Two teams named the
Jacksonville Tars had played in
Jacksonville since 1926, with the last incarnation playing in the Sally League from 1936. The Class A affiliate of the
New York Giants, the Tars were described as an unprofessional outfit, and played mostly losing baseball during their run. In 1953 Jacksonville businessman Samuel W. Wolfson bought the Tars franchise, and signed an affiliation agreement with the
Boston Braves (who became the
Milwaukee Braves very shortly after). The team was reorganized and renamed the Jacksonville Braves. Wolfson retained manager
Ben Geraghty, but little else of the Tars survived the transition. Aaron in particular was a standout, and was named league MVP in 1953; both he and Mantilla were later called up to the major leagues after their success in Jacksonville. In 1957 Wolfson, suffering from ill health, sold the team to a group of businessmen including
Bill Terry, who in turn sold it to Texas millionaire Craig F. Cullinan, Jr. When Cullinan won a Major League Baseball expansion franchise in 1960, league rules required the Milwaukee Braves to pull their affiliation with Jacksonville. The Jacksonville Braves came to an end, and were replaced with the short-lived Jacksonville Jets, affiliates of Cullinan's new team, the
Houston Colt .45s (now the
Houston Astros). The Jets were not nearly as successful as the Braves had been. They played in Jacksonville for only one year before Samuel Wolfson returned with a new
Triple-A team, the
Jacksonville Suns. ==References==