The Daytona Beach Admirals were a short-lived entry in the Class A Florida State League, operated by long-time Chicago Cubs and National League executive Blake Cullen. The team would last only one season as a Chicago White Sox farm club during the summer of 1987. But Cullen continued on as a minor league sports investor and one year later he recycled the ‘Admirals’ name for his wildly successful minor league hockey team in Norfolk, Virginia.
The St. Petersburg Devil Rays were one of the original farm teams of the Tampa Bay Rays (known back then as the Devil Rays). The team began play in 1997, one year ahead of its Major League patron’s expansion debut, and set up shop at Al Lang Stadium in downtown St. Pete, just over a mile away from the Major League Rays’ home at Tropicana Field. In their first season, the Devil Rays led the Florida State League in attendance and won the 1997 league championship. The Devil Rays disbanded the club after four seasons at the end of the 2000 season.
The original, short-lived Dunedian Blue Jays team played in the Florida State League in 1978 and 1979. Future Toronto Blue Jays stars Jesse Barfield, Lloyd Moseby & Dave Steib began their rise through the ranks at Grant Field during these years. This franchise, owned by a local undertaker and his wife, went out of business in September 1979. The modern day Dunedin Blue Jays are a different club that arrived in town in 1987.
Florida State League (1994-2016) Born: 1994 Move Announced: June 29, 2016 (Florida Fire Frogs) First Game: April 9, 1994 (W 3-2 vs. Vero Beach Dodgers)
Florida State League (1962-1992) Born: 1962 Affiliation Change: 1993 (Fort Lauderdale Red Sox) First Game: Last Game: FSL Champions: 1962, 1964, 1965, 1980, 1982, 1984, 1987 Fort
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