Florence Freedom
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| Florence Freedom Founded in 1994 Florence, Kentucky |
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| Owner(s)/Operated By: Clint Brown | |||
| General Manager: | |||
| Manager: Jamie Keefe | |||
| Media: Cincinnati Enquirer | |||
| Website: www.florencefreedom.com | |||
The Florence Freedom is a minor league baseball team which plays in Florence, Kentucky, in the Northern Kentucky area. The team is a member of the Independent Frontier League, and is associated with no Major League Baseball team.
Before 2003, the team was in Johnstown, Pennsylvania and known as the 'Johnstown Johnnies'. Point Stadium was its home ballpark. The team moved to Johnstown from Erie, Pennsylvania in 1995 and was known as the Steal until the 1998 season. In 2000 the team won the Frontier League championship. The team was sold after the 2002 season and moved to Florence, Kentucky where it was renamed the Florence Freedom.
It played its 2003 home games in Hamilton, Ohio at Foundation Field, about 30 miles north of Cincinnati, while the ownership group was building a new stadium (Champion Window Field) in Florence.
In 2004, the owner of the Freedom, Chuck Hildebrandt, was charged with fraud and eventually sent to prison. This was not his first felony conviction. His wife, Connie Hildebrandt, was also under investigation but not prosecuted and moved out of state. Creditors building the stadium were out more than $3 million. In 2005, the team was bought by Northern Kentucky businessman Clint Brown.
The team is currently tied with the Rockford RiverHawks for total league championships, with three each (includes seasons played in Erie and Johnstown).
[edit] Changes in 2008
In early 2008 the Freedom changed their primary colors from red, white, and blue to black, red, and silver.
 Florence Freedom logo 2003 - 2007 |
 Florence Freedom logo 2008 - present |
[edit] Seasons
| Erie Sailors (Frontier League) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | W-L | PCT | Place | Postseason |
| 1994 | 42-25 | .627 | 2nd in FL East | Won 1st Round Playoff vs. Ohio Valley 2-0. Won Frontier League Championship vs. Lancaster Scouts 2-0. |
| Johnstown Steal/Johnnies (Frontier League) | ||||
| 1995 | 46-23 | .667 | 1st in FL | Won 1st Round Playoff vs. Richmond Roosters 2-0. Won Frontier League Championship vs. Zanesville Greys 2-0. |
| 1996 | 41-33 | .554 | 2nd in FL East | Lost 1st Round Playoff vs. Chillicothe Paints 2-1. |
| 1997 | 47-33 | .588 | 1st in FL East | Lost 1st Round Playoff vs. Canton Crocodiles 2-0. |
| 1998 | 34-43 | .442 | 3rd in FL East | |
| 1999 | 43-41 | .512 | 3rd in FL East | Lost 1st Round Playoff vs. London Werewolves 2-0. |
| 2000 | 48-36 | .571 | 1st in FL East | Won 1st Round Playoff vs. London Werewolves 2-0. Won Frontier League Championship vs. Evansville Otters 3-1. |
| 2001 | 44-40 | .524 | 4th in FL East | |
| 2002 | 30-54 | .357 | 6th in FL East | |
| Florence Freedom (Frontier League) | ||||
| 2003 | 27-61 | .307 | 6th in FL East | |
| 2004 | 31-65 | .323 | 6th in FL East | |
| 2005 | 53-42 | .558 | 3rd in FL East | |
| 2006 | 38-56 | .404 | 5th in FL East | |
| 2007 | 42-54 | .438 | 3rd in FL East | |
| Erie | 42-25 | .627 | ||
| Playoffs | 4-0 | 1.000 | 1 Playoff Appearance. 1 Championship | |
| Johnstown | 333-303 | .524 | ||
| Playoffs | 8-9 | .471 | 3 Division Titles. 5 Playoff Appearances. 2 Championships | |
| Florence | 191-278 | .407 | ||
[edit] External links
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