1919 and 1920: Celeryfeds begin minor league play / champions The Sanford Base Ball Association hosted baseball games as early as 1908. Minor league baseball began in Sanford, Florida in 1919, when the Sanford "Celeryfeds" became a charter member of the six-team
Class D level
Florida State League. Sanford joined the
Bartow Polkers,
Bradenton Growers,
Lakeland Highlanders,
Orlando Caps and
Tampa Smokers teams as charter members. The Sanford "Celeryfeds" nickname corresponded with agriculture in the region in the era. In the era,
celery was the dominant crop in the region. Sanford was known as "The Celery City" in the era. The celery agriculture industry began after a cold season harmed the citrus industry in the winter of 1884 to 1885. The Sanford Celeryfeds had uniforms with a logo depicting celery stalks. Playing the first Florida State League season in 1919, the Sanford Celeryfeds won the overall league pennant and had a controversial playoff series. In a split season schedule, Sanford won the first half pennant and Orlando won the second half pennant in the regular season. The Celeryfeds' overall record of 47–28 was the best in the league. The team played the season under manager
Ed Chaplin, who became a Sanford resident, dying in the city at age 84 in 1978. In winning the league pennant, Sanford finished the regular season 5.0 games ahead of Orlando in the overall standings. The
Bartow Polkers,
Bradenton Growers,
Daytona Beach Islanders and
Orlando Caps joined the four returning teams in beginning the league schedule on May 1, 1920. The defending co-champion Celeryfeds ended the 1920 Florida State League season with a final record of 45–68. Sanford finished in seventh place, playing the season under manager
Jack Burns and ended the regular season 42.0 games behind the first place Tampa Smokers. Playoffs were not held, as Tampa won both half seasons of the league schedule. The Lakeland Highlanders,
St. Petersburg Saints and Tampa Smokers teams joined with Sanford in beginning league play on April 13, 1925. The Sanford Celeryfeds ended the 1925 Florida State League season in last place among the four teams. However, the next day, Charley Britt, owner of the Sanford Celeryfeds, cancelled the verbal agreement to sell the team after $5,000 was raised to keep the team in Sanford. Moving on from the Sanford purchase, Hendry next offered to purchase the
Lakeland Highlanders, for $7,000, but an agreement with Clare Henley, president of the
Lakeland franchise never materialized. Eventually, Hendry was successful in getting an expansion team in the Fort Myers for the 1926 Florida State League season, when the
Fort Myers Palms joined the league. The Stanford Celeryfeds continued Florida State League play in 1926 and were league champions of the expanded eight-team league. The new
Bradenton Growers, Fort Myers Palms,
Orlando Colts and
Sarasota Gulls teams joined with the four returning teams in beginning league play on April 22, 1926. The Celeryfeds had a record of 70–35 and ended the 1926 season in the overall first place, winning the championship under manager Lee Crowe. Sanford ended the Florida State League season 3.5 games ahead of the second place Tampa Smokers. No playoffs were held as Sanford won both halves of the split season schedule. Following the 1926 season, Sanford hosted the Florida State League winter meetings and franchise movements took place. On January 18, 1927, at the winter meeting in Sanford, the Fort Myers franchise was voted to have been "forfeited." The franchise was dissolved for "failing to meet league assessments and for failing to pay players." Later, the
Miami Hustlers joined the Florida State League after by W. B. Kirby, the former president of the
Bradenton Growers turned the Bradenton franchise over to Miami as part of his investment in the Miami franchise. In defending their championship the previous season, the 1927 Sanford Celeryfeds finished in second place in the overall standings but did not qualify for the playoffs. The Celeryfeds ended the season with an overall record of 68–53, finishing 2.5 games behind first place Orlando as Lee Crowe returned as manager. The
Orlando Colts won the first half of the season schedule and the
Miami Hustlers won the second half, as Orlando took the championship series. The 1928 six-team Class D level Florida State League had a shortened season with Sanford continuing play. The Florida State League folded on July 4, 1928. The Celeryfeds had compiled a record of 25–33 and were in fifth place when the league folded. Sanford finished 12.0 games behind first place St. Petersburg Saints. The
Daytona Beach Islanders,
DeLand Reds,
Gainesville G-Men,
Palatka Azaleas and
St. Augustine Saints teams joined Sanford in beginning league play in the Class D level league on April 19, 1936. Playing as a minor league affiliate of the
Washington Senators, Sanford ended the 1936 Florida State League regular season in fifth place. Sanford ended the Florida State League regular season 8.0 games behind the first place Gainesville G-Men in the final standings. Sanford did not qualify for the four0team playoffs, which were won by the St. Augustine Saints. During the 1846 season, Rodgers also managed the
Peoria Redwings of the newly formed
All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Rodgers had the nickname "Rawmeat Bill," as he faithfully followed a diet that included eating uncooked meat. The Lookouts placed second in the 1937 Florida State League and advanced to the playoff finals, as the league expanded to become an eight-team league. The Lookouts ended the regular seasons with a record of 79–60 under returning manager Bill Rodgers (30–12), Lee Head (21–26) and the returning Rodgers (28–22). Manager Bill Rodgers left the team for a period and managed at both Charlotte and Chattanooga before returning to Sanford. In the spring of 1937, Wynn traveled from his home in
Hartford, Alabama to Sanford, Florida, to attend a baseball camp operated by the Washington Senators. It was said that the 6'0" 200-pound Wynn arrived at the camp wearing coveralls.
Clyde Milan, a Washington scout, saw Wynn's fastball and signed immediately him to a contract. Wynn subsequently dropped out of high school and began his professional career in 1937 with Sanford. He compiled a record of 16–11 with a 3.41 ERA pitching for Sanford in the 1937 season. Wynn would go on to win 300 games in the major leagues and was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1972. He is also a member of the
Florida State League Hall of Fame. The Lookouts ended the regular season with a record of 53-87 and finished in eighth place under manager
Guy Lacy and the returning
Bill Rodgers. Sanford ended the regular season 34.5 games behind the first place
Leesburg Gondoliers. With their last place finish, Sanford did not qualify for the playoffs won by the Gainesville G-Men. As a rookie with the
Detroit Tigers in 1929, Alexander led the American League with 215 total hits, and had a total of 272
RBIs in his first two major league seasons. In 1932, while playing for the
Boston Red Sox, Alexander won the American League batting championship, hitting .367 and winning the title over Baseball Hall of Fame member
Jimmie Foxx (.364) of the
Philadelphia Athletics. For his efforts in winning the batting title, Boston raised his salary by $500, from $10,500 to $11,000. In May 1933, Alexander received third degree burns on his leg and developed
gangrene after receiving a
diathermy treatment on an injured knee. The injuries from the burns and infection permanently limited his mobility as a 6'3" 210 pound
first baseman, effectively ending his major league career. Alexander continued to play in the minor leagues and would compile a .334 batting average with 2,145 hits and 1,171 RBIs in minor league play through 1942. In 1938, Alexander played for the
Chattanooga Lookouts in the
Southern Association. He was traded by Chattanooga to the
Dallas Steers but refused to report to Dallas and temporarily retired before accepting the player-manager position with Sanford. The Sanford Lookouts went from last place to a championship in winning the 1939 Florida State League title. Sanford ended the regular season with a record of 98–35, finishing in first place. Playing the season under player/manager Dale Alexander, the Lookouts finished 12.0 games ahead of the second place Daytona Beach Islanders in the regular season standings. In the four-team playoffs, Sanford defeated the DeLand Red Hats 3 games to 2 in the first round to advance. In the finals, Sanford then defeated the Daytona Beach Islanders 4 games to 3 to win the 1939 Florida State League championship. Following his impressive season with Sanford in 1939, Sid Hudson became a two-time all-star pitcher in the major leagues. Following his playing career, he first became a scout. Then Hudson was hired to become the pitching coach of the Washington Senators, serving in that role from 1961 to 1971 with Washington. When the Senators team moved to become the
Texas Rangers in 1972, manager
Ted Williams retained Hudson to serve as the team's pitching coach. Hudson remained with the Texas Rangers organization until his retirement 1986.
1940 to 1947: War interrupted Florida State League seasons Following the 1939 season, Washington did not carry over their affiliation and Sanford continued play unaffiliated with a major league franchise. Player/manager Dale Alexander did not return to Sanford in 1940, as he became the player-manager for the Washington Senators affiliated
Thomasville Tourists in the
Georgia-Florida League and hit .388 in 91 games and 330 at bats for Thomasville. With a new manager, the 1940 Sanford team became known as the "Seminoles" and the team defended their championship in the 1940 Florida State League, advancing to the league finals. On Friday, August 20, 1940, Sanford hosted the Florida State League All-Star Game at Municipal Stadium. The game was scheduled to start at 8:00 P.M. and featured the Sanford Seminoles team facing the All-Star selections from teams throughout the league. A reserved seat for the contest was $0.50. Sanford ended the 1940 eight-team Florida State League regular season in second place in the Class D level league. The Seminoles disbanded on June 25, 1941, with a final record of 20–45, playing under managers
Joe Justice, Joe Whitlock and Charles Girk. The
Leesburg Anglers were the eventual league pennant winners and the four-team playoff champions, as the league continued play with the remaining seven teams, following Sanford's departure. The Sanford "Celeryfeds" nickname returned, and the team resumed Florida State League play in 1946. Following the conclusion of World War II, the Florida State League reformed as an eight-team Class D level league. In returning to play in the reformed league, Sanford ended the 1946 season in second place in the Florida State League regular season standings. The Celeryfeds had a final record of 81–57, playing under manager
Ed Levy and finished 13.0 games behind the first place Orlando Senators in the final regular season standings. Qualifying for the playoffs, Sanford lost in the league finals. The Celeryfeds defeated the St. Augustine Saints in the first round of the playoffs 4 games to 3. Sanford then lost to Orlando in a 7-game series in the finals to fall one game short of the championship. In 1947, Sanford was represented by John Krider on the Florida State League board of Directors. Arthur Beckwith served as the Official Scorer for games at Sanford. The New York Giants also became owners of the Mayfair Inn hotel and the Mayfair Country Club golf course in Sanford. In 1934, local businessman William E. Kirchhoff leased the hotel site and the refurbished hotel reopened in 1935 at the Mayfair Hotel, after opening in 1926 known as the Hotel Forrest Lake. The Mayfair Inn developed a reputation as one of finest hotels in the region in the era. In 1948, William Kirchhoff sold the hotel to
Horace Stoneham, the owner of the New York Giants. ==The ballpark==