Bradenton, FL

Bradenton is located on the coast of the Gulf of Mexico in western Florida, immediately north of Sarasota, FL and 40 miles south of Tampa, FL; it has been home to many spring training camps and Gulf Coast League teams.

Teams that have played here

Spring Training:

• St. Louis Cardinals (1923-1924)
• Philadelphia Phillies (1925-1927)
• Boston Red Sox (1928-1929)
• St. Louis Cardinals (1930-1936)
• Pittsburgh Pirates (1969-Present)

Minor League:

• Bradenton Growers, Florida State League (1919-1920, 1923-1924, 1926)
• GCL Athletics, Gulf Coast League (1967-1968)
• GCL Pirates, Gulf Coast League (1968-present)
• GCL Reds, Gulf Coast League (1969-1973)
• GCL Expos, Gulf Coast League (1970, 1986-1991, 2000)
• GCL Tourists, Gulf Coast League (1970)
• GCL Cubs, Gulf Coast League (1972-1978)
• GCL Braves, Gulf Coast League (1976-1991)
• GCL Yankees, Gulf Coast League (1980-1982)
• GCL Padres, Gulf Coast League (1981-1982)
• GCL Blue Jays, Gulf Coast League (1982-1985)
• GCL Dodgers, Gulf Coast League (1983-1985)
• Bradenton Explorers, Senior Professional Baseball Association (1989)
• Bradenton Juice, South Coast League (2007)
• Bradenton Marauders, Florida State League (2010-2019, 2022- )
• Bradenton Marauders, Low-A Southeast (2021)
• FCL Pirates Black, Florida Complex League (2021- )
• FCL Pirates Gold, Florida Complex League (2021- )

Persons who were born here

• Garrison Campfield, minor league pitcher
• Lance Carter, pitcher
• D.J. Coker, minor league pitcher
• Eric DuBose, pitcher
• Hank Johnson, pitcher
• Brian McRae, outfielder
• Lastings Milledge, outfielder
• J.R. Murphy, catcher
• Clyde Nelson, infielder
• Mike Ohlman, catcher
• Tyler Pastornicky, infielder
• Brian Peacock, minor league catcher
• Ryan Pope, minor league pitcher
• Correlle Prime, minor league infielder

Persons who died here

• Ernie Andres, infielder
• Stan Andrews, catcher
• Tony Bartirome, infielder
• Alan Brice, pitcher
• Gene Clines, outfielder
• Dan Daub, pitcher
• Bill Doak, pitcher
• Claral Gillenwater, pitcher
• Ray Haley, catcher
• Fred Hutchinson, pitcher; manager
• Hank Johnson, pitcher
• Marilyn Jones, AAGPBL pitcher
• Bob Keely, catcher
• Bruce Kison, pitcher
• Steve Korcheck, catcher
• Bill McKechnie, infielder; manager; Hall of Fame
• Fritz Mollwitz, infielder
• Alex Monchak, infielder
• Johnny Moore, outfielder
• Palmer Muench, minor league infielder
• Hank Olmsted, pitcher
• Billy Purtell, infielder
• Frank Reiber, catcher
• Steve Ridzik, pitcher
• Edd Roush, outfielder; Hall of Fame
• Red Smith, catcher
• Jimmie Wilson, catcher; manager
• Moose Woerber, minor league outfielder and manager

Educational institutions located here

• Bayshore High School
• Braden River High School
• IMG Academy
• Inspiration Academy
• Lakewood Ranch High School
• Manatee High School
• The Pendleton School
• Southeast High School
• State College of Florida, Manatee–Sarasota

Further Reading

• UPI: "Kuhn Calls Pirate City Spectacular", The Fremont Argus, February 28, 1969, p. 13. [1]

Related Sites

• Pirates Spring Training Page from BaseballPilgrimages.com [2]