Today marks a date that should be remembered annually: It’s been 70 years since Jackie Robinson made his spring-training debut for the Montreal Royals on March 17, 1946 at Daytona Beach’s City Island Ballpark, after being locked out of other Florida ballparks. (more…)
Veteran sports operator Reese Smith III has purchased the Daytona Tortugas (High Class A; Florida State League) from Andy Rayburn, in what would appear to be a seamless transition, with baseball staying at historic Jackie Robinson Ballpark. (more…)
After a court ruled the land underneath Jackie Robinson Stadium was confined to healthcare for veterans, UCLA asked the court to reconsider its position — but athletic officials hinted a new Bruins ballpark could be in the offing. It’s a sticky land-use situation: the ballpark, built in 1947 and upgraded in recent years, was built […]
Here’s the most unusual promotion from the minors this season: Beer vendor Vince Rainey has been called up from the High Class A Florida State League by the Washington Nationals. The 25-year-old Rainey has been a fixture at Jackie Robinson Ballpark for more than a decade, hawking his wares at Daytona Cubs games after first […]
The Daytona Cubs (High Class A; Florida State League) are close to a new lease for Jackie Robinson Ballpark that calls for upgraded workout facilities, concessions and team offices. A $1.25-million plan, according to the Daytona Beach News-Journal, includes the following improvements: The improvements, which would be tackled over the next two off-seasons, include expanding […]
Though there really wasn’t any doubt about it, the Daytona Cubs (High Class A; Florida State League) and the Chicago Cubs signed a two-year extension to their player-development contract (PDC), through 2014. Apparently the two sides agreed to a deal and are only now getting around to announcing it. Actually, there have been no press […]
More improvements are on tap for Jackie Robinson Ballpark, home of the Daytona Cubs (High Class A; Florida State League), as the city and team discuss a new 10-year lease. The city is looking at spending $1.3 million on various improvements to the historic facility, which would include new restrooms, revamped concessions, better player workout […]
The filming of the movie 42 has moved to Macon, where Luther Williams Field is standing in for Daytona’s City Island Ballpark, where Jackie Robinson crossed the color line during spring training. The movie, starring Harrison Ford, details how baseball was integrated thanks to the efforts of Branch Rickey (portrayed by Harrison). Also in the […]
You don’t get any more Floridian than Jackie Robinson Ballpark, home of the Daytona Cubs of the Florida State League. Much of Florida’s baseball history intersects on this small island outside of downtown Daytona Beach, while one of the most important events in baseball history took place there as well. FAST FACTS Year Built: […]
