The Sanford Celeryfeds were a minor league baseball team, based in Sanford, Florida that played between 1919 and 1946. In 1919, the "Celeryfeds" were a charter member of the Class D level Florida State League, winning the first championship in the league. Sanford began a decades long tenure of play in the Florida State League, winning other league championships in 1926 and 1939.
The "Celeryfeds" nickname corresponded with the local celery agriculture industry in the era. The team uniforms contained a logo depicting celery stalks.
From 1936 to 1939, the Sanford "Lookouts" played as a minor league affiliate of the Washington Senators. The 1939 Sanford Lookouts team was listed as one of the 100 greatest minor league teams of all time. With Sanford located within Seminole County, Florida, the team was also known as the corresponding Sanford "Seminoles" for three seasons.
In the era, Sanford teams hosted home Florida State League games at the site of Memorial Stadium. The ballpark is still in use today, known as "Historic Sanford Memorial Stadium."
At the age of 17, Baseball Hall of Fame member Early Wynn played for the 1937 Sanford Lookouts in his first professional season.
The 1948 Sanford Giants continued Sanford's tenure as members of the Florida State League. The nickname change occurred after the New York Giants moved their spring training site to Sanford and the local franchise became a minor league affiliate of the Giants.
History 1919 and 1920: Celeryfeds begin minor league play / champions The Sanford Base Ball Association hosted baseball games as early as 1908.
Minor league baseball began in Sanford, Florida in 1919, when the Sanford "Celeryfeds" became a charter member of the six-team Class D level Florida State League. Sanford joined the Bartow Polkers, Bradenton Growers, Lakeland Highlanders, Orlando Caps and Tampa Smokers teams as charter members.
The Sanford "Celeryfeds" nickname corresponded with agriculture in the region in the era. In the era, celery was the dominant crop in the region. Sanford was known as "The Celery City" in the era. The celery agriculture industry began after a cold season harmed the citrus industry in the winter of 1884 to 1885. The Sanford Celeryfeds had uniforms with a logo depicting celery stalks.
Playing the first Florida State League season in 1919, the Sanford Celeryfeds won the overall league pennant and had a controversial playoff series. In a split season schedule, Sanford won the first half pennant and Orlando won the second half pennant in the regular season. The Celeryfeds' overall record of 47–28 was the best in the league. The team played the season under manager Ed Chaplin, who became a Sanford resident, dying in the city at age 84 in 1978. In winning the league pennant, Sanford finished the regular season 5.0 games ahead of Orlando in the overall standings. The finals champion was to be the first team to win 5 games. In the playoff final, Sanford won 5 games and the Orlando Caps 3 games. On October 11, 1919, two of the Sanford wins were disallowed due to ineligible player violations. The series was declared to be 3 games to 3 tie and the teams were declared co-champions. Stuffy Stewart of Sanford led the Florida State League with 63 runs scored.
The 1920 Florida State League expanded to eight teams and the Celeryfeds continued league play, finishing near the bottom of the standings of the Class D level league. The Bartow Polkers, Bradenton Growers, Daytona Beach Islanders and Orlando Caps joined the four returning teams in beginning the league schedule on May 1, 1920. The defending co-champion Celeryfeds ended the 1920 Florida State League season with a final record of 45–68. Sanford finished in seventh place, playing the season under manager Jack Burns and ended the regular season 42.0 games behind the first place Tampa Smokers. Playoffs were not held, as Tampa won both half seasons of the league schedule. The Florida State League became a six-team Class C level league in 1921 and the Sanford franchise did not return to the league, before rejoining in 1925.
1925 to 1928: Florida State League reforms The Sanford franchise returned to play in 1925, joining the reformed four-team Class D level Florida State League. The Lakeland Highlanders, St. Petersburg Saints and Tampa Smokers teams joined with Sanford in beginning league play on April 13, 1925.
The Sanford Celeryfeds ended the 1925 Florida State League season in last place among the four teams. Sanford had final record of 36–87 and finished in fourth place. Playing the season under managers Nick Carter and Jim Moore, Sanford finished 35.0 games behind first place Tampa in the overall standings. Lakeland won the first half of the split season schedule and Tampa won the second half. Tampa won the playoff series to claim the championship.
In the midst of their last place finish in the Florida State League, the Sanford franchise was nearly sold and relocated during the 1925 season. On July 10, 1925, businessman John Wall Hendry publicly announced that he had purchased the Sanford Celeryfeds and intended to move the team to Fort Myers, Florida."League Club for Fort Myers", Fort Myers Tropical News, (Fort Myers, FL), July 10, 1925, https://newspapers.uflib.ufl.edu/AA00088916/00091/images However, the next day, Charley Britt, owner of the Sanford Celeryfeds, cancelled the verbal agreement to sell the team after $5,000 was raised to keep the team in Sanford.Hendry to Fight to get Baseball for Fort Myers", Fort Myers Tropical News, (Fort Myers, FL), July 12, 1925, https://newspapers.uflib.ufl.edu/AA00088916/00093/images/0 Moving on from the Sanford purchase, Hendry next offered to purchase the Lakeland Highlanders, for $7,000, but an agreement with Clare Henley, president of the Lakeland franchise never materialized."John Hendry Loses Another Chance to Get League Team", Fort Myers Tropical News, (Fort Myers, FL), August 2, 1925, https://newspapers.uflib.ufl.edu/AA00088916/00111/images/0 Eventually, Hendry was successful in getting an expansion team in the Fort Myers for the 1926 Florida State League season, when the Fort Myers Palms joined the league.Maginnis, Bob, "Florida State League Increased to Eight-Club Circuit", Tampa Morning Tribune, (Tampa, FL), March 4, 1926, P. 2-C."Fort Myers Ball Team to Play Next Week", Fort Myers Tropical News, (Fort Myers, FL), April 2, 1926, https://newspapers.uflib.ufl.edu/AA00088916/00183/images/6
The Stanford Celeryfeds continued Florida State League play in 1926 and were league champions of the expanded eight-team league. The new Bradenton Growers, Fort Myers Palms, Orlando Colts and Sarasota Gulls teams joined with the four returning teams in beginning league play on April 22, 1926.
The Celeryfeds had a record of 70–35 and ended the 1926 season in the overall first place, winning the championship under manager Lee Crowe. Sanford ended the Florida State League season 3.5 games ahead of the second place Tampa Smokers. No playoffs were held as Sanford won both halves of the split season schedule. Sanford's Otto Dumas won the Florida State League batting championship, hitting 361, while also hitting a co-league leading 4 home runs. Teammate Ralph Dunbar scored a league leading 95 runs. Pitcher Ben Cantwell of Sanford won 24 games (with just 4 losses) to lead the Florida State League.
Sanford pitcher Ben Cantwell had a ten-year major-league career. While pitching for Sanford he met LeClaire Jones, whom he married in March 1927. After winning 25 games for the 1927 Jacksonville Tars of the Class B level Southeastern League, Cantwell made his major league debut with the New York Giants on August 19, 1927.
Following the 1926 season, Sanford hosted the Florida State League winter meetings and franchise movements took place. On January 18, 1927, at the winter meeting in Sanford, the Fort Myers franchise was voted to have been "forfeited."Tribune News Service, "Shake-Up Looms in State League Ranks", Tamps Morning Tribune, (Tampa, FL), January 19, 1927, P. 14. The franchise was dissolved for "failing to meet league assessments and for failing to pay players.""Miami and West Palm Beach Seek State League Places", Fort Myers Tropical News, (Fort Myers, FL), January 19, 1927, P. 3. Later, the Miami Hustlers joined the Florida State League after by W. B. Kirby, the former president of the Bradenton Growers turned the Bradenton franchise over to Miami as part of his investment in the Miami franchise."Fifty Players Seeking Berths in Miami Team", Miami Daily News and Metropolis, (Miami, FL), April 13, 1927, P. A-14.
In defending their championship the previous season, the 1927 Sanford Celeryfeds finished in second place in the overall standings but did not qualify for the playoffs. The Celeryfeds ended the season with an overall record of 68–53, finishing 2.5 games behind first place Orlando as Lee Crowe returned as manager. The Orlando Colts won the first half of the season schedule and the Miami Hustlers won the second half, as Orlando took the championship series. Cecil Frisbie of Sanford led the Florida State League with both 78 runs and 145 hits. Celeryfeds' pitcher Herman Myers had a 13–4 record to top the league in winning percentage.
Following the 1927 season, Sanford manager Lee Crowe left the team to become the manager of the rival Miami Hustlers for the 1928 Florida State League season.
The 1928 six-team Class D level Florida State League had a shortened season with Sanford continuing play. The Florida State League folded on July 4, 1928. The Celeryfeds had compiled a record of 25–33 and were in fifth place when the league folded. Sanford finished 12.0 games behind first place St. Petersburg Saints. Sanford was managed by Pop Wallace. The Florida State league did not play in the 1929 season and had a seven-season hiatus during The Great Depression before reforming in 1936.
1936 to 1939: Sanford Lookouts / championship season In 1936, the renamed Sanford "Lookouts" rejoined the six-team reformed Florida State League. The Daytona Beach Islanders, DeLand Reds, Gainesville G-Men, Palatka Azaleas and St. Augustine Saints teams joined Sanford in beginning league play in the Class D level league on April 19, 1936.
Playing as a minor league affiliate of the Washington Senators, Sanford ended the 1936 Florida State League regular season in fifth place. The Lookouts finished with a record of 56–62, managed by Stuffy McCrone (18–30) and Bill Rodgers (38–32). Rogers managed the Lookouts in the first of his four consecutive seasons. Sanford ended the Florida State League regular season 8.0 games behind the first place Gainesville G-Men in the final standings. Sanford did not qualify for the four0team playoffs, which were won by the St. Augustine Saints.
Bill Rodgers would continue to manage Sanford in each of the next three seasons. Following his major league playing career Rodgers served as a player or manager in the minor leagues during 22 seasons between 1918 and 1951. During the 1846 season, Rodgers also managed the Peoria Redwings of the newly formed All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Rodgers had the nickname "Rawmeat Bill," as he faithfully followed a diet that included eating uncooked meat.