Winter Haven Red Sox

Minor league baseball team

Winter Haven Red Sox

* 1966–1992
* (1966-1967, 1969-1992)
* Winter Haven, Florida

Minor league affiliations
Previous classes|

* Class A-Advanced (1990-1992)
* Class A (1966-1989)

League| Florida State League
Major league affiliations
Previous teams|

* Boston Red Sox (1969-1994)
* New York Mets (1967)
* Chicago White Sox (1966)

Minor league titles
League titles | 1 (1979)
Team data

Previous names

* Winter Haven Red Sox (1969-1992)
* Winter Haven Mets (1967)
* Winter Haven Sun Sox (1966)
* Deerfield Beach Sun Sox (1966)

Previous parks

| Chain of Lakes Park

The Winter Haven Red Sox were a minor league baseball team in the Florida State League (FSL), based in Winter Haven, Florida, from 1969–1992.

## Team history

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The franchise began in 1966 in Deerfield Beach, Florida, as the Deerfield Beach Sun Sox, a Class-A affiliate of the Chicago White Sox. However, on June 27, 1966, the team moved to Winter Haven becoming the Winter Haven Sun Sox. It was the city's first entry in Organized Baseball since the 1919 Bartow Polkers played part of their home schedule in Winter Haven. The Sun Sox were managed by Don Bacon and Bruce Andrew and had a 55–83 record overall.[citation needed]

In 1967, the Sun Sox were renamed the Winter Haven Mets after their new parent club, the New York Mets. The Mets posted a stellar 94–46 record, but were defeated by the St. Petersburg Cardinals for the western division title by two and a half games. Nolan Ryan, then 20, pitched for the 1967 team, appearing in one game as a starting pitcher and allowing one hit and one earned run in four innings pitched, with five strikeouts. It was Ryan's last year in the minors before he began his Baseball Hall of Fame big-league career.

The Mets left Winter Haven after only a single season, then the franchise lay dormant during 1968. In 1969, the Boston Red Sox, who had established their spring training home in Winter Haven in 1966, took over the Florida State League franchise. The Winter Haven Red Sox then played for the next 24 consecutive seasons. In 1983, 16 years after Ryan's one-game stint, Roger Clemens began his pro career with Winter Haven, winning three of four decisions in four starts, and striking out 36 in 29 innings pitched.

The Winter Haven Red Sox effectively folded after the 1992 season, when, after 27 years, the parent Red Sox moved their spring headquarters to Fort Myers and their FSL affiliate to Fort Lauderdale. Although the Cleveland Indians replaced the Red Sox as Winter Haven's spring training tenants from 1993 through 2008, they never revived an FSL franchise for the city.

## The ballpark

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The team played home games at Chain of Lakes Park, located at 500 Cletus Allen Drive.[1] The park still exists as part of the Chain of Lakes Sports Complex.

## Notable alumni

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### Baseball Hall of Fame alumni

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* Jeff Bagwell (1989) Inducted, 2017
* Jim Rice (1972) Inducted, 2009
* Nolan Ryan (1967) Inducted, 1999

### Notable alumni

[edit]

* Brady Anderson (1986) 3 x MLB All-Star
* Oil Can Boyd (1981)
* Ellis Burks (1984) 2 x MLB All-Star
* Rick Burleson (1970) 4 x MLB All-Star
* Roger Clemens (1983) 1986 AL Most Valuable Player, 7 x Cy Young Award
* Scott Hatteberg (1991)
* Bruce Hurst (1977) MLB All-Star
* Bob Ojeda (1979)
* Ben Oglivie (1969) 1980 AL Home Run Leader
* Paul Quantrill (1990) MLB All-Star
* Ken Singleton (1967) 3 x MLB All-Star
* Bob Stanley (1975, 1988) 2 x MLB All-Star

## Year-by-year record

[edit]

Year | Record | Finish | Manager | Playoffs

|
|
|
|

1966 | 55-83 | 8th | Don Bacon & Bruce Andrew |
1967 | 94-46 | 2nd | Pete Pavlick |
1969 | 76-53 | 3rd | Rac Slider |
1970 | 61-71 | 7th | John K. Butler |
1971 | 58-79 | 10th |
1972 | 61-70 | 10th |
1973 | 50-94 | 10th | Al Lehrer |
1974 | 59-71 | 6th (t) | Rac Slider |
1975 | 57-70 | 5th (t) |
1976 | 65-76 | 6th |
1977 | 70-66 | 5th |
1978 | 82-56 | 2nd |
1979 | 79-58 | 2nd | League Champs
1980 | 60-80 | 10th |
1981 | 62-77 | 9th |
1982 | 59-74 | 8th | Tom Kotchman |
1983 | 49-83 | 9th |
1984 | 70-74 | 8th | Dave Holt |
1985 | 71-68 | 7th |
1986 | 80-47 | 2nd | Lost in 1st round
1987 | 67-71 | 8th | Doug Camilli |
1988 | 45-94 | 14th |
1989 | 52-87 | 13th | Dave Holt |
1990 | 40-94 | 14th |
1991 | 43-85 | 14th | Mike Verdi |
1992 | 51-86 | 13th | Felix Maldonado |

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Chain of Lakes Park - Winter Haven, Florida | Little Ballparks". July 31, 2021.

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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
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* Deerfield Beach Sun Sox
* DeLand Red Hats
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* Fort Lauderdale Red Sox
* Fort Lauderdale Tarpons
* Fort Lauderdale Yankees
* Fort Myers Palms
* Fort Myers Miracle
* Fort Myers Royals
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* Jacksonville Beach Sea Birds
* Jacksonville Indians
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* Key West Conchs
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* Tampa Tarpons (1957–1988)
* Tampa Smokers
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* Vero Beach Devil Rays
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* 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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