Winter Haven Red Sox
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Winter Haven Red Sox 1966–1992 (1966-1967, 1969-1992) Winter Haven, Florida | |
| Class-level | |
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| Minor league affiliations | |
| League | Florida State League |
| Major league affiliations | |
| Previous |
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| Minor league titles | |
| League titles | 1 (1979) |
| Team data | |
Previous names |
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Previous parks | Chain of Lakes Park |
The Winter Haven Red Sox were a minor league baseball team in the Florida State League, based in Winter Haven, Florida. However the team began life in Deerfield Beach, Florida, as the Deerfield Beach Sun Sox, a Class-A affiliate of the Chicago White Sox. However the team moved in the middle of their inaugural season, on June 27, 1966, to Winter Haven becoming the Winter Haven Sun Sox. The team was managed by Don Bacon and Bruce Andrew and had a 55-83 record overall.[1][2]
In 1967, the Sun Sox were renamed the Winter Haven Mets after their new affiliate, the New York Mets. The Mets posted a 94-46, but were defeated by the St. Petersburg Cardinals for the western division title by two and a half games.
The Winter Haven Mets only existed one year before they were renamed the Winter Haven Red Sox in 1969 and became an affiliate of the Boston Red Sox, until folding in 1992.
Year-by-year record
| Year | Record | Finish | Manager | Playoffs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1966 | 55-83 | 8th | Don Bacon & Bruce Andrew | |
| 1967 | 94-46 | 2nd | Pete Pavlick | |
| 1969 | 76-53 | 3rd | Rac Slider | |
| 1970 | 61-71 | 7th | John K. Butler | |
| 1971 | 58-79 | 10th | John K. Butler | |
| 1972 | 61-70 | 10th | John K. Butler | |
| 1973 | 50-94 | 10th | Al Lehrer | |
| 1974 | 59-71 | 6th (t) | Rac Slider | |
| 1975 | 57-70 | 5th (t) | Rac Slider | |
| 1976 | 65-76 | 6th | Rac Slider | |
| 1977 | 70-66 | 5th | Rac Slider | |
| 1978 | 82-56 | 2nd | Rac Slider | |
| 1979 | 79-58 | 2nd | Rac Slider | League Champs |
| 1980 | 60-80 | 10th | Rac Slider | |
| 1981 | 62-77 | 9th | Rac Slider | |
| 1982 | 59-74 | 8th | Tom Kotchman | |
| 1983 | 49-83 | 9th | Tom Kotchman | |
| 1984 | 70-74 | 8th | Dave Holt | |
| 1985 | 71-68 | 7th | Dave Holt | |
| 1986 | 80-47 | 2nd | Dave Holt | Lost in 1st round |
| 1987 | 67-71 | 8th | Doug Camilli | |
| 1988 | 45-94 | 14th | Doug Camilli | |
| 1989 | 52-87 | 13th | Dave Holt | |
| 1990 | 40-94 | 14th | Dave Holt | |
| 1991 | 43-85 | 14th | Mike Verdi | |
| 1992 | 51-86 | 13th | Felix Maldonado | |