1991. It has a seating capacity of 9,300 and features modern amenities such as a 360-degree concourse, suites, and party decks. The stadium also has a variety of food and beverage options, as well as a kid’s zone. https://www.mlb.com/twins/ballpark/travel-guide/spring-training
- New York Mets: Clover Park (Port St. Lucie) Clover Park, formerly known as First Data Field, has been the spring training home of the Mets since 1988. It has a seating capacity of 7,160 and features modern amenities such as a 360-degree concourse, suites, and picnic areas. The stadium also has a variety of food and beverage options, as well as a kid’s zone. https://www.mlb.com/mets/ballpark/travel-guide/spring-training
- New York Yankees: George M. Steinbrenner Field (Tampa) George M. Steinbrenner Field, also known as “The Boss”, has been the spring training home of the Yankees since 1996. It has a seating capacity of 11,000 and features modern amenities such as a 360-degree concourse, suites, and party decks. The stadium also has a variety of food and beverage options, as well as a kid’s zone. Website: https://www.mlb.com/yankees/ballpark/travel-guide/spring-training
- Philadelphia Phillies: BayCare Ballpark (Clearwater) BayCare Ballpark, formerly known as Spectrum Field, has been the spring training home of the Phillies since 2004. It has a seating capacity of 8,500 and features modern amenities such as a 360-degree concourse, suites, and picnic areas. The stadium also has a variety of food and beverage options, as well as a kid’s zone. Website: https://www.mlb.com/phillies/ballpark/travel-guide/spring-training
- Pittsburgh Pirates: LECOM Park (Bradenton) LECOM Park, formerly known as McKechnie Field, has been the spring training home of the Pirates since 1969. It has a seating capacity of 8,500 and features modern amenities such as a 360-degree concourse, suites, and picnic areas. The stadium also has a variety of food and beverage options, as well as a kid’s zone. https://www.mlb.com/pirates/ballpark/travel-guide/spring-training
- St. Louis Cardinals: Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium (Jupiter) Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium has been the spring training home of the Cardinals since 1998. It has a seating capacity of 6,871 and features modern amenities such as a 360-degree concourse, suites, and picnic areas. The stadium also has a variety of food and beverage options, as well as a kid’s zone. https://www.mlb.com/cardinals/ballpark/travel-guide/spring-training
- Tampa Bay Rays: Charlotte Sports Park (Port Charlotte) Charlotte Sports Park has been the spring training home of the Rays since 2009. It has a seating capacity of 7,000 and features modern amenities such as a 360-degree concourse, suites, and picnic areas. The stadium also has a variety of food and beverage options, as well as a kid’s zone. https://www.mlb.com/rays/ballpark/travel-guide/spring-training
- Toronto Blue Jays: TD Ballpark (Dunedin) TD Ballpark, formerly known as Dunedin Stadium, has been the spring training home of the Blue Jays since 1977. It has a seating capacity of 8,500 and features modern amenities such as a 360-degree concourse, suites, and picnic areas. The stadium also has a variety of food and beverage options, as well as a kid’s zone. https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/ballpark/travel-guide/spring-training
Florida is also home to several minor league baseball teams, including:
- Bradenton Marauders (High-A) The Bradenton Marauders are a High-A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates. They play their home games at LECOM Park in Bradenton, Florida. The team was founded in 2010 and has won two division titles since then. The team has a variety of promotions throughout the season, including fireworks shows and theme nights.
