The Florida East Coast League was the name of two

American American(s) may refer to: * American, something of, from, or related to the United States of America, commonly known as the "United States" or "America" ** Americans, citizens and nationals of the United States of America ** American ancestry, pe ...

minor league baseball circuits based on the Atlantic coast of Florida. The first edition of the league operated as a Class D level league from 1940 to 1942. The league reformed for the 1972 season as a Rookie level league before folding.

History

The first incarnation of the FECL was as a Class D circuit that played from through May 14, . It shut its doors, along with many other minor leagues, a few months after the United States entered World War II, and, despite the postwar baseball boom, it was not revived. The second Florida East Coast League was a Rookie-class "complex league" owned and operated by Major League Baseball clubs. It existed for one season — — and was intended to provide a second Florida-based league for 18- and 19-year-old players, along with the established Gulf Coast League, which was then concentrated along the west coast of Florida. The FECL of 1972 featured four teams based at minor league training complexes in

Cocoa Cocoa may refer to: Chocolate * Chocolate * ''Theobroma cacao'', the cocoa tree * Cocoa bean, seed of ''Theobroma cacao'' * Chocolate liquor, or cocoa liquor, pure, liquid chocolate extracted from the cocoa bean, including both cocoa butter and ...

and Melbourne.

FECL teams, 1940–1942

* Cocoa Beach Fliers *

DeLand Red Hats The DeLand Red Hats were a minor-league baseball team in DeLand, Florida that played in the Florida State League (FSL) from 1936–1954. They played in Conrad Park, near Stetson University. Early years After the FSL was re-organized in 1936 the ...

Fort Lauderdale Tarpons The Fort Lauderdale Tarpons were a minor league baseball team that played in the Florida State League in 1928 and in the Florida East Coast League from 1940 to 1942. Located in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, they were affiliated with the Pittsburgh ...

(champions, 1940) *

Fort Pierce Bombers The Fort Pierce Bombers were a professional minor league baseball team based in Fort Pierce, Florida from 1940 until 1942. The clubs played in the Class-D Florida East Coast League The Florida East Coast League was the name of two United States, ...

* Hollywood Chiefs *

Miami Beach Flamingos The Miami Beach Flamingos were a professional minor league baseball team based in Miami Beach, Florida periodically from 1940 until 1954. The team played its home games at Flamingo Field and was a member of the Class D Florida East Coast League ...

(champions, 1941) *

Miami Beach Tigers The Miami Beach Flamingos were a professional minor league baseball team based in Miami Beach, Florida periodically from 1940 until 1954. The team played its home games at Flamingo Field and was a member of the Class D Florida East Coast League ...

* Miami Seminoles *

Miami Wahoos Miami ( ), officially the City of Miami, known as "the 305", "The Magic City", and "Gateway to the Americas", is a coastal metropolis and the county seat of Miami-Dade County in South Florida, United States. With a population of 442,241 at t ...

* Orlando Senators * West Palm Beach Indians

FECL teams, 1972

* Cocoa Astros * Cocoa Expos *

Melbourne Reds The Melbourne Reds were a Victorian-based baseball team in the Australian Baseball League. They were the only team to win the championship 3 times. The Reds originally played at the home of VFL/AFL football, Waverley Park from 1989 until the 19 ...

(champions) *

Melbourne Twins The Melbourne Twins were a minor league baseball team based in Melbourne, Florida, that played in the 1964 and seasons. The Melbourne Twins played as members of the Rookie level Cocoa Rookie League in 1964 and Florida East Coast League in 1972 ...

Standings & statistics

1940 to 1942

1940 Florida East Coast League Playoffs: Ft. Lauderdale 3 games, West Palm Beach 1; Miami Beach 3 games, Hollywood 0.
Finals: Ft. Lauderdale 4 games, Miami Beach 1. 1941 Florida East Coast League Playoffs: Miami Beach 3 games, Fort Pierce 1;West Palm Beach 3 games, Ft. Lauderdale 2.
Finals: Miami Beach 4 games, West Palm Beach 2. 1942 Florida East Coast League''
schedule
Playoffs: None Scheduled.
Cocoa disbanded April 21; Ft. Lauderdale disbanded May 14.
The league disbanded May 14.

1972

1972 Florida East Coast League Total league attendance, 966
No playoffs Scheduled.

References

*Johnson, Lloyd and Wolff, Miles, eds., ''The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball,'' 3d edition. Durham, N.C.:

Baseball America ''Baseball America'' is a sports enterprise that covers baseball at every level, including MLB, with a particular focus on up-and-coming players in the MiLB, college, high school, and international leagues. It is currently published in the form o ...

, 2007. {{Professional Baseball Defunct minor baseball leagues in the United States Baseball leagues in Florida 1940 establishments in Florida 1942 disestablishments in Florida 1972 establishments in Florida 1972 disestablishments in Florida Sports leagues established in 1940 Sports leagues disestablished in 1942 Sports leagues established in 1972 Sports leagues disestablished in 1972