Jacksonville Suns

The Jacksonville Suns are a minor league baseball team based in Jacksonville, Florida. The team is currently a member of the Southern League and is the class Double-A affiliate of the Miami Marlins Major League Baseball (MLB) team. Two teams named the Suns have played in Jacksonville since 1962: a class Triple-A International League team from 1962–1968, and the current Double-A team from 1970 to the present. From 1985–1990 the team was known as the Jacksonville Expos, when they were affiliated with the Montreal Expos MLB team.

The modern Suns club has played in the Southern League longer than any other, and its 41-year association with its city is the longest in Double-A baseball.^[1][2] The Suns won the International League title in 1968 and the Southern League championship in 1996, 2001, 2005, 2009 and 2010. They currently play at the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville, an 11,000-person capacity, $34 million park that opened in 2003. Since moving to the facility the Suns consistently have been top selling franchise in the Southern League.^[1]

History

Jacksonville has had minor league baseball nearly every year since the early 20th century. From 1904 to 1961 the city was home to minor league teams such as the Jacksonville Jays, the Jacksonville Tars, and the Jacksonville Braves, as well as the Jacksonville Red Caps of the Negro Leagues. The former three teams all played in the South Atlantic League (the "Sally League"), which became the modern Southern League in 1964.^[1]

The first team known as the Jacksonville Suns began play in the Triple-A International League in 1962. The team had been founded in Havana, Cuba, where it was known as the Havana Sugar Kings. Following the Cuban Revolution in 1959 the team relocated to Jersey City, New Jersey, but soon folded; the franchise was bought by the Cleveland Indians, who moved it to Jacksonville as the Jacksonville Suns in 1962.^[3] The president was local baseball fixture Sam W. Wolfson, previously the owner of the Jacksonville Braves; the Suns replaced the Jacksonville Jets Sally League club. During this period a number of later Major League stars played for the Suns, including Tommy John, Nolan Ryan, and Tom Seaver, and the team won the International League championship in 1968. That year, however, the team's then Major League affiliates, the New York Mets, decided to relocate the team to Virginia, where they became the team now known as the Norfolk Tides.^[2]

Jacksonville was without baseball in 1969, but in 1970 a new Suns team began play in the Double-A Southern League. The team was affiliated with both the Montreal Expos and the Milwaukee Brewers in its inaugural season, with the Cleveland Indians in 1971, and then with the Kansas City Royals from 1972–1984. Affiliation switched back to the Expos from 1985–1990, during which period the team was known as the Jacksonville Expos. Since then it has been affiliated with the Seattle Mariners (1991–1994), the Detroit Tigers (1994–2000), the Los Angeles Dodgers (2001–2008), and most recently the Miami Marlins (2008–present).^[4] The Suns have appeared in the Southern League playoffs fourteen times, and won the championship in 1996, 2001, 2005, 2009 and 2010. The 2009 and 2010 championships were only the third time in Southern League history that a championship won the year before had been successfully defended, both other times were by the Montgomery Biscuits.^[5] The Suns have played in the Southern League longer than any other team, and their 41-year period in Jacksonville has become the longest consecutive association between any city and a class Double-A team.^[1][2]

The Suns played at Wolfson Park from 1962 until it was demolished in 2002. Since 2003 they have played at Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville, an 11,000-person capacity, $34 million field created as part of the Better Jacksonville Plan. Since moving to the Baseball Grounds the Suns have consistently led the Southern League in attendance, drawing over 1 million fans in its first four years.^[2] The Suns' success has led to speculation that the team may move to class Triple A in the future.^[1]

Notable former players and coaches

• Nolan Ryan, pitcher
• Tom Seaver, pitcher
• Jerry Koosman, pitcher
• Amos Otis, outfielder
• Tug McGraw, pitcher
• Mike Stanton, outfielder
• Frank White, infielder
• Gabe Kapler, outfielder
• Steve Yeager, hitting coach
• Brandon Inge. 3rd Baseman

Roster

See also

• Current and former players (1962–1984,1991–present)
• Former players (1985–1990)

References

External links

• Jacksonsville Suns official website