
Fort Lauderdale Yankees
    
    Encyclopedia
    
        The Fort Lauderdale Yankees, based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida
, was an American
minor league baseball
franchise that existed from 1962 through 1992. The team was a Class A Florida State League
affiliate of the New York Yankees
and won seven FSL championships during its 31 years of existence.
The team was formed when the Yankees moved their spring training
base from St. Petersburg, Florida
, to Fort Lauderdale Stadium
after the season. Its last championship team, the 1987 Fort Lauderdale Yanks, was managed by Buck Showalter
and featured future Major Leaguers
Jim Leyritz
, Kevin Maas
and Dave Eiland
.
When the Yankees left Fort Lauderdale for their current spring training home in Tampa, Florida
, in 1993, the parent club maintained its other High-A affiliate, the Prince William Yankees of the Carolina League
, and left the FSL for one season — returning in 1994 with the Tampa Yankees
. The Boston Red Sox
transferred their Winter Haven
club to Fort Lauderdale Stadium for 1993 as the Fort Lauderdale Red Sox
, but then moved their FSL franchise to Sarasota after the season.
Fort Lauderdale has not been represented in the Florida State League since 1993. Although the Baltimore Orioles
eventually replaced the Yankees as Fort Lauderdale's spring training tenants, they never placed an FSL franchise in the city.
Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Fort Lauderdale  is a city in the U.S. state of Florida, on the Atlantic coast. It is the county seat of Broward County. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 165,521. It is a principal city of the South Florida metropolitan area, which was home to 5,564,635 people at the 2010...
, was an American
United States
The United States of America  is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
minor league baseball
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball  and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
franchise that existed from 1962 through 1992. The team was a Class A Florida State League
Florida State League
The Florida State League is a Class A-Advanced minor league baseball league operating in the state of Florida. They are one of three leagues currently operating in Class A-Advanced, the third highest of six classifications of minor leagues...
affiliate of the New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball  in the American League's East Division...
and won seven FSL championships during its 31 years of existence.
The team was formed when the Yankees moved their spring training
Spring training
In Major League Baseball, spring training is a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spring training allows new players to try out for roster and position spots, and gives existing team players practice time prior to competitive play...
base from St. Petersburg, Florida
St. Petersburg, Florida
St. Petersburg is a city in Pinellas County, Florida, United States. It is known as a vacation destination for both American and foreign tourists. As of 2008, the population estimate by the U.S. Census Bureau is 245,314, making St...
, to Fort Lauderdale Stadium
Fort Lauderdale Stadium
Fort Lauderdale Stadium is a baseball stadium located in Fort Lauderdale, Florida next to Lockhart Stadium.  Fort Lauderdale Stadium has recently been leased to Traffic Sports USA  until June 2011....
after the season. Its last championship team, the 1987 Fort Lauderdale Yanks, was managed by Buck Showalter
Buck Showalter
William Nathaniel "Buck" Showalter III  is an American Major League Baseball  manager for the Baltimore Orioles. He has previously served in a similar capacity with the New York Yankees , Arizona Diamondbacks , and Texas Rangers...
and featured future Major Leaguers
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball  is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
Jim Leyritz
Jim Leyritz
James Joseph Leyritz  is a former catcher and infielder in Major League Baseball.-Early years:Leyritz attended Turpin High School in Cincinnati, Ohio, Middle Georgia Jr...
, Kevin Maas
Kevin Maas
Kevin Christian Maas  is a former Major League Baseball player. He was drafted by the New York Yankees in the 22nd round of the 1986 draft after attending the University Of California.  He made his major league debut for Yankees on June 29, 1990 when they called him up from the Columbus Clippers...
and Dave Eiland
Dave Eiland
David William Eiland  is a former American professional baseball player who was a pitcher for ten Major League Baseball seasons.  Eiland played college baseball for the University of Florida and the University of South Florida, and thereafter, played professionally for the New York Yankees, San...
.
When the Yankees left Fort Lauderdale for their current spring training home in Tampa, Florida
Tampa, Florida
Tampa  is a city in the U.S. state of Florida. It serves as the county seat for Hillsborough County. Tampa is located on the west coast of Florida. The population of Tampa in 2010 was 335,709....
, in 1993, the parent club maintained its other High-A affiliate, the Prince William Yankees of the Carolina League
Carolina League
The Carolina League is a minor league baseball affiliation which operates in the South Atlantic Coast of the United States. Before 2002, it was classified as a "High A" league, indicating its status as a Class A league with the highest level of competition within that classification, and the fifth...
, and left the FSL for one season — returning in 1994 with the Tampa Yankees
Tampa Yankees
The Tampa Yankees are a minor league baseball team based in Tampa, Florida. They are currently members of the Florida State League and are the Class A-Advanced affiliate of the New York Yankees Major League Baseball team. Home games are played at George M. Steinbrenner Field, a miniature replica of...
. The Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in  as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since .  The "Red Sox"...
transferred their Winter Haven
Winter Haven Red Sox
The Winter Haven Red Sox is a former minor league baseball team, affiliated with the Boston Red Sox from 1969 to 1992.*Location: Winter Haven, FL*League: Florida State League *Affiliation:  Boston Red Sox...
club to Fort Lauderdale Stadium for 1993 as the Fort Lauderdale Red Sox
Fort Lauderdale Red Sox
The Fort Lauderdale Red Sox was the name of a Class A minor league baseball franchise based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, that existed for the  season...
, but then moved their FSL franchise to Sarasota after the season.
Fort Lauderdale has not been represented in the Florida State League since 1993. Although the Baltimore Orioles
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
eventually replaced the Yankees as Fort Lauderdale's spring training tenants, they never placed an FSL franchise in the city.
Year-by-year record
| Year | Record | Finish | Manager | Playoffs | 
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1962 | 71–50 | 1st | Bob Bauer | League Champs | 
| 1963 | 60–60 | 4th | Pinky May Pinky May Merrill Glend "Pinky" May , is a former professional baseball player who played third base in the Major Leagues from 1939-1943. He played for the Philadelphia Phillies. After his playing days ended May served in the military during World War II from 1944 to 1945... (22–19) / Steve Souchock Steve Souchock Stephen Souchock  was a former Major League Baseball outfielder and first basemen and a former veteran who served in the military during World War II. His Major League Baseball career lasted a total of eight years, having served in the military for three years... (7–13) / Cloyd Boyer Cloyd Boyer Cloyd Victor Boyer, Jr.  is a retired American professional baseball player and pitching coach. He was a pitcher who played in Major League Baseball between  and  for the St. Louis Cardinals  and the Kansas City Athletics . Boyer batted and threw right-handed... (31–28) | |
| 1964 | 81–59 | 2nd | Frank Verdi Frank Verdi Frank Michael Verdi  was a Major League Baseball player in 1953 for the New York Yankees and a longtime manager at the minor league level. As a player, he batted and threw right-handed, stood 5'10½"  tall and weighed 170 pounds... | League Champs | 
| 1965 | 87–51 | 1st | Jack Reed Jack Reed (baseball) John Burwell Reed  is a former professional baseball player.  He was an outfielder over parts of 3 seasons  with the New York Yankees.  Reed was a member of the 1961 World Series champion Yankees... | League Champs | 
| 1966 | 63–75 | 7th | Lamar North | |
| 1967 | 69–69 | 4th | Billy Shantz Billy Shantz Wilmer Ebert Shantz  was an American Major League Baseball player. Shantz played for the Philadelphia/Kansas City Athletics and the New York Yankees in ,  and... | |
| 1968 | 62–75 | 7th | Billy Shantz Billy Shantz Wilmer Ebert Shantz  was an American Major League Baseball player. Shantz played for the Philadelphia/Kansas City Athletics and the New York Yankees in ,  and... | |
| 1969 | 68–55 | 4th | Billy Shantz Billy Shantz Wilmer Ebert Shantz  was an American Major League Baseball player. Shantz played for the Philadelphia/Kansas City Athletics and the New York Yankees in ,  and... | |
| 1970 | 59–76 | 10th | Lamar North | |
| 1971 | 71–70 | 6th (t) | Bobby Cox Bobby Cox Robert Joseph "Bobby" Cox  is a former Major League Baseball third baseman and manager. He first led the Atlanta Braves from 1978 to 1981, and then managed the Toronto Blue Jays from 1982 to 1985. He later rejoined the Braves in 1985 as a general manager... | |
| 1972 | 64–65 | 7th | Pete Ward Pete Ward Peter Thomas Ward  is a retired professional baseball player who played 9 seasons for the Baltimore Orioles, Chicago White Sox, and New York Yankees of Major League Baseball... | |
| 1973 | 67–72 | 7th | Pete Ward Pete Ward Peter Thomas Ward  is a retired professional baseball player who played 9 seasons for the Baltimore Orioles, Chicago White Sox, and New York Yankees of Major League Baseball... | |
| 1974 | 82–49 | 1st | Pete Ward Pete Ward Peter Thomas Ward  is a retired professional baseball player who played 9 seasons for the Baltimore Orioles, Chicago White Sox, and New York Yankees of Major League Baseball... | Lost League Finals | 
| 1975 | 61–75 | 5th (t) | Leo Posada Leo Posada Leopoldo Jesús Posada Hernández  is a former major league baseball outfielder.-Career:Posada was signed as undrafted amateur free agent by the Milwaukee Braves in 1954.  In 1956, he was selected by the Kansas City Athletics from the Braves in the minor league draft.Posada played for the Athletics... | |
| 1976 | 77–62 | 3rd | Mike Ferraro Mike Ferraro Michael Dennis Ferraro  is an American former Major League Baseball third baseman. He played for the New York Yankees , Seattle Pilots , and the Milwaukee Brewers... | Lost in 1st round | 
| 1977 | 53–80 | 9th | Ed Napoleon Ed Napoleon Edward George Napoleon  is a former minor league baseball player, manager, and Major League Baseball coach.Napoleon played for the St. Louis Cardinals and Pittsburgh Pirates organizations from 1956 until 1970.... | |
| 1978 | 74–68 | 5th | Doug Holmquist Doug Holmquist Douglas Leonard Holmquist  was an American minor league baseball player and manager, as well as Major League Baseball coach for the New York Yankees. He played professionally from  to  and managed and/or coached from  to... | |
| 1979 | 92–51 | 1st | Doug Holmquist Doug Holmquist Douglas Leonard Holmquist  was an American minor league baseball player and manager, as well as Major League Baseball coach for the New York Yankees. He played professionally from  to  and managed and/or coached from  to... | Lost League Finals | 
| 1980 | 83–54 | 2nd | Doug Holmquist Doug Holmquist Douglas Leonard Holmquist  was an American minor league baseball player and manager, as well as Major League Baseball coach for the New York Yankees. He played professionally from  to  and managed and/or coached from  to... | League Champs | 
| 1981 | 81–53 | 1st | Doug Holmquist Doug Holmquist Douglas Leonard Holmquist  was an American minor league baseball player and manager, as well as Major League Baseball coach for the New York Yankees. He played professionally from  to  and managed and/or coached from  to... | Lost in 1st round | 
| 1982 | 82–50 | 1st | Stump Merrill Stump Merrill Carl "Stump" Merrill  is a former manager in Major League Baseball who served as manager of the New York Yankees in  and... | League Champs | 
| 1983 | 77–54 | 2nd | Stump Merrill Stump Merrill Carl "Stump" Merrill  is a former manager in Major League Baseball who served as manager of the New York Yankees in  and... | |
| 1984 | 74–68 | 5th | Barry Foote Barry Foote Barry Clifton Foote  is a former American professional baseball player, scout, coach and minor league manager. Foote played in Major League Baseball as a catcher for the Montreal Expos , Philadelphia Phillies , Chicago Cubs , and New York Yankees... | League Champs | 
| 1985 | 77–63 | 4th | Bucky Dent Bucky Dent Russell Earl "Bucky" Dent , is a former American Major League Baseball player and manager. He earned two World Series rings as the starting shortstop for the New York Yankees in  and , and was voted the World Series MVP in 1978... | Lost League Finals | 
| 1986 | 80–59 | 5th | Bucky Dent Bucky Dent Russell Earl "Bucky" Dent , is a former American Major League Baseball player and manager. He earned two World Series rings as the starting shortstop for the New York Yankees in  and , and was voted the World Series MVP in 1978... | |
| 1987 | 85–53 | 1st | Buck Showalter Buck Showalter William Nathaniel "Buck" Showalter III  is an American Major League Baseball  manager for the Baltimore Orioles. He has previously served in a similar capacity with the New York Yankees , Arizona Diamondbacks , and Texas Rangers... | League Champs | 
| 1988 | 69–65 | 9th | Buck Showalter Buck Showalter William Nathaniel "Buck" Showalter III  is an American Major League Baseball  manager for the Baltimore Orioles. He has previously served in a similar capacity with the New York Yankees , Arizona Diamondbacks , and Texas Rangers... | |
| 1989 | 61–77 | 11th | Clete Boyer Clete Boyer Cletis Leroy "Clete" Boyer  was a Major League Baseball player.A third baseman who also played shortstop and second base occasionally, Boyer played for the Kansas City Athletics , New York Yankees  and Atlanta Braves... | |
| 1990 | 62–75 | 9th | Mike Hart Mike Hart (switch hitter) James Michael Hart  is a former Major League Baseball outfielder. He played five games for the Texas Rangers in , getting one hit in four at bats. Following his major league career, Hart has had a long career as a minor league manager and coach. His most recent managerial stint was in  with the... | |
| 1991 | 59–69 | 11th | Glenn Sherlock Glenn Sherlock Glenn Patrick Sherlock  is the bullpen coach of baseball's Arizona Diamondbacks.-Playing career:Sherlock was originally signed by the Houston Astros as their 21st pick in the 1983 draft... | |
| 1992 | 59–76 | 10th | Brian Butterfield Brian Butterfield Brian James Butterfield  is the current third base coach and infield instructor for the Toronto Blue Jays Major League Baseball team.... | |


