The Sarasota Reds were a professional minor league baseball team, located in Sarasota, Florida, as a member of the Florida State League. The team originally started play in Sarasota as the Sarasota White Sox in 1989. They remained in the city for the next 21 seasons, going through a series of name changes due to their affiliation changes. They were known as the White Sox from 1989–1993, as the Sarasota Red Sox from 1994–2004, and the Reds from 2004–2009. In Sarasota, the team played in Payne Park (1989) and then Ed Smith Stadium (1990–2009). They won two division championships, in 1989 and 1992, and made playoff appearances in 1989, 1991, 1992, 1994, and 2007.
The roots of the Reds, however, can be traced back even further to the Tampa Tarpons. In the 1980s, rumors arose that a major league team would come to Tampa, which would threaten the viability of the Tarpons and other minor league teams in the Tampa Bay Area. In 1988, the Chicago White Sox replaced Cincinnati as the Tarpons' affiliate, causing speculation that the White Sox would themselves relocate to the area.[1] Fearing his team would soon be displaced, in 1989, Tarpons owner Mitchell Mick sold his franchise to the White Sox, who moved it to Sarasota, Florida and renamed it as the Sarasota White Sox.[2]
After the Reds' spring-training departure from Florida's Grapefruit League to Arizona's Cactus League in 2009, the Reds and Pittsburgh Pirates did an "affiliate-swap". The Pirates took over the Sarasota Reds, while the Reds became the parent club of the Pirates' former Class A-Advanced affiliate, the Lynchburg Hillcats of the Carolina League.[3] The Pittsburgh Pirates have had their spring training facilities based in Bradenton, Florida since in 1969, when the city met with Pirates' general managerJoe Brown and owner John W. Galbreath and both sides agreed to a lease of 40 years, with an option for another 40 years.[4] On November 10, 2009, baseball officials voted to allow the Pirates to purchase and uproot the Sarasota Reds.[5] The Pirates moved the team to Bradenton, where they were renamed the Bradenton Marauders.[3] The Marauders became the first Florida State League team located in Bradenton since the Bradenton Growers folded in 1926.[6]
The Sarasota teams' names, logos and team colors were all closely associated with each's parent club. For example, the logos for Sarasota White Sox, Red Sox and Reds were just slightly altered versions of the parent club logos. However, there were attempts to allow some of these teams to find their own unique identities. In 2000, the Sarasota Red Sox introduced their mascot Gordy the Gecko. The Red Sox front office felt that since the team was based in Florida, its mascot should be reflective to the area. Soon Gordy found his way on to the team's caps as an alternate logo.[7]
^Fry, Darrell (July 2, 1988). "Tarpons, Cards react differently to White Sox Series: fsl". St. Petersburg Times.
^"Tampa Tarpons sold, moving to Sarasota". St. Petersburg Times. November 19, 1988. p. 5.C. Retrieved February 21, 2012.
^ ab"Pittsburgh Pirates Unveil Name and Logo For New Bradenton Florida State League Team" (PDF). Pirates News Release. December 15, 2009. Retrieved April 14, 2010.
^Gordon, Jabbo (February 18, 1970). "The History of Baseball in Florida and Manatee County" (PDF). The Manatee County Historical Society. Retrieved February 15, 2012.[permanent dead link]
^Biertempfel, Rob (October 30, 2009). "Pirates make another trade". The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Retrieved February 3, 2012.
^Mannix, Vin (April 8, 2010). "Bradentown Growers were Marauders' forerunners". Bradenton Herald. Retrieved January 30, 2012.
^Grimes, David (July 28, 2001). "H-T Columnist Agrees to Play mascot for Evening". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. p. E1-E2.
January 01, 1970
sarasota, reds, were, professional, minor, league, baseball, team, located, sarasota, florida, member, florida, state, league, team, originally, started, play, sarasota, sarasota, white, 1989, they, remained, city, next, seasons, going, through, series, name, . The Sarasota Reds were a professional minor league baseball team located in Sarasota Florida as a member of the Florida State League The team originally started play in Sarasota as the Sarasota White Sox in 1989 They remained in the city for the next 21 seasons going through a series of name changes due to their affiliation changes They were known as the White Sox from 1989 1993 as the Sarasota Red Sox from 1994 2004 and the Reds from 2004 2009 In Sarasota the team played in Payne Park 1989 and then Ed Smith Stadium 1990 2009 They won two division championships in 1989 and 1992 and made playoff appearances in 1989 1991 1992 1994 and 2007 Sarasota Reds1989 2009Sarasota FloridaMinor league affiliationsPrevious classesClass A AdvancedLeagueFlorida State LeagueMajor league affiliationsPrevious teamsCincinnati Reds 2005 2009 Boston Red Sox 1994 2004 Chicago White Sox 1989 1993 Minor league titlesDivision titles2 1989 1992 Team dataPrevious namesSarasota Reds 2005 2009 Sarasota Red Sox 1994 2004 Sarasota White Sox 1989 1993 MascotsRally Gator 2005 2009 Gordy the Gecko 2000 2004 Socko 1995 2001 Perky the Pelican 1989 1994 Previous parksEd Smith Stadium 1990 2009 Payne Park 1989 The roots of the Reds however can be traced back even further to the Tampa Tarpons In the 1980s rumors arose that a major league team would come to Tampa which would threaten the viability of the Tarpons and other minor league teams in the Tampa Bay Area In 1988 the Chicago White Sox replaced Cincinnati as the Tarpons affiliate causing speculation that the White Sox would themselves relocate to the area 1 Fearing his team would soon be displaced in 1989 Tarpons owner Mitchell Mick sold his franchise to the White Sox who moved it to Sarasota Florida and renamed it as the Sarasota White Sox 2 The team s Sarasota era produced many notable player who would go on to play in majors Bo Jackson Mike LaValliere Dave Stieb Hall of Famer Frank Thomas and Bob Wickman all played for the Sarasota White Sox Meanwhile Stan Belinda David Eckstein Nomar Garciaparra Byung hyun Kim Jeff Suppan Dustin Pedroia Jonathan Papelbon and Kevin Youkilis were alumni of the Sarasota Red Sox The Sarasota Reds also produced many notable major league players such as Jay Bruce Johnny Cueto Joey Votto Chris Heisey and Drew Stubbs After the Reds spring training departure from Florida s Grapefruit League to Arizona s Cactus League in 2009 the Reds and Pittsburgh Pirates did an affiliate swap The Pirates took over the Sarasota Reds while the Reds became the parent club of the Pirates former Class A Advanced affiliate the Lynchburg Hillcats of the Carolina League 3 The Pittsburgh Pirates have had their spring training facilities based in Bradenton Florida since in 1969 when the city met with Pirates general manager Joe Brown and owner John W Galbreath and both sides agreed to a lease of 40 years with an option for another 40 years 4 On November 10 2009 baseball officials voted to allow the Pirates to purchase and uproot the Sarasota Reds 5 The Pirates moved the team to Bradenton where they were renamed the Bradenton Marauders 3 The Marauders became the first Florida State League team located in Bradenton since the Bradenton Growers folded in 1926 6 Contents 1 Logos and uniforms 2 Season by season record 3 Notable alumni 4 ReferencesLogos and uniforms editThe Sarasota teams names logos and team colors were all closely associated with each s parent club For example the logos for Sarasota White Sox Red Sox and Reds were just slightly altered versions of the parent club logos However there were attempts to allow some of these teams to find their own unique identities In 2000 the Sarasota Red Sox introduced their mascot Gordy the Gecko The Red Sox front office felt that since the team was based in Florida its mascot should be reflective to the area Soon Gordy found his way on to the team s caps as an alternate logo 7 Season by season record editSarasota White Sox Florida State League Year Regular Season Post season Record Win Finish Result 1989 79 57 581 1st FSL West Lost in 1st round 1990 63 75 457 3rd FSL West Did not qualify 1991 75 56 573 2nd FSL West Lost in 1st round 1992 50 19 725 1st FSL West Lost in 1st round 1993 77 57 575 2nd FSL West Did not Qualify Totals 344 264 0 FSL Championships Sarasota Red Sox Florida State League Year Regular Season Post season Record Win Finish Result 1994 69 64 519 5th FSL West Did not Qualify 1995 65 68 489 5th FSL West Did not Qualify 1996 67 69 493 6th FSL West Did not Qualify 1997 63 76 453 7th FSL West Did not Qualify 1998 76 61 555 4th FSL West Did not Qualify 1999 67 72 482 6th FSL West Did not Qualify 2000 60 79 432 th FSL West Did not Qualify 2001 54 83 394 6th FSL West Did not Qualify 2002 62 74 456 5th FSL West Did not Qualify 2003 63 67 485 5th FSL West Did not Qualify 2004 75 61 551 2nd FSL West Did not Qualify Totals 721 764 0 FSL Championships Sarasota Reds Florida State League Year Regular Season Post season Record Win Finish Result 2005 65 67 492 9th FSL West Did not Qualify 2006 66 73 475 6th FSL West Did not Qualify 2007 81 59 579 3rd FSL West Lost in semi finals 2008 60 78 435 6th FSL West Did not Qualify 2009 54 83 394 6th FSL West Did not Qualify Totals 326 360 0 FSL ChampionshipsNotable alumni edit nbsp Kevin Youkilis 2002 Sarasota Red Sox alumnus Former White Sox players Former Red Sox players Former Reds playersReferences edit Fry Darrell July 2 1988 Tarpons Cards react differently to White Sox Series fsl St Petersburg Times Tampa Tarpons sold moving to Sarasota St Petersburg Times November 19 1988 p 5 C Retrieved February 21 2012 a b Pittsburgh Pirates Unveil Name and Logo For New Bradenton Florida State League Team PDF Pirates News Release December 15 2009 Retrieved April 14 2010 Gordon Jabbo February 18 1970 The History of Baseball in Florida and Manatee County PDF The Manatee County Historical Society Retrieved February 15 2012 permanent dead link Biertempfel Rob October 30 2009 Pirates make another trade The Pittsburgh Tribune Review Retrieved February 3 2012 Mannix Vin April 8 2010 Bradentown Growers were Marauders forerunners Bradenton Herald Retrieved January 30 2012 Grimes David July 28 2001 H T Columnist Agrees to Play mascot for Evening Sarasota Herald Tribune p E1 E2 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Sarasota Reds amp oldid 1179051706, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
