Palatka Azaleas
The Palatka Azaleas were a minor league baseball team, based in Palatka, Florida, that existed from 1936 to 1939 and from 1946 to 1953. The Azaleas were members of the Florida State League. In 1936, they were affiliated with the Detroit Tigers, in 1937 they were affiliated with the New York Yankees, and in 1949 they were affiliated with the Tampa Smokers. In 1956, a Palatka team began play again and evolved into the Palatka Redlegs.[1]
| Palatka Azaleas 1937–1968 (1936-1939, 1946-1953) Palatka, Florida | |
| Minor league affiliations | |
|---|---|
| Previous classes | Class D |
| League | Florida State League |
| Major league affiliations | |
| Previous teams |
|
| Minor league titles | |
| League titles | 1 (1952) |
| Team data | |
Previous parks | Azalea Bowl |
The Ballpark
Palatka teams played at the Azalea Bowl in Forrester Field, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The address is 1600 Twigg Street. The park, with the original grandstand demolished, is still in use today as home to the Palatka High School Panthers. Babe Ruth conducted clinics at the field in the late 1930s."[2]
Notable alumni
- Myril Hoag (1946) MLB All-Star
- Bernie Neis (1936)
- Bob Swift (1936-1937)
- Sam Zoldak (1938)
Year-by-year record
(from Baseball Reference Bullpen)
| Year | Record | Finish | Manager | Playoffs | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1936 | 60-60 | 3rd | Jeff Emerson / Teen Gallegos | Lost in 1st round | |
| 1937 | 71-69 | 5th | Sam Agnew / Shaw Buck | ||
| 1938 | 63-76 | 6th | George Andrews / Herb Thomas | ||
| 1939 | 36-99 | 8th | Bill Leitz / Sam "Cowboy" Jones | ||
| 1946 | 62-75 | 6th | Myril Hoag | ||
| 1947 | 64-75 | 6th | John Toncoff | ||
| 1948 | 48-89 | 8th | Ray Ryan / John Toncoff / Charlie Bowles / Ben Geraghty (17-44) | ||
| 1949 | 76-62 | 4th | Julian Morgan / Bitsy Mott | Lost League Finals | |
| 1950 | 41-98 | 8th | Bitsy Mott / Robert Rucker | ||
| 1951 | 80-59 | 3rd | Bill Steinecke | Lost League Finals | |
| 1952 | 78-59 | 3rd | Bill Steinecke | League Champs | |
| 1953 | 13-22 | -- | Charles Baird | Palatka moved to Lakeland (34-67) May 15 | |