
Baseball is a game of numbers. These figures can be added, subtracted, divided, multiplied, bent, twisted and turned in any number of ways to tell a story about a player, a team or, in this case, a league. Here's a look at Florida State League, by the numbers:
.203 | The Clearwater Threshers' home winning percentage in 2005 -- the lowest in the Minors |
.639 | Lakeland's 2005 winning percentage -- the highest of any full-season team in the Minors |
.667 | The Lakeland Tigers' home winning percentage in 2005 -- the highest among all full-season teams in the Minors |
1 | The number of stadiums in the country that serve as home to two different Minor League teams -- Roger Dean Stadium (Jupiter Hammerheads and Palm Beach Cardinals) |
1 | The number of full-season Minor League teams that hit no more than four doubles in a game in 2005 -- Fort Myers |
1 | Number of Vero Beach employees who list their favorite musician as Lawrence Welk -- Betty Rollins, Coordinator of Advertising Sales |
1 | Number of Hall of Famers coaching in the FSL in 2006 -- Gary Carter |
2 | Number of current FSL cities that had teams in the original Class D Florida State League in 1919 -- Lakeland and Tampa |
2 | Number of seasons Brevard County Manatees president Charlie Baumann spent as a kicker in the NFL |
2 | Number of full-season Minor League teams that issued no more than seven walks in a game last year -- one of which was Palm Beach |
3.04 | The number of walks issued per game in the FSL in 2005 -- the lowest average in the Minor Leagues |
5 | Number of dollars it costs for a family of four to attend a Brevard County Manatees game on Sundays if they present a church bulletin |
5 | The number of Minor League teams that stole no more than two stolen bases in a game in 2005 -- one of which was Dunedin |
6.50 | Average price, in dollars, of box seats in the 12 FSL stadiums |
7 | Number of FSL managers who played in the big leagues -- Ramon Aviles, Don Buford, Gary Carter, Greg Legg, Luis Salazar, Donnie Scott and Luis Sojo |
8 | The number of players from the FSL that have gone on to the Hall of Fame -- Stan Musial, Early Wynn, Al Lopez, Johnny Bench, Jim Palmer, Rod Carew, Ferguson Jenkins and Rollie Fingers |
11 | Number of seasons it took for Daytona Cubs superfan "Front Row" Joe Rowe to attend 700 consecutive home games (accomplished on August 2, 2005) |
12 | Number of days former Major Leaguer Pat Listach was officially the Daytona Cubs manager before being bumped up to Double-A West Tenn on January 17 |
16 | Number of years current FSL president Chuck Murphy has been in office |
18 | Number of games Stan Musial won as a pitcher for Daytona in 1940 |
21 | Number of presidents the FSL has had since 1919 |
24.99 | Price, in dollars, for a Brevard County Manatees fitted home cap |
25 | The number of degress north of the equator of the Fort Myers Miracle -- the southernmost team in the Minors |
26 | The number of years that the Florida State League champion has received the Watson Spoelstra Trophy |
30 | Average age of the 12 stadiums in the Florida State League |
31 | Number of cities that have hosted Florida State League teams |
33 | Number of Jupiter Hammerheads that have gone on to play in the Major Leagues since their inception in 1998 |
39 | Age disparity between Daytona Cubs manager Don Buford (69) and Fort Myers manager John Boles (30) |
44 | Number of home runs Andy LaRoche was on pace to hit when he was promoted from Vero Beach -- 11 more than the league record |
50 | The number of years that Lakeland has had a team in the FSL -- most in the league |
51 | Years since Dan Keith hit .400 for Sanford/Daytona Beach -- the only .400 season in FSL history |
60 | Years since Jackie Robinson made his debut for the Montreal Royals in a Spring Training game at Daytona, on March 17, 1946 |
77 | Number of double plays turned by the Tampa Yankees in 2005 -- the lowest among all full-season teams in the Minors |
89 | Height, in inches, of Jupiter mascot Hamilton R. Head |
92 | Number of roundtrippers by which Gary Carter outhomered the other six FSL managers who played in the Major Leagues (324 to 232) |
99 | Number of runs Daytona manager Don Buford scored for Baltimore in three consecutive seasons (1969-1971), helping the Orioles reach the World Series each year |
100 | Number of dollars it cost Daytona fans to get a a 3-inch by 3-inch Cubs tattoo in exchange for lifetime season tickets |
366.8 | Number of miles covered by Fort Myers prinicipal owner Marvin Goldkang in the 14 marathons he has completed |
1,209 | Number of times St. Lucie Mets hitters struck out in 2005 -- a Minor League high and all-time single-season record in the Florida State League |
2,005 | The attendance at Daytona on the final day of the 2005 season, giving the Cubs a franchise record for season attendance (127,060) |
4,218 | The number of honorary first pitches thrown out before the Brevard County Manatees game on August 27, 2005 -- a new world record |
7,269 | Average capacity of the 12 Florida State League stadiums |
75,000 | Dollars of damage done to Daytona's Jackie Robinson Ballpark by Hurricane Donna in 1960 |
500,000 | Cost, in dollars, of the original construction of Joker Merchant Stadium in 1966 |
986,771 | Number of fans that attended Florida State League games in 2005 -- the league's highest total since 1997 |
11,000,000 | Cost, in dollars, of the recent renovation to Joker Merchant Stadium |