Bradenton Growers

Minor league baseball team

Bradenton Growers

* 1919-1926
* (1919–1920, 1923–1924, 1926)
* Bradenton, Florida

Minor league affiliations
Previous classes|

* Class D (1919–1920, 1926)
* Class C (1923–1924)

League| Florida State League
Team data
Colors| Green, white

Previous parks

* City Park (1923–1924, 1926)
* Ninth Street Park (1919–1920)

The Bradenton Growers were a professional baseball team based in Bradenton, Florida. A charter member of the Florida State League, they played from 1919 to 1926. The ballclub was founded by team president and majority owner Robert M. Beall, Sr., founder of the department store Bealls. The Growers originally played their home games at Ninth Street Park and moved into McKechnie Field, then known as City Park, when it was constructed in 1923.[1]

## Notable players

[edit]

Many of the Growers rosters include players' names with question marks, last names only, and no dates of birth or hometowns. However, several notable Growers did make it into the majors. Logan Drake played from 1922-1924 as a relief pitcher for the Cleveland Indians. Walter Cleveland "Lefty" Stewart played 10 seasons in the majors for the Detroit Tigers, St. Louis Browns, Washington Senators, and Cleveland Indians. He also pitched in game 1 of the 1933 World Series for the Senators. Another Grower, Gene Elliott, played for New York Highlanders in 1911 before playing in Bradenton. Hank Johnson, a Bradenton native, also played for the Growers in 1925.[2] He would go on to win the 1928 World Series, as a member of the New York Yankees. Other major leaguers include Joe Buskey and Al Niehaus, Mike Kelly and Dixie Parker.

## Uniforms

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Joe Buskey in 1923 for the Growers

The Growers wore short-billed caps and their white uniforms bore an elegant B over their hearts. While the primary color of the Growers' uniforms is not known, baseball historians from the Manatee Adult Baseball League believe the color of the uniforms was green and that their design was based the design on the uniforms worn by the 1919 University of Miami baseball team.[3]

## Legacy

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In 1919, Bradenton became a charter member of the six-team, Class D level Florida State League.[4][5] The Bradenton Growers joined the Bartow Polkers, Lakeland Highlanders, Orlando Caps, Sanford Celeryfeds and Tampa Smokers teams as the Florida State League charter members.[6]

The Growers would be the last Florida State League team based in Bradenton. The city would not be home to another FSL team for the next 84 years. Finally on April 8, 2010, the Bradenton Marauders, the High-A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates, began play at McKechnie Field.[7] On June 28, 2009, members of the Manatee Adult Baseball League, dressed in Growers uniforms for a game at Tropicana Field following a between the Tampa Bay Rays and Florida Marlins. On May 31, 2012, the Bradenton Marauders dressed in Growers uniforms during a 2–1 win over the Fort Myers Miracle for Turn Back the Clock Night at McKechnie Field.[8]

## Season-by-season

[edit]

Year | Record | Finish | Manager | Playoffs/Notes

|
|
|
|

1919 | 34–43 | 4th | Jim Moore | No playoffs held
1920 | 57–44 | 2nd | Frank Larisey / Webb Cashion | No playoffs held
1923 | 63–55 | 2nd | Roy Thomas | Team moved from Jacksonville mid-season
1924 | 47–55 | 4th | Gene Elliott | No playoffs held
1926 | 44–76 | 7th | Frank Larisey / Dixie Parker | Did not qualify

[4]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Mannix, Vin (April 8, 2010). "Bradentown Growers were Marauders' forerunners". Bradenton Herald. Retrieved January 30, 2012.
2. ^ "Hennery Johnson. Yankee Recruit. Treats Sarasotans Roughly, 10-1". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. November 11, 1925. Retrieved January 31, 2012.
3. ^ Mooney, Rodger (June 28, 2009). "Lefty, Growers coming back to life". Bradenton Herald. Archived from the original on August 11, 2014. Retrieved January 30, 2012.
4. ^ a b Johnson, Lloyd; Wolff, Miles, eds. (2007). The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball (Third ed.). Baseball America. ISBN 978-1932391176.
5. ^ "Daytona Baseball History: In the beginning, there were 6, and Celeryfeds ruled (At first)".
6. ^ "1919 Florida State League".
7. ^ "Pittsburgh Pirates Unveil Name and Logo For New Bradenton Florida State League Team" (PDF). Pirates News Release. December 15, 2009. Retrieved April 14, 2010.
8. ^ Lembo, John (June 1, 2012). "M's Turn Back the Clock starter just fine in the present". Bradenton Herald. Archived from the original on January 18, 2013. Retrieved June 19, 2012.

* v
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Florida State League

East Division|

* Daytona Tortugas
* Jupiter Hammerheads
* Palm Beach Cardinals
* St. Lucie Mets

West Division|

* Bradenton Marauders
* Clearwater Threshers
* Dunedin Blue Jays
* Fort Myers Mighty Mussels
* Lakeland Flying Tigers
* Tampa Tarpons

Defunct teams|

* Bartow Polkers
* Baseball City Royals
* Bradenton Growers
* Brevard County Manatees
* Charlotte Rangers
* Charlotte Stone Crabs
* Clearwater Pelicans
* Clearwater Phillies
* Cocoa Astros
* Cocoa Indians
* Daytona Beach Admirals
* Daytona Beach Astros
* Daytona Beach Dodgers
* Daytona Beach Islanders
* Daytona Cubs
* Deerfield Beach Sun Sox
* DeLand Red Hats
* DeLand Reds
* DeLand Sun Caps
* Florida Fire Frogs
* Fort Lauderdale Red Sox
* Fort Lauderdale Tarpons
* Fort Lauderdale Yankees
* Fort Myers Palms
* Fort Myers Miracle
* Fort Myers Royals
* Gainesville G-Men
* Jacksonville Beach Sea Birds
* Jacksonville Indians
* Jacksonville Scouts
* Key West Conchs
* Key West Cubs
* Key West Padres
* Key West Sun Caps
* Kissimmee Cobras
* Lakeland Giants
* Lakeland Highlanders
* Lakeland Indians
* Lakeland Pilots
* Lakeland Tigers
* Leesburg Anglers
* Leesburg Athletics
* Leesburg Braves
* Leesburg Dodgers
* Leesburg Gondoliers
* Leesburg Lakers
* Leesburg Orioles
* Leesburg Packers
* Leesburg Pirates
* Miami Hustlers
* Miami Marlins
* Miami Miracle
* Miami Orioles
* Ocala Yearlings
* Orlando Bulldogs
* Orlando Caps
* Orlando C.B.s
* Orlando Colts
* Orlando Cubs
* Orlando Dodgers
* Orlando Flyers
* Orlando Gulls
* Orlando Rays
* Orlando Senators
* Orlando Seratomas
* Orlando Sun Rays
* Orlando Tigers
* Orlando Twins
* Osceola Astros
* Palatka Azaleas
* Palatka Cubs
* Palatka Redlegs
* Palatka Tigers
* Pompano Beach Cubs
* Pompano Beach Mets
* St. Augustine Saints
* St. Petersburg Cardinals
* St. Petersburg Devil Rays
* St. Petersburg Saints
* Sanford Cardinals
* Sanford Celeryfeds
* Sanford Giants
* Sanford Greyhounds
* Sanford Lookouts
* Sanford Seminole Blues
* Sanford Seminoles
* Sarasota Gulls
* Sarasota Reds
* Sarasota Red Sox
* Sarasota Sun Sox
* Sarasota Tarpons
* Sarasota White Sox
* Tampa Tarpons (1957–1988)
* Tampa Smokers
* Tampa Yankees
* Vero Beach Devil Rays
* Vero Beach Dodgers
* West Palm Beach Braves
* West Palm Beach Expos
* Winter Haven Mets
* Winter Haven Red Sox
* Winter Haven Sun Sox
* West Palm Beach Indians
* West Palm Beach Sheriffs
* West Palm Beach Sun Chiefs

* Champions
* Hall of Fame
* Manager of the Year Award
* MVP Award
* Pitcher of the Year Award
* Rosters
* Stadiums

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