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.
League champions † | Finals appearance * | Division winner ^ | Wild card berth ¤ |
Fort Myers Royals | |||||||||
Regular season | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | League | Division | Place | Wins | Losses | WIN% | GB | Postseason | |
1978 | FSL | South | 3rd | 71 | 66 | .518 | 7.0 | Lost semifinals (Miami Orioles) 1-0 | |
1979 | FSL | South | 3rd | 69 | 69 | .500 | 20.5 | ||
1980 | FSL | South | 3rd | 66 | 70 | .485 | 11.5 | ||
1981 | FSL | South | 2nd | 72 | 58 | .554 | 7.0 | Won semifinals (Fort Lauderdale Yankees) 1-0, Lost finals (Daytona Beach Astros)3-1 | |
1982 | FSL | South | 3rd | 69 | 68 | .504 | 15.5 | ||
1983 | FSL | South | 3rd | 69 | 68 | .504 | 15.5 | ||
1984 | FSL | South | 1st ^ | 81 | 60 | .574 | — | Lost semifinals (Fort Lauderdale Yankees) 2-0 | |
1985 | FSL | West | 1st ^ | 82 | 57 | .590 | — | Won semifinals (St. Petersburg Cardinals) 2-1, Won finals (Fort Lauderdale Yankees) 3-1 | |
1986 | FSL | South | 4th | 50 | 85 | .370 | 37.5 | ||
1987 | FSL | South | 6th | 54 | 87 | .383 | 30.5 |
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]
Numerous Fort Myers Royals alumni reached the major leagues; some of note include:[3]