Florida Complex League Cardinals Explained

Florida Complex League Cardinals
Allyears:1966–1976, 2007–present
City:Jupiter, Florida
Uniformlogo:St. Louis Cardinals insignia logo.svg
Class Level:Rookie
Current League:Florida Complex League
Division:East Division
Past League:
Majorleague:St. Louis Cardinals
Nickname:FCL Cardinals
Ballpark:Roger Dean Stadium
Leaguenum:1
Leaguechamps:2016
Divnum:4
Owner:St. Louis Cardinals
Manager:Roberto Espinoza

The Florida Complex League Cardinals or FCL Cardinals are a rookie league affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals, competing in the Florida Complex League of Minor League Baseball. Prior to 2021, the team was known as the Gulf Coast League Cardinals. The team plays its home games in Jupiter, Florida, at Roger Dean Stadium, which is also the spring training home of the St. Louis Cardinals and the Miami Marlins. The team is mainly composed of players who are in their first year of professional baseball either as draftees or non-drafted free agents.

History

The team first competed in the Sarasota Rookie League in 1964 and the Florida Rookie League in 1965, predecessors of the Gulf Coast League (GCL), which began play in 1966. The team competed until 1976, then was absent from the league for 30 years.

In 2007, the team returned to the GCL, and has operated continuously since then. The team claimed its first league championship in 2016. Prior to the 2021 season, the Gulf Coast League was renamed as the Florida Complex League.

Season by season

YearRecordFinishManagerPlayoffs
align=center colspan=6SRL Cardinals (1964)
1964 30-302ndNo playoffs
align=center colspan=6FRL Cardinals (1965)
1965 27-315thNo playoffs
align=center colspan=6GCL Cardinals (1966–76)
196620-285thGeorge Kissell No playoffs until 1983
196725-326thGeorge Kissell
196834-272nd
196921-337th
197032-285thTom Burgess
197120-337thTom Burgess
197227-325th
197325-307th
197427-215th
197517-377th
197627-244th
align=center colspan=6GCL Cardinals (2007–2020)
200724-3012th
200817-38 15th Eude Brito
2009 25-31 12th Steve Turco
2010 28-28 8th Steve Turco
2011 31-24 5th Steve Turco
2012 34-24 3rd Steve Turco Lost in 1st round
vs. GCL Pirates (1 game to 0)
2013 24-35 15th Steve Turco
2014 37-23 2nd Steve Turco Lost in 1st round
vs. GCL Red Sox (1 game to 0)
2015 34-25 5th (t) Steve Turco Lost in 1st round
vs. GCL Red Sox (1 game to 0)
2016 33-21 1st Steve Turco League Champs
vs. GCL Red Sox (1 game to 0)
Won in first round
vs. GCL Phillies (2 games to 1)
2017 26-29 11th Steve Turco
2018 40-16 1st Won in first round
vs. GCL Phillies East (1 game to 0)
Lost in League Finals
vs. GCL Tigers East (2 games to 1)
2019 20-34 16th Josh Lopez Playoffs cancelled due to Hurricane Dorian
2020 No Season due to pandemic[1]

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: 2020 Minor League Baseball Season Shelved. Minor League Baseball. June 30, 2020.