Fort Myers Royals Explained

Fort Myers Royals
Firstseason:1978
Lastseason:1987
City:Fort Myers, Florida
Past Class Level:Class A (1978–1987)
League:Florida State League
Division:South
Pastmajorleague:Kansas City Royals
Pastparks:Terry Park
Leaguenum:1
Leaguechamps:1985
Divnum:2

The Fort Myers Royals were a minor league affiliate of the Kansas City Royals from 1978 to 1987. In 1978 the Royals were brought to Fort Myers, Florida by the Kansas City franchise. This was because Fort Myers served as the spring training home of the Kansas City Royals. The Royals were a Single A Florida State League franchise. The team played at Terry Park Ballfield from 1978 until 1987. In 1985 the Royals won the Florida State League Championship. Kevin Seitzer was a member of that Fort Myers Royals team. The Minor League franchise left Fort Myers in 1988 when the Major League Baseball franchise moved Spring Training to Haines City, Florida and Baseball City Stadium.

Season-by-season

League championsFinals appearance *Division winner ^Wild card berth ¤
Fort Myers Royals
Regular season
YearLeagueDivisionPlaceWinsLossesWIN%GBPostseason
1978FSLSouth3rd7166.5187.0Lost semifinals (Miami Orioles) 1-0
1979FSLSouth3rd6969.50020.5
1980FSLSouth3rd6670.48511.5
1981FSLSouth2nd7258.5547.0Won semifinals (Fort Lauderdale Yankees) 1-0,
Lost finals (Daytona Beach Astros)3-1
1982FSLSouth3rd6968.50415.5
1983FSLSouth3rd6968.50415.5
1984FSLSouth1st ^8160.574Lost semifinals (Fort Lauderdale Yankees) 2-0
1985FSLWest1st ^8257.590Won semifinals (St. Petersburg Cardinals) 2-1,
Won finals (Fort Lauderdale Yankees) 3-1
1986FSLSouth4th5085.37037.5
1987FSLSouth6th5487.38330.5

Ballpark

The Fort Myers Royals played at Terry Park, located at 3410 Palm Beach Boulevard. Built in 1955, the historic ballpark was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1995. It sustained hurricane damage in 2004, that resulted in the grandstands being rebuilt.[1] The ballpark still exists today as part of the Terry Park Sports Complex.[2]

Notable alumni

Numerous Fort Myers Royals alumni reached the major leagues; some of note include:[3]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Terry Park - Fort Myers, Florida.
  2. Web site: Facility.
  3. Web site: Fort Myers, Florida Encyclopedia.