Senior Professional Baseball Association

Last updated
Senior Professional Baseball Association
Senior League logo.gif
Sport Baseball
Founded 1989
Ceased 1990
No. of teams10
CountryUnited States
Last
champion(s)		 St. Petersburg Pelicans

The Senior Professional Baseball Association, referred to commonly as the Senior League, was a winter baseball league based in Florida for players age 35 and over, with a minimum age of 32 for catchers. [1] The league began play in 1989 and had eight teams in two divisions and a 72-game schedule. Pitchers Rollie Fingers, Ferguson Jenkins (both future Hall of Famers), and Vida Blue, outfielder Dave Kingman, and managers Earl Weaver and Dick Williams were the league's marquee names; and former big league outfielder Curt Flood was the circuit's first Commissioner. At age 54, Ed Rakow was the league's oldest player. [2]

Contents

First season

Throughout the inaugural season, most clubs struggled with poor attendance, with an average attendance of less than 1,000 per game. [1] On the field, the West Palm Beach Tropics ran away with the league's South Division, finishing 15 games ahead of the second place Fort Myers Sun Sox. In the North, the St. Petersburg Pelicans finished in first, and the Bradenton Explorers were second, narrowly holding off the Orlando Juice. [2]

Infielder Ron Washington of West Palm Beach was the league's offensive star, hitting .359 with a league leading 73 RBIs and winning the MVP award. [1] Washington's teammate Mickey Rivers hit .366, and Gold Coast Sun Bert Campaneris, the oldest everyday player in the league at 47, stole 16 bases. Bradenton's Jim Morrison hit .290 with 55 RBIs and led the league with 17 homers. Tim Ireland of Fort Myers hit a league best .374, [1] and his teammate Kim Allen paced the circuit with 33 stolen bases. Willie Aikens hit 12 home runs and had 58 RBIs. West Palm Beach pitcher Juan Eichelberger went 11–5 with a 2.90 ERA, and St. Petersburg's Milt Wilcox went 12–3. Jon Matlack, Tim Stoddard, and Pete Falcone each won 10 games. Bradenton's Rick Lysander saved 11 games, and Winter Haven's Bill Campbell notched 5 saves to go along with a 2.12 ERA. Joaquín Andújar of Gold Coast had 5 wins and an ERA of 1.31. [1] [3]

In the first weekend of February 1990, the league's top four teams participated in a three-game, single elimination tournament with a rather unusual format. On February 2, the league's second place clubs faced off. The Explorers defeated the Sun Sox for a chance to face the St. Petersburg Pelicans. The next day, the Pelicans beat the Explorers 9–2 to advance to the league championship game against the West Palm Beach Tropics. On February 4, 1990, the Pelicans, powered by Lamar Johnson's home run and 3 RBIs, beat the Tropics 12–4 for the league's first championship. [2]

The 1989-90 player statistics for all teams were published in the Sporting News on February 12, 1990, pages 30–31 "Assessing the Boys of Winter". [4]

1989/1990 Teams

Northern Division

Southern Division

Second season

For its second season, four of the league's eight teams (Gold Coast, Orlando, St. Lucie, and Winter Haven) folded; the West Palm Beach Tropics became a traveling team known as the Florida Tropics, and the Explorers moved from Bradenton to Daytona Beach, becoming the Daytona Beach Explorers. The circuit then added clubs in Arizona, the Sun City Rays, as well as in California, the San Bernardino Pride. In addition, the league dropped the minimum age to 34 and shortened the season to 56 games. [5] Less than halfway through its second season, the SPBA folded on December 26, 1990. [6]

1990/1991 Standings

Ron Washington, Joaquín Andújar, Paul Mirabella, Danny Boone, and Ozzie Virgil Jr. signed Major League Baseball contracts after playing in the Senior League; Mirabella, Boone, and Virgil all played in the Majors after their appearances in the SPBA. [1] [3]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Florida State League</span> Baseball league in Florida, US

The Florida State League (FSL) is a Minor League Baseball league based in the state of Florida. Having been classified at various levels throughout its existence, it operated at Class A-Advanced from 1990 until its demotion to Single-A following Major League Baseball's 2021 reorganization of the minor leagues. The league temporarily operated for the 2021 season as the Low-A Southeast before reassuming its original moniker in 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">George Foster (baseball)</span> American baseball player and scout

George Arthur Foster is an American former professional baseball player and scout. He played in Major League Baseball as an outfielder from 1969 through 1986, most notably as an integral member of the Cincinnati Reds, with whom he won two World Series championships, in 1975 and 1976. He also played for the San Francisco Giants, New York Mets and the Chicago White Sox.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mike Easler</span> American baseball player

Michael Anthony Easler, nicknamed "The Hit Man", is an American former professional baseball outfielder, designated hitter, and coach, who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Houston Astros, California Angels, Pittsburgh Pirates, Boston Red Sox, New York Yankees, and Philadelphia Phillies, from 1973 to 1987.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St. Petersburg Pelicans</span> Minor league baseball team

The St. Petersburg Pelicans were one of the eight original franchises that began playing in the Senior Professional Baseball Association in 1989. The team was managed by Bobby Tolan, while Dick Bosman, Ozzie Virgil, Sr. and Tom Zimmer served as coaches. They played their home games at Al Lang Stadium in Downtown St. Petersburg, Florida.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bradenton Explorers</span> Minor league baseball team

The Bradenton Explorers were one of the eight original franchises that began play in the Senior Professional Baseball Association in 1989.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">West Palm Beach Tropics</span> Minor league baseball team

The West Palm Beach Tropics were one of the eight original franchises that began play in the Senior Professional Baseball Association in 1989. The club hired Dick Williams as manager and fielded a lineup that included slugger Dave Kingman and Rollie Fingers. The Tropics went 52-20 in the regular season and ran away with the Southern Division title. Ron Washington led the club's offense, hitting .359 with a league-high 73 RBI. Mickey Rivers hit .366 and Kingman added 8 homers. The pitching staff was led by Juan Eichelberger, who went 11-5 with a 2.90 ERA. Tim Stoddard also won 10 games for the club.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fort Myers Sun Sox</span> Minor league baseball team

The Fort Myers Sun Sox were one of the eight original franchises that began play in the Senior Professional Baseball Association in 1989. The club was managed by Pat Dobson, while Joe Coleman, Dyar Miller, Jerry Terrell and Tony Torchia served as coaches. The Sun Sox played their home games at Terry Park in Fort Myers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ron LeFlore</span> American baseball player

Ronald LeFlore is an American former Major League Baseball center fielder. He played six seasons with the Detroit Tigers before being traded to the Montreal Expos. LeFlore retired with the Chicago White Sox in 1982. He stole 455 bases in his career and was an American League All-Star selection in 1976.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tito Landrum</span> American baseball player

Terry Lee Landrum is a former professional baseball player who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) primarily as an outfielder from 1980 to 1988.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Terry Park Ballfield</span> Historic site in Fort Myers, Florida, USA

The Terry Park Ballfield is a historic site in Fort Myers, Florida, United States. The park is named after the family who donated the land in the 1920s. For years the stadium hosted Major League Baseball spring training, as well as a dozen years of Florida State League baseball. The stadium hosted the Philadelphia Athletics, Cleveland Indians, Pittsburgh Pirates, and Kansas City Royals spring training through the years. Terry Park was also home to some early minor league baseball, most notably the Fort Myers Palms and Fort Myers Royals, both belonging to the Florida State League. Hall of Famers Babe Ruth, Ty Cobb, Roberto Clemente, Jimmy Foxx, Bob Feller, Tris Speaker, and George Brett are some of the notable players who have played at Terry Park Field.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Odell Jones</span> American baseball player

Odell Jones is a former pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for the Pittsburgh Pirates, Seattle Mariners, Texas Rangers, Baltimore Orioles and Milwaukee Brewers, in parts of nine seasons spanning 1975–1988. Listed at 6 feet 3 inches (1.91 m), 175 pounds (79 kg), he batted and threw right handed.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eric Rasmussen</span> American baseball player (born 1952)

Eric Ralph Rasmussen is a former professional baseball pitcher, and current coach in the Minnesota Twins organization.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bradenton Marauders</span> Minor league baseball team

The Bradenton Marauders are a Minor League Baseball team of the Florida State League and the Single-A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates. They are located in Bradenton, Florida, and play their home games at LECOM Park, which also serves as the Pirates' spring training facility.

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.

Jeff Ledbetter is an American former baseball player who was named player of the year in college baseball by Baseball America and Sporting News in 1982. He played professionally in the minor leagues from 1982 to 1986.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Robbins, Mike (2004). Ninety Feet from Fame: Close Calls with Baseball Immortality. New York: Carroll & Graf Publishers. p.  79. ISBN   0-7867-1335-6.
  2. 1 2 3 Senior Citizens: The Boys of Winter. Uni Watch. Retrieved on March 8, 2016.
  3. 1 2 1990 set of Senior League baseball cards from Pacific Trading Cards. Playing With My Cards.Retrieved on March 8, 2016.
  4. ↑ Sporting News Archives. February 12, 1990, pages 30-31. https://paperofrecord.hypernet.ca/search_paper.asp?PaperId=834
  5. ↑ "BASEBALL; Senior League Shuffles Lineup". The New York Times. Associated Press. August 19, 1990. Retrieved March 4, 2015.
  6. ↑ "Baseball; Senior Baseball Season Canceled". The New York Times. Associated Press. December 27, 1990. Retrieved March 4, 2015.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.