Florida State League ?

offers everyday history

Charlotte Sun (Port Charlotte, FL) - August 20, 2017
Author/Byline: RUSTY PRAY; Sun Correspondent
Section: Charlotte Sun
Page: 1
Readability: 9-12 grade level (Lexile: 1130)
A league with a long history is the scene right now of history in the making.

The Florida State League, with roots in post-World War I Florida, is smack dab in the middle of Tebowmania. League and team officials
are enjoying every minute of it.

In his latest athletic incarnation, Tim Tebow, the former University of Florida sports highlight reel and NFL quarterback, is a 30-year-old
outfielder for the St. Lucie Mets, one of a dozen teams in the Florida State League.

Tebow has been filling seats in ballparks and capturing the hearts of fans across the league. Just more than two weeks or so ago, the
2007 Heisman Trophy winner was the draw that lifted the Charlotte Stone Crabs to a franchise record attendance of 7,515. More than
seven years had passed since the local Florida State League team had posted its previous high of 7,492. It was only the fifth time in team
history that attendance had climbed over 7,000. St. Lucie, in the league for 30 years, set a season attendance record after Tebows 19th
game there, with 13 home dates to go, according to Baseball America.

Twenty years from now, all the teams will still be talking about this, said Jared Forma, general manager of the Stone Crabs. Theyll talk
about how in 2017, Tim Tebow played for the St. Lucie Mets, made a stop here, and made a huge impact.

Tebow is scheduled to return to Charlotte Sports Park Tuesday through Thursday. That is, if he doesnt all of a sudden get a call this
weekend to play quarterback for the Miami Dolphins or some other quarterback-strapped NFL team.

It was unbelievable when he was here, Forma said. It was a phenomenal experience, especially for the fans and the community.

In a league where promotions are more vital to ticket sales than players, the Tebow phenomenon held true. Hes packing stands, hes
gracious to fans, hes even played a little ball. He represents blessed relief from Dollar Dog Nite.

Everybody has benefited from it, said Ken Carson, former longtime Toronto Blue Jays executive who is finishing up his third year as FSL
president. Its been great for the league.

Carsons league has a history that goes way back. It started almost a century ago in 1919 with six teams including Bradenton, which
was the closest team to this area at the time. Folded in the 1928 season, it resumed in 1936, and except for four years during World War
II, has fielded teams ever since.

Weather is perhaps the leagues most defining characteristic.

We are the league of rain, Carson laughed.

Rainouts, Carson said, are not so much the issue with the 12 teams, divided into North and South divisions, which play a huge 140-game
schedule.

Doubleheaders, maybe.

We all know there are challenges in the summertime in Florida, Forma said.

But you just have to sort of play around the rain drops, Carson said. The fans are good. They know if you just wait an hour or two, itll
clear up and there will be baseball again.

If a little rain must fall on the league, the players at least have comfortable digs to wait out the storm. Because a majority of the FSL cities
also host big-league teams for spring training including the Rays at Charlotte Sports Park the facilities tend to be top shelf.

We take advantage of what we have, Carson said. Major League clubs leave, and the Florida State League teams start a couple days
later and baseball just continues.

For instance, Charlotte Sports Park was named the No. 1 spring training destination by USA Today readers in 2014. Up the road in
Clearwater, the Threshers play in the newly renamed $28 million ballpark, Spectrum Field, which serves as the Phillies spring training
complex and has the leagues highest average attendance, according to the Tampa Bay Times. The Lakeland Flying Tigers returned this
year to the newly renovated Joker Marchant Stadium after last seasons run at Henley Field that digitalballparks.com said was built in
1922.

That is a big factor in how we succeed, Forma said. I tell players when they get promoted to Double-A that its not going to be as nice
where theyre going.

So, the facilities are first rate. And the travel, because its in-state, is not that tough by minor-league standards.

So what if the weather isnt always cooperative?

Many times, big league teams send injured players on rehabilitation assignments to Florida teams, a perk that helps draw fans to a
league that, like the others below the Triple-A level, tends to rely heavily on promotions to put fans in the seats. For example, Gold Glover
and crowd favorite Kevin Kiermaier just completed a rehab stint in Charlotte this past week.

From a business standpoint, theres really not much of a difference among low-level minor leagues in coming up with creative
promotions to draw fans, Forma said. In terms of what promotions we do, how we market to the fans, and the community outreach, I
believe minor league baseball is all the same in that regard. We all try to have fun, be creative, do a lot of good things for the community.

There is a rhythm to the Florida State League thats not the rhythm of the rain. Its young players, some with bright futures, one or two
maybe headed for greatness, playing a good brand of ball in excellent facilities in front of local families.

The families come to the park because its affordable and entertaining. Maybe theres a crazy promotion going on that has everybody
curious. Maybe it is Dollar Dog Nite.

Guys like Tebow? In Carsons words, they come along once in a lifetime.

They form a small part of a leagues history.

The families? Theyre part of it every night.

Caption: Tampa Bay Rays center fielder Kevin Kiermaier (4), on a rehab assignment the Charlotte Stone Crabs, bats against Dunedin
Thursday at Charlotte Sports Park. Photo by Tom O'Neill The St Lucie Mets Tim Tebow (15) signs autographs before the game with the
Charlotte Stone Crabs Sunday at Charlotte Sports Park. Photo by Tom O'Neill Tim Tebow signs autographs for fans in Port St. Lucie, Fla.
He's drawing record-setting crowds. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee) THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Tim Tebow signs autographs for fans at the
New York Mets' complex. He's drawing record-setting crowds PHOTO PROVIDED BY ST. LUCIE METS PHOTO PROVIDED VIA
TWITTER PHOTO PROVIDED VIA ST. LUCIE METS/TWITTER Tim Tebow in a game at First Data Field in Port St. Lucie. He's drawing
record-setting crowds. (Molly Bartels/The Stuart News via AP) New York Mets designated hitter Tim Tebow walks back to the dugout at
First Data Field in Port St. Lucie. He's drawing record-setting crowds. (Molly Bartels/The Stuart News via AP) New York Mets designated
hitter Tim Tebow makes his way back to the dugout at First Data Field in Port St. Lucie, Fla. He's drawing record-setting crowds. (Molly
Bartels/The Stuart News vi AP) New York Mets designated hitter Tim Tebow lets a pitch go by in Port St. Lucie, Fla. He's drawing record-
setting crowds. (Molly Bartels/The Stuart News via AP) New York Mets designated hitter Tim Tebow swings and misses in Port St. Lucie,
Fla. He's drawing record-setting crowds. (Molly Bartels/The Stuart News via AP) SUN PHOTO BY DEBBIE FLESSNER Ed Smith
Stadium in Sarasota County hosted three different Florida State League teams from 1989 through 2009. The county, which no longer has
a club, has been home to franchises as far back as 1926. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS In this March 30, 2016, file photo, young baseball
fans watch as Texas center fielder Delino DeShields throws the ball away during the team's spring baseball game in Surprise, Ariz. The
Rangers used to have a minor league team in Charlotte. Charlotte Stone Crabs right fielder Ryan Boldt (20) bats against the Palm Beach
Cardinals at Charlotte Sports Park. Photo by Tom O'Neill Charlotte Stone Crabs third baseman Jim Haley (38) tags out Yankees center
fielder Tito Polo (18) while trying to steal third during the first inning of a July game at Charlotte Sports Park. The turnout for this one was
clearly not as big as when Tim Tebow was in town. Photo by Tom O'Neill Stone Crab's second baseman Brandon Lowe leaps over
Tampa Yankees, Tim Lynch, to complete a double play. Charlotte Stone Crabs first baseman Peter Maris (3) bats against Tampa at
Charlotte Sports Park. Photo by Tom O'Neill Charlotte Stone Crabs catcher Brett Sullivan (8) is congratulated by teammates after a grand
slam home run earlier this month against Tampa at Charlotte Sports Park. Photo by Tom O'Neill Charlotte Stone Crabs DH Ryan Boldt
(20) hits a home run against Dunedin earlier this month at Charlotte Sports Park. Photo by Tom O'Neill The Charlotte Stone Crabs on one
of its practice fields earlier this season. Photo by Tom O'Neill SUN PHOTO BY SUE PAQUIN Bill Boyd and Cricket pose with The
Charlotte Stone Crabs mascot, Clawford, during a promotion to draw fans. PROVIDED While the Florida State League dates back to
1988 in Charlotte County, Lakeland has been hosting a team for much of the past century. After playing on a temporary field, the
Lakeland Flying Tigers returned this year to the newly renovated Joker Marchant Stadium, which was built in 1966. Lakeland was a
charter member of the league. The Florida State League has had a historic year. Twenty years from now, all the teams will still be talking
about this, said Jared Forma, general manager of the Stone Crabs. SUN PHOTO BY JENNIFER BRUNO The Florida State League has
had a historic year. Twenty years from now, all the teams will still be talking about this, said Jared Forma, general manager of the Stone
Crabs. SUN PHOTO BY JENNIFER BRUNO Now a major leaguer, Blake Snell threw one of the last two no-hitters for the Stone Crabs.
SUN PHOTO BY JENNIFER BRUNO Blake Snell with the Stone Crabs in 2015. Now a major leaguer, he threw one of the last two no-
hitters for Charlotte. Bealls is tied to the history of the Florida State League. FILE - Giancarlos Stanton, perhaps the best player in
baseball today and who has a $325 million contract, the richest contract in sports, roamed the outfields of the FSL..(AP Photo/Jeff
Roberson, File) FILE - Giancarlos Stanton, perhaps the best player in baseball today and who has a $325 million contract, the richest
contract in sports, roamed the outfields of the FSL. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky, File) Miami Marlins' Giancarlo Stanton watches his two-run
home run off San Francisco Giants' Matt Moore last month. Stanton, perhaps the best player in baseball today and who has a $325
million contract, the richest contract in sports, roamed the outfields of the FSL. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)
Index terms: Charlotte:Our Town,7000,8500,AVERAGE,BALLPARK,CHARLOTTE,ENTERALIGN,FIELD,FLORIDA,FLYING,STADIUM
Record: 31527037
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