Florida International League
Encyclopedia
The Florida International League was a lower- to mid-level circuit in American
and Cuba
n 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
, though 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
in Havana, Cuba. The Cubanos were the sole FIL club outside Florida and played in the loop from 1946-53. They won five consecutive regular season titles from 1946–1950 and dominated in attendance as well, drawing over 200,000 fans from 1947–1949. 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 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
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
n minor league baseball
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
that existed from 1946
1946 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:*World Series: St. Louis Cardinals over Boston Red Sox *All-Star Game, July 9 at Fenway Park: American League, 12–0-Other champions:*Negro League World Series: Newark Eagles over Kansas City Monarchs...
through July 27, 1954. It was designated Class C for its first three seasons, then upgraded to Class B in 1949
1949 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:*World Series: New York Yankees over Brooklyn Dodgers *All-Star Game, July 12 at Ebbets Field: American League, 11-7-Caribbean leagues:*Cuba - Almendares Scorpions*Panama - Spur Cola*Puerto Rico - Mayaguez Indians...
for the final 5½ years of its existence.
The FIL featured teams located in the largest metropolitan centers in Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
and Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
. Its longest serving clubs were located in Miami
Miami, Florida
Miami is a city located on the Atlantic coast in southeastern Florida and the county seat of Miami-Dade County, the most populous county in Florida and the eighth-most populous county in the United States with a population of 2,500,625...
(usually nicknamed the Sun Sox
Miami Sun Sox
The Miami Sun Sox were a minor league baseball affiliate of the Brooklyn Dodgers between 1949 and 1954. They played in the Florida International League and were based in Miami, Florida at Miami Stadium.-External links:**...
), Tampa
Tampa, Florida
Tampa is a city in the U.S. state of Florida. It serves as the county seat for Hillsborough County. Tampa is located on the west coast of Florida. The population of Tampa in 2010 was 335,709....
(named the Smokers
Tampa Smokers
The Tampa Smokers was a name used from 1919 to 1954 by a series of minor league and semi-professional baseball teams based in Tampa, Florida. The nickname was a nod to the local cigar industry, which was the most important industry in Tampa during the years in which the Smokers were active.-Florida...
, after the city's large cigar
Cigar
A cigar is a tightly-rolled bundle of dried and fermented tobacco that is ignited so that its smoke may be drawn into the mouth. Cigar tobacco is grown in significant quantities in Brazil, Cameroon, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Honduras, Indonesia, Mexico, Nicaragua, Philippines, and the Eastern...
business) and West Palm Beach
West Palm Beach, Florida
West Palm Beach, is a city located on the Atlantic coast in southeastern Florida and is the most populous city in and county seat of Palm Beach County, the third most populous county in Florida with a 2010 population of 1,320,134. The city is also the oldest incorporated municipality in South Florida...
(called the Indians
West Palm Beach Indians
The West Palm Beach Indians were a minor league baseball team based in West Palm Beach, Florida. They played in the Florida East Coast League in from 1940 to 1942, the Florida International League from 1946 to 1954, and the Florida State League in 1955. They were affiliated with the Philadelphia...
, though the team was never affiliated with the Cleveland Indians
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
of Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
). 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
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
in Havana, Cuba. The Cubanos were the sole FIL club outside Florida and played in the loop from 1946-53. They won five consecutive regular season titles from 1946–1950 and dominated in attendance as well, drawing over 200,000 fans from 1947–1949. The Cubanos furnished many Cuban baseball players to the parent Senators, including pitchers Sandalio "Sandy" Consuegra
Sandy Consuegra
Sandalio Simeon Consuegra Castello [con-SWEH-grah] was a Cuban-born relief pitcher in Major League Baseball. From 1950 through 1957, Consuegra played for the Washington Senators , Chicago White Sox , Baltimore Orioles and New York Giants...
, Conrado Marrero
Connie Marrero
Conrado Eugenio "Connie" Marrero Ramos is a former Cuban professional baseball pitcher. The right-handed Marrero pitched in Major League Baseball from to for the Washington Senators. Marrero made his major league debut when he was 38 years old, and was one of the oldest players in the league...
and Miguel "Mike" Fornieles
Mike Fornieles
Jose Miguel "Mike" Fornieles was a professional baseball player. He was a right-handed pitcher over parts of twelve seasons with the Washington Senators/Minnesota Twins, Chicago White Sox, Baltimore Orioles and Boston Red Sox...
, and outfielder
Outfielder
Outfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder...
Carlos Paula
Carlos Paula
Carlos Paula Conill was a Major League Baseball right fielder who played for the Washington Senators from 1954 to 1956. A native of Havana, Cuba, he stood 6'3" and weighed 195 lbs....
, who in broke the color line
Baseball color line
The color line in American baseball excluded players of black African descent from Organized Baseball, or the major leagues and affiliated minor leagues, until Jackie Robinson signed with the Brooklyn Dodgers organization for the 1946 season...
for the Senators as their first player of African descent.
In 1954, however, Havana left the FIL to become a Class AAA International League
International League
The International League is a minor league baseball league that operates in the eastern United States. Like the Pacific Coast League and the Mexican League, it plays at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball. It was so named because it had teams in both the United States...
franchise, the Sugar Kings
Havana Sugar Kings
The Havana Sugar Kings were a Cuban-based minor league baseball team that played in the Class AAA International League from 1954 to 1960 . They were affiliated with Major League Baseball's Cincinnati Reds, and their home stadium was El Gran Estadio del Cerro in Havana, Cuba.-History:The Sugar...
. The FIL could not last without its Cuban entry, and folded in midyear with St. Petersburg
St. Petersburg, Florida
St. Petersburg is a city in Pinellas County, Florida, United States. It is known as a vacation destination for both American and foreign tourists. As of 2008, the population estimate by the U.S. Census Bureau is 245,314, making St...
in first place. Miami eventually would join the International League as the Miami Marlins
Miami Marlins (IL)
The Miami Marlins was the name of a Class AAA American minor league baseball franchise based in Miami, Florida, that played in the International League from 1956 through 1960.The Marlins were a transplanted version of the original Syracuse Chiefs...
in 1956
1956 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:*World Series: New York Yankees over Brooklyn Dodgers ; Don Larsen, MVP*All-Star Game, July 10 at Griffith Stadium: National League, 7-3-Other champions:*Caribbean World Series: Cienfuegos *College World Series: Minnesota...
and other cities joined the Class D (now Class A) Florida State League
Florida State League
The Florida State League is a Class A-Advanced minor league baseball league operating in the state of Florida. They are one of three leagues currently operating in Class A-Advanced, the third highest of six classifications of minor leagues...
.
Member clubs
- Fort Lauderdale Braves — also known as Lions (Champions, 1953)
- Greater Miami Flamingos
- Havana CubanosHavana Sugar KingsThe Havana Sugar Kings were a Cuban-based minor league baseball team that played in the Class AAA International League from 1954 to 1960 . They were affiliated with Major League Baseball's Cincinnati Reds, and their home stadium was El Gran Estadio del Cerro in Havana, Cuba.-History:The Sugar...
(Champions, 1947–1948) - Key West Conchs
- Lakeland Pilots — also known as Patriots
- Miami Sun SoxMiami Sun SoxThe Miami Sun Sox were a minor league baseball affiliate of the Brooklyn Dodgers between 1949 and 1954. They played in the Florida International League and were based in Miami, Florida at Miami Stadium.-External links:**...
— also known as Tourists (Champions, 1950; 1952)
- Miami Beach Flamingos
- St. Petersburg SaintsSt. Petersburg SaintsThe St. Petersburg Saints were a minor league baseball team that operated out of St.Petersburg, Florida. The team began as a semi-pro team and as early as October 1908, the semi-pro Saints played the Cincinnati Reds in a post-season exhibition game. By 1914, the Saints were receiving regular...
(Champions, 1951) - Tallahassee Rebels
- Tampa SmokersTampa SmokersThe Tampa Smokers was a name used from 1919 to 1954 by a series of minor league and semi-professional baseball teams based in Tampa, Florida. The nickname was a nod to the local cigar industry, which was the most important industry in Tampa during the years in which the Smokers were active.-Florida...
(Champions, 1946; 1949) - West Palm Beach IndiansWest Palm Beach IndiansThe West Palm Beach Indians were a minor league baseball team based in West Palm Beach, Florida. They played in the Florida East Coast League in from 1940 to 1942, the Florida International League from 1946 to 1954, and the Florida State League in 1955. They were affiliated with the Philadelphia...