Lakeland Flying Tigers Explained

Lakeland Flying Tigers
Founded:1960
City:Lakeland, Florida
Uniformlogo:Flying Tigers cap.PNG
Class Level:Single-A (2021–present)
Current League:Florida State League (1960–present)
Division:West Division
Majorleague:Detroit Tigers (1963–present)
Nickname:Lakeland Flying Tigers (2007–present)
Ballpark:Publix Field at Joker Marchant Stadium (1966–2001, 2003–2015, 2017–present)
Pastparks:Henley Field (1960, 1962–1965, 2002, 2016)
Leaguenum:4
Divnum:0
Secondhalfnum:1
Owner:Detroit Tigers
Gm:Zach Burek
Manager:Andrew Graham

The Lakeland Flying Tigers are a Minor League Baseball team of the Florida State League and the Single-A affiliate of the Detroit Tigers. They are located in Lakeland, Florida, and play their home games at Publix Field at Joker Marchant Stadium.

History

The team was established in 1960 as the Lakeland Indians, an affiliate of the Cleveland Indians. After a one-year hiatus, the team was restarted in 1962 as the Lakeland Giants, an affiliate of the San Francisco Giants.

The franchise affiliated with the Detroit Tigers' farm system in 1963 and became known as the Lakeland Tigers before becoming the Flying Tigers in 2007. The relationship with Detroit is one of the two longest unbroken affiliate relationships currently existing.[1]

In 1997, playing with the Tigers, Gabe Kapler led the Florida State League in doubles and total bases, and tied for first in extra base hits.[2]

In 2012, the Flying Tigers won their first FSL title in 20 years by defeating the Jupiter Hammerheads, three games to two. It was the fourth league title in club history.[3]

In 2006, the team introduced a new name and colors to pay homage to the Lakeland School of Aeronautics, later the Lodwick School of Aeronautics. The school trained over 8,000 pilots between 1940 and 1945, some of whom later flew with the Flying Tigers in China during World War II,[4] and was actually located at the current site of Publix Field at Joker Marchant Stadium.[5]

In conjunction with Major League Baseball's restructuring of Minor League Baseball in 2021, the Flying Tigers were organized into the Low-A Southeast at the Low-A classification.[6] In 2022, the Low-A Southeast became known as the Florida State League, the name historically used by the regional circuit prior to the 2021 reorganization, and was reclassified as a Single-A circuit.[7]

Notable alumni

Baseball Hall of Fame alumni

Notable former ballplayers

Playoffs

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Hill . Benjamin . PDC's make everything old new again, www.milb.com . Web.minorleaguebaseball.com . February 17, 2011.
  2. Web site: 1997 Florida State League - Season Review. www.thebaseballcube.com. November 2, 2017.
  3. Web site: Flying Tigers Scrape Two Runs Across in The Eight to Win FSL Championship Series TheLedger.com. dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20121014131339/http://www.theledger.com/article/20120912/NEWS/120919715/1002/sports?Title=Flying-Tigers-Scrape-Two-Runs-Across-in-The-Eight-to-Win-FSL-Championship-Series . 2012-10-14 .
  4. Web site: Benjamin Hill . Article | Lakeland Flying Tigers News . Minorleaguebaseball.com . November 13, 2006 . February 17, 2011.
  5. Web site: The Lodwick School of Aeronautics: A Photo Exhibit . https://web.archive.org/web/20070225083813/http://www.lakelandgov.net/library/speccoll/exhibits/lodex_hist.html. dead . February 25, 2007. City of Lakeland.
  6. Web site: Mayo . Jonathan . MLB Announces New Minors Teams, Leagues . Major League Baseball . February 12, 2021 . June 30, 2024.
  7. Web site: Historical League Names to Return in 2022 . Minor League Baseball . March 16, 2022 . June 30, 2024.

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