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Location: Jax Beach Seabirds, 1952-54
Discussion: From Terrence Jones
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Posted Anonymously |
From Terrence Jones
Feb 18 2007, 8:29 AM EST
"They played at the then-new baseball stadium located a block or two south of Beach Blvd. on what is now the road to the Jax Beach Golf Course and where several sports fields and Jax Beach municipal facilities are now located. I don't think the original stadium is still there. To further pinpoint its location, it was west of the old drive-in theater and the miniature golf course and driving range that were there when we were kids. The road that now goes to the Golf Course was, at the time of the Seabirds, a dirt road that went to the new softball field where my dad, Wilson Wingate, and others played on the various softball teams sponsored by Beach businesses. As an avid baseball fan, I was thrilled when the Seabirds came to town, and I snuck into as many games as I could. My recollection is that they weren't a very good team, attendance wasn't all that great, and that they left town after four or five years. One of the team's claims to fame was that the professional careers of twin brothers Russ and Roy Nixon began with the Seabirds. The Nixons went on to become solid major league stars with the Red Sox and other teams in the '50s and '60s. It's funny what you remember as a kid, but one of my recollections of the games was the segregated black bleacher section down the right field line apart from the covered grand-stand. There weren't many black players (I don't recall the Seabirds havng any), but that section always responded with great enthusiasm when a black player got a hit or made a good play." 5 out of 5 found this valuable. Do you? |
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blt1224 |
1. RE: From Terrence Jones
May 7 2007, 9:35 PM EDT
My father Bobby Trump played baseball for the Seabirds during the 1952-1953 seasons. His starting position for most of his time in Jacksonville was spent behind the plate. He was also called on to pitch on several occasions, On June 23, 1953 he pitched the Seabirds to a 6 to 5 victory for which he received the gameball. That was one of many gameballs he would receive throughout his stay with the team. My most memorable story of those days to go along with the many gameballs and newspaper clipings I still have telling of his early life heroics was one where, before many of the games started the organization would have the team members perform different promotional stunts. The particular stunt that I recall the most was one in which my father was ask to race a horse from home plate to first base. To this day he will still not tell me whether he won or not. If anyone has similar stories of the Seabirds of the early fifties, played for the team at that time, remembers my father or could point me in the right direction as to obtaining more information of those days of Seabirds baseball please contact me.
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Posted Anonymously |
2. Seabirds
May 15 2007, 3:53 PM EDT
Why did the team disappear? Not enough attendance?
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Laurade |
3. RE: From Terrence Jones
Jan 24 2008, 4:46 PM EST
Hey, there!My name's Laura de Martino and my dad, Red Treadway, managed the Seabirds for several years. I remember Wilson very well and have some pictures of him during the "pre-game antics" that they used to do to raise attendance. My mother and I used to have a concession to sell seat cushions and I used to flip the switches in the press box (score board would light up with strikes, ball, and outs). Oh, those were wonderful days. Would love to hear from you. Best regards, Laura 3 out of 3 found this valuable. Do you? |
