Florida International League

Florida International League

The Florida International League was a lower- to mid-level circuit in American and Cuban minor league baseball that existed from 1946 through July 27, 1954. It was designated Class C for its first three seasons, then upgraded to Class B in 1949 for the final 5½ years of its existence.

The FIL featured teams located in the largest metropolitan centers in Florida and Cuba. Its longest serving clubs were located in Miami (usually nicknamed the "Sun Sox"), Tampa (named the "Smokers," after the city's large cigar business) and West Palm Beach (called the "Indians," although the team was never affiliated with the Cleveland Indians of Major League Baseball). All played during the 8½ seasons of the FIL's existence.

Perhaps its most notable member club, however, was the Havana "Cubanos," an affiliate of the Washington Senators. The Cubanos were the sole FIL club outside Florida and played in the loop from 1946-53. They won five consecutive league titles in 1946-47-48-49-50 and dominated in attendance as well, drawing over 200,000 fans from 1947 through 1949. The Cubanos furnished many Cuban baseball players to the parent Senators, including pitchers Sandalio "Sandy" Consuegra, Conrado Marrero and Miguel "Mike" Fornieles, and outfielder Carlos Paula, who in by|1954 broke the color line for the Senators as their first player of African descent.

In 1954, however, Havana left the FIL to become a Class AAA International League franchise, the Sugar Kings. The FIL could not last without its Cuban entry, and folded in midyear with St. Petersburg in first place. Miami eventually would join the International League as the Miami Marlins in 1956 and other cities joined the Class D (now Class A) Florida State League.

References

*Johnson, Lloyd, and Wolff, Miles, editors: "The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball." Durham, N.C.: Baseball America, 1997.

External links

* [http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/history/top100.jsp?idx=40 1952 Miami Sun Sox team]


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать курсовую

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Florida Forensic League, Inc. — The Florida Forensic League, Inc., or FFL, is a speech and debate organization offered to all schools in the state of Florida. It is the governing body for local and state speech and debate competitions in Florida, with higher level competition… …   Wikipedia

  • Florida State League rosters — Below are the full rosters and coaching staff of the 12 teams of Minor League Baseball s Florida State League.East DivisionBrevard County ManateesDaytona CubsJupiter HammerheadsSt. Lucie MetsVero Beach Devil RaysWest DivisionClearwater… …   Wikipedia

  • International League rosters — Below are the full rosters and coaching staff of the 14 teams of Minor League Baseball s International League.North DivisionBuffalo BisonsLehigh Valley IronPigsPawtucket Red SoxRochester Red WingsScranton/Wilkes Barre YankeesSyracuse Chiefsouth… …   Wikipedia

  • Florida — Saltar a navegación, búsqueda Para otros usos de este término, véase Florida (desambiguación). State of Florida Estado de los Estados Unidos …   Wikipedia Español

  • Florida Seals — City Orlando, Florida (2002 05) Kissimmee, Florida (2005 06) League ACHL (2002 03) WHA2 (2003 04) SPHL (2005 07) Founded 2002 Operated …   Wikipedia

  • Florida State Seminoles — University Florida State University Conference(s) Atlantic Coast Conference NCAA …   Wikipedia

  • Florida — This article is about the U.S. state of Florida. For other uses, see Florida (disambiguation). State of Florida …   Wikipedia

  • Florida Atlantic Owls — The Florida Atlantic Owls are the athletics teams of Florida Atlantic University. The Owls participate in the National Collegiate Athletic Association s Division I as members of the Sun Belt Conference.Despite its status as a mid major university …   Wikipedia

  • Florida vs. Georgia Football Classic — First contested October 15, 1904 52–0, UGA (According to Georgia) November 6, 1915 37–0, UGA (According to Florida) Number of meetings 90 (according t …   Wikipedia

  • Cuban League — This article is about the historic Cuban professional baseball league before 1961. For the current primary baseball league in Cuba, see Cuban National Series. Cuban League Sport Baseball Founded 1878 Claim to fame Earliest baseball league to be… …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”