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Post by Chuck McCue on Mar 15, 2022 17:59:10 GMT -5
The new "Jax Beach Seabirds" or "Jacksonville Beach Sea Birds" were not quite the success that the city was hoping for. The 1,500 seat Greater Beaches Stadium hardly needed to be that large. Statscrew.com states that the team drew a high of 23,210 (341 average per game) in their opening year of 1952. The team's star pitching star was Thomas Mills who posted a 27-7, 2.54 record while Manager Red Treadway batted a terrific .357 and Harry Martin batted .330 with 6 HR. As you can see from the previous photo however ... the outfield was massive and Home Runs were a near impossibility. Chances are ... most of Harmon Young's 7 HR (25 2B, .270) were of the "inside the park" variety which led the team. The 80 wins were the most this team would ever see as they finished in 2nd place but were taken out in the first round of the playoffs. Joseph Angel pitched in 1953 to a 28-10, 2.64 record but the hitting wasn't good enough to make the post season. Attendance dropped to a dreadful 17,785 on the season (which would be equivalent to what the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons draw on a good first "Opening Day" game) averaging just 267 fans per game. Just when it looked very bleak in Jacksonville Beach, it was announced that one of the Major League affiliates was looking to make a change for the 1954 season.
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