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 Red Hats were called simply the DeLand Reds and were affiliated with the Cincinnati Reds as a Class D team. In 1938 they moved into the Chicago White Sox organization. In 1939 they were renamed the Red Hats and featured many players who were to be Washington Senators, such as starting pitcher Mickey Haefner. As a result, the Senators made DeLand part of its minor-league organization in 1940. The club was again unaffiliated the next season and for the duration of World War II, becoming part of the Florida East Coast League after the FSL ceased operations early in the 1942 season. The major-league St. Louis Browns used Conrad Park that year for spring training but were not affiliated with the club otherwise. In fact the Red Hats would not be affiliated with any major-league organization again, even after returning to the rebooted FSL in 1946.
1950s Champions The biggest Red Hats star may have been Al Pirtle, a career minor-leaguer and FSL star whom they acquired in 1950. Pirtle never made the majorsin fact Pirtle played his entire seven-year career in Class D ball despite a .333 batting average. He stayed in the FSL because he liked living in Florida and had business interests there. but his presence heralded a four-year run of success for the club. The team in 1950 posted a record of 82-57 while Pirtle batted .345 and had 38 doubles. After several playoff disappointments they finally won their first FSL championship that year. They came back in 1951 even stronger, winning 90 games and a second FSL title. Now clearly the best team in the league, 1952 was their best year statistically, with a 95-40 (.703) record. However they lost the first playoff round and would not three-peat. In 1953 they won a modest 78 games but made it back to the FSL championship series again. They would not win a third title, losing to the Daytona Beach Islanders.
1954 would prove to be the final season for the Red Hats. Attendance was down all across the FSL, a trend attributed to television, and the DeLand club was relocated to Gainesville.
The Ballpark DeLand's teams played at Conrad Park. The ballpark was also home of several other clubs, notably: the Sun Caps and the Suns, the Stetson University Hatters, and the Daytona Cubs. The original Conrad Park was demolished in 1998 and the site today is home to Melching Field at Conrad Park.
Notable alumni
Mickey Haefner (1939) Harry Rice (1938-1939) Bama Rowell (1954)
Year by year results Season Name Record Notes 1936 Reds 60-80 First season of "new" FSL; became Cincinnati Reds minor-league affiliate 1937 Reds 79-61 Made playoffs, lost first round 1938 Reds 54-86 White Sox minor-league affiliate for one season 1939 Red Hats 69-69 Independent team ("co-op"); made playoffs, lost first round 1940 Red Hats ??? Washington Senators minor-league affiliate for one season 1941 Red Hats 78-47 Made playoffs, lost in second round (championship) to Leesburg Anglers 1942 Red Hats 13-13 FSL suspended operations in May, due to World War II 1943 Red Hats ??? Joined Florida East Coast League for duration of war 1944 Red Hats ??? 1945 Red Hats ??? 1946 Red Hats 68-68 Resumption of FSL; made playoffs, lost first round 1947 Red Hats 80-58 Made playoffs, lost first round 1948 Red Hats 50-90 1949 Red Hats 64-70 1950 Red Hats 82-57 FSL champions 1951 Red Hats 90-50 FSL champions 1952 Red Hats 95-40 Made playoffs, lost first round 1953 Red Hats 78-56 Made playoffs, lost in championship to Daytona Beach Islanders 1954 Red Hats 77-62 Team moves to Gainesville after season
References