Fort Myers Florida Weekly

Could the region produce another World Series champion in 2022?

SPRING TRAINING 2022



 

 

Nearly a century after the birth of Southwest Florida Spring Training, the region can boast another World Series champion.

The Atlanta Braves, who train at CoolToday Park in North Port, won the 2021 World Series and joined a list of champions dating back to the late 1920s.

As 2022 Spring Training cranks up, it’s always possible we may have another champion in our sun-splashed region in 2022.

Could the Braves repeat?

Could the Tampa Bay Rays finally break through and win it all?

Could the Boston Red Sox win yet another, to go with their 2004, 2007, 2013, and 2018 titles?

Could the Minnesota Twins, who haven’t won a World Series since 1991, turn things around in a big way after a dismal 2021 season?

Anything is possible. Just ask Twins fans with long memories.

The 1990 Twins finished last in their division but went worst to first in 1991 and won it all. And they did it their first year training in Lee County.

Here’s a review of the World Series champs who started their season in Southwest Florida over 90 years from Fort Myers to North Port.

 

 

1929 Philadelphia A’s

Spring training venue: Terry Park

Historical fun fact: When the A’s became Southwest Florida’s first Spring Training team in 1925, Lee County’s population was 6,774. It is now more than 800,000.

Record: 104-46. The A’s won the American League pennant by 18 games over the New York Yankees. Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig were still with the Yankees.

Hall of Famers: Manager Connie Mack, pitcher Lefty Grove, catcher Mickey Cochrane, left fielder Al Simmons, first basemen Jimmie Foxx

Key pitching stats: George Earnshaw was 20-6, Rube Walberg was 18-11. Mr. Grove was 20-6 and led the league in winning percentage (.769), earned run average (2.81), and strikeouts (170). He also had 21 complete games.

Key hitting stats: Mr. Simmons hit .365 and led the league in total bases (373) and RBI (365). Mr. Foxx hit .354 with 33 homers and 117 RBI.

World Series: The A’s beat the Chicago Cubs in five games. The A’s had a 2.40 ERA in the World Series. Chicago’s team ERA was 4.33.

1930 Philadelphia A’s

Spring training venue: Terry Park

Historical fun facts: The towns of Cape Coral and Lehigh Acres did not exist in 1930. There was not a bridge/ causeway to Sanibel Island.

Record: 107-45

Hall of Famers: Manager Connie Mack, pitcher Lefty Grove, catcher Mickey Cochrane, left fielder Al Simmons, first baseman Jimmie Foxx.

Key pitching stats: Mr. Grove was 28-5 with a 2.54 ERA, nine saves, a .848 winning percentage and 209 strikeouts. He led the league in each category. Mr. Earnshaw was 22-13.

Key hitting stats: Mr. Simmons’ .381 batting average and 152 runs scored led the league. Mr. Foxx hit .335 with 37 homers and 156 RBI. Mr. Cochrane hit .357 with 10 homers and 85 RBI.

World Series: Beat the St. Louis Cardinals in six games

1960 Pittsburgh Pirates

Spring training venue: Terry Park

Historical fun fact: WINK-TV was Southwest Florida’s only television station.

Record: 95-59

Hall of Famers: Right fielder Roberto Clemente and second baseman Bill Mazeroski

Key pitching stats: Vernon Law was 20-9 with a 3.08 ERA. Bob Friend was 20-9 with a 3.08 ERA. Elroy Face was 10-8 with 24 saves and a 2.90 ERA.

Key hitting stats: Mr. Clemente hit .316 with 16 homers and 94 RBI. Shortstop Dick Groat hit a league-leading .325 and was named National League MVP.

World Series: Beat the Yankees in a seven-game classic. Mr. Mazeroski belted a walk-off homer in Forbes Field in Game 7 to give the Pirates the title. The term “walk-off homer” was not yet coined. The Yankees won games 16-3, 10-0, and 2-0 and outscored the Pirates 55-27, but the Pirates won four close games, including Game 7, which they won 10-9.

1985 Kansas City Royals

Spring training venue: Terry Park

Historical fun fact: Future bigleague outfielder and NFL cornerback Deion Sanders graduated from North Fort Myers High School in 1985.

Record: 91-71

Hall of Famer: Third baseman George Brett

Key pitching stats: Bret Saberhagen was 20-6 with a 2.87 ERA. Charlie Liebrandt was 17-9 with a 2.69 ERA. Closer Dan Quisenberry appeared in 84 games and had a league-leading 37 saves and a 2.37 ERA.

Key hitting stats: Mr. Brett hit .335 with 30 homers and 112 RBI. First baseman Steve Balboni hit .243 with 36 homers and 88 RBI. Slick-fielding second baseman Frank White, who won eight Gold Gloves in his career, hit .249 with 69 RBI. Centerfielder Willie Wilson had 21 triples.

World Series: Beat the Cardinals in a seven-game series

1991 Minnesota Twins

Spring training venue: Lee County Sports Complex

Historical fun fact: The Twins won the Word Series in their first year in Lee County after leaving Orlando’s Tinker Field.

Record: 95-67

Hall of Famers: Centerfielder Kirby Puckett and pitcher Jack Morris.

Key pitching stats: Scott Erickson was 20-8 with a 3.18 ERA. Mr. Morris was 18-12 with a 3.43 ERA and pitched an epic 10-inning, 1-0 complete game in Game 7 of the World Series against the Atlanta Braves. The losing pitcher was another Hall of Famer: John Smoltz. Closer Rick Aguilera had 42 saves.

Key hitting stats: Mr. Puckett hit .315 with 15 homers and 89 RBI. First baseman Kent Hrbek hit .284 with 20 homers and 89 RBI. Outfielder Shane Mack hit .310 with 18 homers and 74 RBI. DH Chili Davis hit .277 with 29 homers and 93 RBI.

World Series: Beat the Braves in seven game series

2004 Boston Red Sox

Spring training venue: City of Palms Park

Historical (not) fun fact: Hurricane Charley slammed into Southwest Florida on Friday, Aug. 13, 2004.

Record: 98-64

Hall of Famer: Pitcher Pedro Martinez. DH David Ortiz is on the 2022 ballot and might make it (if not this year, then soon). Left fielder Manny Ramirez and pitcher Curt Schilling are on the ballot but might not make it.

Key pitching stats: Mr. Schilling was 21-6 with a 3.26 ERA. Mr. Martinez was 16-9 with a 3.90 ERA. Closer Keith Foulke was 5-3 with a 2.17 ERA and 32 saves.

Key hitting stats: Mr. Ortiz hit .301 with 41 homers and 139 RBI. Mr. Ramirez hit .308 with 43 homers and 130 RBI. Catcher Jason Varitek hit .296 with 18 homers and 73 RBI. First baseman Kevin Millar hit .297 with 18 homers and 74 RBI. Centerfielder Johnny Damon hit .304 with 20 homers and 84 RBI.

World Series: Swept the Cardinals

2007 Boston Red Sox

Spring training venue: City of Palms Park

Record: 96-66

Historical fun fact: The University of Florida won its second successive NCAA men’s basketball title in 2007.

Hall of Famer: Pedro Martinez.

Key pitching stats: Josh Becket was 20-7 with a 3.27 ERA. Tim Wakefield was 17-12. Closer Jonathan Papelbon had a 1.85 ERA and 37 saves.

Key hitting stats: DH David Ortiz had a season worthy of a Hall of Famer, hitting .332 with 35 homers and 117 RBI. He led the league in on-base percentage (.445), doubles (52), and walks (111). He was tied for third in homers, was second in slugging plus on-base (1.066), and was third in slugging (.621). He also hit .714 in the ALDS. Catcher Jason Varitek hit .255 with 17 homers and 68 RBI. First baseman Kevin Youkilis hit .288 with 16 homers and 83 RBI. Third baseman Mike Lowell hit .324 with 21 homers and 120 RBI. Left fielder Manny Ramirez hit .296 with 20 homers and 88 RBI.

World Series: Swept the Colorado Rockies

2013 Boston Red Sox

Spring training venue: JetBlue Park

Record: 97-65

Historical fun fact: The Pulitzer Prize for general non-fiction in 2013 went to a Florida book, Gilbert King’s “Devil in the Grove: Thurgood Marshall, the Groveland Boys, and the Dawn of a New America.”

Key pitching stats: Jon Lester was 15-9 with a .375 ERA. Closer Koji Uehera was 4-1 with a 1.09 ERA and 21 saves.

Key hitting stats: Mr. Ortiz hit .309 with 30 homers and 103 RBI. First baseman Mike Napoli hit .259 with 23 homers and 92 RBI. He burnished his post-season legend in the World Series, hitting .668 with two homers, two doubles, eight walks, and six RBI. Second baseman Dustin Pedroia hit .301 with 42 doubles and 84 RBI. Centerfielder Jacoby Ellsbury hit .298 with 52 stolen bases.

World Series: Beat the Cardinals in six games

2018 Boston Red Sox

Spring training venue: JetBlue Park

Record: 108-54

Historical fun fact: This was Boston’s fourth title of the 21st century, nearly matching its start of the 20th century when the franchise won five titles between 1903 and 1918.

Hall of Famers: None yet

Key pitching stats: Former Florida Gulf Coast University ace Chris Sale was 12-4 with a 2.11 ERA. Rick Porcello was 17-7 with a 4.28 ERA. David Price was 16-7 with a 3.82 ERA. Eduardo Rodriguez was 13-5 with a 3.82 ERA.

Key hitting stats: Shortstop Xander Bogaerts hit .288 with 23 homers and 103 RBI. DH J.D. Martinez hit .330 with 43 homers and 130 RBI. Right fielder Mookie Betts hit .346 with 32 homers, 80 RBI, and 39 stolen bases and was named the American League MVP.

World Series: Beat the Los Angeles Dodgers in five games

2021 Atlanta Braves

Spring training venue: CoolToday Park

Record: 88-73

Historical fun fact: The Braves’ 2021 World Series title was the franchise’s first since 1995 and fourth ever. The Boston Braves won in 1914 and the Milwaukee Braves won in 1957.

Hall of Famers: Too early to say

Key pitching stats: Charlie Morton was 14-6 with a 3.34 ERS. Max Fried was 14-7 with a 3.04 ERS. Drew Smyly was 11-4 with a 4.48 ERA. Closer Will Smith was 3-7 with a 3.34 ERA and 37 saves.

Key hitting stats: First baseman Freddie Freeman hit .300 with 31 homers and 83 RBI. Second baseman Ozzie Albies hit .259 with 30 homers, 106 RBI, 20 stolen bases, and 40 doubles. Shortstop Dansby Swanson hit .248 with 27 homers, 88 RBI, and 33 doubles. Third baseman Austin Riley hit .303 with 33 homers, 107 RBI, and 33 doubles. A torn ACL cut outfielder Ronald Acuna’s season in half, but he still hit .283 with 24 homers and 52 RBI. Outfielder Adam Duvall hit .226 with 16 homers and 45 RBI in less than half a season, 55 games.

World Series: Beat the Houston Astros in six games. ¦

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