Florida International League (1946-1954) Born: 1946 – Florida International League founding franchise Re-Branded: February 15, 1947 (Miami Tourists) Re-Branded (Again): January 1949 (Miami Sun Sox)
The Long Beach Barracuda were one of eight founding members of the independent Western Baseball League during the summer of 1995. The Barracuda, who played at Blair Field, were Long Beach’s first professional team since the Beachcombers of 1913. The club was strong on the field under the direction of former American League Most Valuable Player and a circus behind the scenes. By the end of the summer, the Barracuda had declared bankruptcy, fought off a takeover bid from actress Heather Locklear, changed their name and won the league championship.
The Rochester Athletics were a Minnesota-based minor league baseball team that played part of one season in the Class B Three-I League during the summer of 1958. The A’s served as a farm team for Major League Baseball’s Kansas City Athletics. Several Rochester A’s players eventually advanced to the Major Leagues. The best was 22-year old shortstop Dick Howser. With attendance lagging around 500 souls per game at midseason, the club moved 44 miles east to Winona and finished out the season as the Winona A’s.
The Quebec Carnavals were one of two minor league baseball expansion franchises awarded to the province of Quebec during the winter of 1970-71. Both the Carnavals and Les Aigles de Trois-Rivieres were members of the Class AA Eastern League, which grew from six clubs in 1970 to eight in 1971 with the expansion into Francophone Canada. The Carnavals served as a farm team for the Montreal Expos and helped to develop future stars such as Gary Carter, Warren Cromartie and Steve Rogers.
The Richmond Wildcats played just 38 games in the faltering Southern Hockey League during the winter of 1976-77. Richmond’s crippling financial problems forced its players to play nearly half the 1976-77 season without salaries or insurance and contributed to the eventual collapse of the SHL midway through its fourth season.
Publisher receives compensation for affiliate advertising on this website.
*Like our new look? Next up: site speed. You can help with a tip for our Speed Fund today. Thank you!
