The Grapefruit League

The following is a post by Chelsea Cornelius.

Back in the late 19th century, the Washington Capitals brought America’s Pastime to the great state of Florida for three weeks. It was initially meant to get all of their players back in shape for the upcoming season; the sport was far different than the institution it is today. In fact, when baseball began to pick up speed over the 19th century, it was a renegade sport where different teams had different rules, and the umpires would just ask players to simply hit a little better rather than call balls and strikes. As the game evolved, so did the rules and the discipline of the teams. By the time the Washington Nationals had their first spring training in Jacksonville, FL, in 1888, the game pretty much resembled the game we know and love today.

The Washington Nationals had an abysmal season, and looking for a scapegoat no longer felt the spring training was worth the travel. The American League champions from 1900, the Athletics spent an entire spring season in 1901 in Florida but then too blamed their next season’s failure on the Florida spring training. Their star pitcher, Rube Waddell, who was heartbroken over a Duval brunette and also found himself wrestling alligators while in Jacksonville, did not have a great year. The team’s manager, Connie Mack, found it easy to say Jacksonville was responsible for distracting his players. The Philadelphia Athletics would still return to Jacksonville, and perhaps the city wasn’t solely responsible for distracting his players as they went on to win the World Series in 1910 and 1911.

Spring is here, and that means gorgeous weather and a mix of spring showers in Florida. That fabulous Florida sunshine and mild temperatures are what brings baseball teams from around the country to our state every year for spring training. It is a month full of training, trades, and pre-season games that became a tradition that goes back over a century, over 130 years in fact. All of the teams who train and play in Florida during spring training were coined “The Grapefruit League.” Let’s take a look at America’s Pastime in Florida and the origins of the league’s nickname, which is still used today by the MLB.

Other teams started to come to Florida as well, several being bribed by mayors and businessmen offering to pay for the travel and stay expenses for players. The city leaders and businessmen saw the opportunities to profit from the families following their beloved teams. In the spring of 1914, the league was really starting to form with teams in Jacksonville, St. Petersburg, Tampa, and St. Augustine. Although the league was formed, it was not until 1915 that a comical event would make local news and garner enough hubbub to become the league’s official name. In March, the Brooklyn Dodgers were playing a game in Daytona, their home for spring training. It was there that a publicity stunt was supposed to take place, which it did, but not according to plan.

The pilot of the plane was the national hero and female aviator, Ruth Law. She was contacted by the Dodgers manager, Wilbert Robinson, to throw a baseball out of the plane because she had previously done so with golf balls for a local golf course. As Robinson waited to catch the baseball for the delight of the fans below, he saw something that wasn’t a baseball headed toward him. The debate of whether it was a prank or an accident continues, either way, a grapefruit was thrown out of the plane and burst as soon as it hit Robinson’s glove. Needless to say, the manager was completely drenched in grapefruit pulp and juice, and rumor has it that he thought he was injured and bleeding. Luckily, his pride and arm were the only things bruised that day, and on the plus side, the publicity stunt was a success, and the event became a baseball legend. Robinson understandably lost a taste for grapefruit after that, and the legend spread, which led to the adaptation of the Grapefruit League nickname.

The Grapefruit League would continue to grow and, by the 1920s, advertised as such. Over the years, more teams flocked to Florida cities, and the cities enjoyed the additional tourism and entertainment that filled the stadiums and played out off the field. Although this year’s Grape Fruit League schedule was published, a lockout had fans and Florida businesses waiting for those players to return. Luckily an agreement was reached and the beloved Florida tradition of the Grapefruit League continues.

Photography provided by the the State Library and Archives of Florida, floridamemory.com or are public domain. Additional photo provided by Michael C (A).