Fort Lauderdale Red Sox
Encyclopedia
The Fort Lauderdale Red Sox was the name of a Class A minor league baseball
franchise based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida
, that existed for the season. It was owned and operated by the Boston Red Sox
, played at Fort Lauderdale Stadium
, and was a member of the Florida State League
(FSL).
The franchise shifted from Winter Haven, Florida
, after the season when the Red Sox moved their spring training
and Florida
headquarters
from Winter Haven
to Fort Myers, Florida
. The team had operated the Winter Haven Red Sox
in the Polk County
city since 1969. When the spring training relationship with Winter Haven ended, Boston tried to move its FSL franchise to its new spring training stadium, Fort Myers' City of Palms Park
, but the shift was blocked by the established Fort Myers Miracle
, a Minnesota Twins
FSL affiliate that plays in nearby Hammond Stadium
.
While the Red Sox and the Miracle ownership tried to resolve the impasse, Boston needed a 1993 venue for its displaced Winter Haven franchise. Fort Lauderdale Stadium was available, because its longtime tenants, the New York Yankees
, had vacated it while in the process of moving their training base and Florida State League club to Tampa
.
The Red Sox' one year in Fort Lauderdale was an artistic and economic disappointment. The team, managed by DeMarlo Hale
(now the Red Sox' bench coach
), compiled the worst record in the FSL at 46–85 (.351), 32½ games out of first place. It drew 28,000 fans, second last in the league and almost 73,000 fans fewer than the 1992 Fort Lauderdale Yankees
. (It still out-paced the 1992 Winter Haven Red Sox entry, which attracted only 16,000 fans in its lame-duck season). Of the 40-plus players who suited up for the Fort Lauderdale Red Sox, only Shayne Bennett
, Alex Delgado
, Peter Hoy
, Ryan McGuire
and Lou Merloni
would see Major League
service.
As events turned out, the Red Sox/Miracle territorial dispute never permitted Boston to place its FSL team in Fort Myers. Instead, Boston moved the Fort Lauderdale Red Sox to Sarasota, Florida
— ironically a former longtime BoSox spring training site — in and operated the Sarasota Red Sox there for eleven seasons before departing the Florida State League
in 2005. The Red Sox' parent company, Fenway Sports Group
, now owns and operates its own High Class A farm club, the Salem Red Sox, in the Carolina League
.
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...
franchise based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Fort Lauderdale is a city in the U.S. state of Florida, on the Atlantic coast. It is the county seat of Broward County. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 165,521. It is a principal city of the South Florida metropolitan area, which was home to 5,564,635 people at the 2010...
, that existed for the season. It was owned and operated by the Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
, played at Fort Lauderdale Stadium
Fort Lauderdale Stadium
Fort Lauderdale Stadium is a baseball stadium located in Fort Lauderdale, Florida next to Lockhart Stadium. Fort Lauderdale Stadium has recently been leased to Traffic Sports USA until June 2011....
, and was a member of the 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...
(FSL).
The franchise shifted from Winter Haven, Florida
Winter Haven, Florida
Winter Haven is a city in Polk County, Florida, United States. The population was 26,487 at the 2000 census. According to the U.S. Census Bureau's 2007 estimates, the city had a population of 32,577, making it the second most populated city in Polk County...
, after the season when the Red Sox moved their spring training
Spring training
In Major League Baseball, spring training is a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spring training allows new players to try out for roster and position spots, and gives existing team players practice time prior to competitive play...
and 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...
headquarters
Headquarters
Headquarters denotes the location where most, if not all, of the important functions of an organization are coordinated. In the United States, the corporate headquarters represents the entity at the center or the top of a corporation taking full responsibility managing all business activities...
from Winter Haven
Winter Haven
Winter Haven may refer to:* Winter Haven, Florida* Winter Haven High School* Winter Haven Red Sox* Winter Haven's Gilbert Airport* Winter Haven Super Sox* Winter Haven Area Transit* Winter Haven...
to Fort Myers, Florida
Fort Myers, Florida
Fort Myers is the county seat and commercial center of Lee County, Florida, United States. Its population was 62,298 in the 2010 census, a 29.23 percent increase over the 2000 figure....
. The team had operated the Winter Haven Red Sox
Winter Haven Red Sox
The Winter Haven Red Sox is a former minor league baseball team, affiliated with the Boston Red Sox from 1969 to 1992.*Location: Winter Haven, FL*League: Florida State League *Affiliation: Boston Red Sox...
in the Polk County
Polk County, Florida
Polk County is located in central Florida between the Tampa Bay and Greater Orlando metropolitan areas. The county was established by the state government in 1861 on the eve of the American Civil War and named after former United States president James K. Polk. The county seat is Bartow and its...
city since 1969. When the spring training relationship with Winter Haven ended, Boston tried to move its FSL franchise to its new spring training stadium, Fort Myers' City of Palms Park
City of Palms Park
City of Palms Park is a stadium in Fort Myers, Florida primarily used for baseball, although the City of Fort Myers uses the venue for the occasional concert. Former Boston Red Sox left fielder Mike Greenwell is from Fort Myers, and was instrumental in bringing his team to the city for spring...
, but the shift was blocked by the established Fort Myers Miracle
Fort Myers Miracle
The Fort Myers Miracle is the Class A Advanced minor league baseball affiliate of the Minnesota Twins Major League Baseball club, currently managed by Jake Mauer. Home games are played at the Lee County Sports Complex in Hammond Stadium, which has a capacity of 7,500, and opened in...
, a Minnesota Twins
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...
FSL affiliate that plays in nearby Hammond Stadium
Hammond Stadium
Hammond Stadium is a baseball field located in the Lee County Sports Complex in South Fort Myers, Florida, United States. The stadium was built in and holds 7,500 people. It is the Spring Training home of the Minnesota Twins, and houses their Class A Advanced affiliate, the Fort Myers Miracle, in...
.
While the Red Sox and the Miracle ownership tried to resolve the impasse, Boston needed a 1993 venue for its displaced Winter Haven franchise. Fort Lauderdale Stadium was available, because its longtime tenants, the New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
, had vacated it while in the process of moving their training base and Florida State League club to 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....
.
The Red Sox' one year in Fort Lauderdale was an artistic and economic disappointment. The team, managed by DeMarlo Hale
DeMarlo Hale
DeMarlo Hale is a Major League Baseball coach for the Boston Red Sox.Hale is a former first baseman and outfielder in minor league baseball who played in part of four seasons for the Boston and Oakland organizations between 1984 and 1988.Following his playing career, Hale worked at the Bucky Dent...
(now the Red Sox' bench coach
Coach (baseball)
In baseball, a number of coaches assist in the smooth functioning of a team. They are assistants to the manager, or head coach, who determines the lineup and decides how to substitute players during the game...
), compiled the worst record in the FSL at 46–85 (.351), 32½ games out of first place. It drew 28,000 fans, second last in the league and almost 73,000 fans fewer than the 1992 Fort Lauderdale Yankees
Fort Lauderdale Yankees
The Fort Lauderdale Yankees, based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, was an American minor league baseball franchise that existed from 1962 through 1992. The team was a Class A Florida State League affiliate of the New York Yankees and won seven FSL championships during its 31 years of existence.The...
. (It still out-paced the 1992 Winter Haven Red Sox entry, which attracted only 16,000 fans in its lame-duck season). Of the 40-plus players who suited up for the Fort Lauderdale Red Sox, only Shayne Bennett
Shayne Bennett
Shayne Anthony Bennett was an Australian rules footballer who played for North Adelaide Football Club in the South Australian National Football League , and a right-handed pitcher, who last played in Major League Baseball for the Montreal Expos on 15 August 1999.The younger brother of fellow North...
, Alex Delgado
Alex Delgado
Alexander Delgado is a former catcher in Major League Baseball who played for the Boston Red Sox in the season...
, Peter Hoy
Peter Hoy
Peter Alexander Hoy is a former relief pitcher in Major League Baseball who played briefly for the Boston Red Sox during the 1992 season. Listed at 6' 7", 220 lb., Hoy batted and threw right-handed...
, Ryan McGuire
Ryan McGuire
Ryan Byron McGuire is a retired professional baseball player. He played six seasons in Major League Baseball, from 1997–2002, as a first baseman and outfielder...
and Lou Merloni
Lou Merloni
Louis William "Lou" Merloni is an American radio personality and a former Major League Baseball player. Merloni was scouted by hall of fame scout 'Buzz' Bowers, and played for his hometown Boston Red Sox from -...
would see Major League
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...
service.
As events turned out, the Red Sox/Miracle territorial dispute never permitted Boston to place its FSL team in Fort Myers. Instead, Boston moved the Fort Lauderdale Red Sox to Sarasota, Florida
Sarasota, Florida
Sarasota is a city located in Sarasota County on the southwestern coast of the U.S. state of Florida. It is south of the Tampa Bay Area and north of Fort Myers...
— ironically a former longtime BoSox spring training site — in and operated the Sarasota Red Sox there for eleven seasons before departing the 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...
in 2005. The Red Sox' parent company, Fenway Sports Group
Fenway Sports Group
Fenway Sports Management is a company headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts established by Fenway Sports Group in 2004. It styles itself as a "new kind of sports marketing agency," created by FSG to expand its footprint beyond its most famous holdings, the Boston Red Sox of Major League...
, now owns and operates its own High Class A farm club, the Salem Red Sox, in the Carolina League
Carolina League
The Carolina League is a minor league baseball affiliation which operates in the South Atlantic Coast of the United States. 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...
.