Back on Track

Blue Wahoos Stadium on Pensacola Bay.

I was supposed to be in Florida for a month, but I had to cut the trip short when my car needed repairs to pass inspection. I salvaged as much as I could with a rental car and left Florida after two weeks. My planned side trip to Pensacola and Alabama was scuttled.

Lucky me. I found an airfare that gets me back on track with my baseball travel plans. Tonight I’m in Pensacola where the Blue Wahoos are playing the Mississippi Braves. I’ve been looking forward to this day, because it means I’ve been to all the major league, minor league and spring training ballparks in Florida.

That’s 18 stadiums in Miami and St. Petersburg (major league), Jacksonville (AAA), Pensacola (AA), Daytona (Low-A), and the spring training sites in West Palm Beach, Jupiter, Port St. Lucie, Lakeland, Tampa, Clearwater, Dunedin, Bradenton, Sarasota, Port Charlotte, North Port, and Fort Myers (two stadiums).

It might seem like there should be more than 18, but don’t try to do the math. It’s complicated. Fifteen teams have spring training in Florida and 10 teams have Low-A affiliates. Eight of the stadiums are home to both spring training and minor league teams, and five are used only for spring training. In addition, West Palm Beach has one spring training stadium shared by two teams. Jupiter’s Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium takes the cake. It’s home to spring training for both the Miami Marlins and the St. Louis Cardinals, and it’s also home to their Low-A affiliates. My fingers and toes assure me that it all adds up to 18 different locations.

A big welcome from Kazoo outside the stadium. Pensacola Bay beyond the outfield.

Arriving at the game tonight, I see that the sign says Blue Wahoos Stadium out front. The playing field inside is officially named Admiral Jack Fetterman Field at Vince J. Whibbs Sr. Community Maritime Park. Both men were influential in promoting the park project that brought the AA team to Pensacola. The park on Pensacola Bay includes the stadium, an amphiteater, recreational green space and some commercial buildings.

It’s a beautiful ballpark in a beautiful setting with views of Pensacola Bay beyond right field. They say, “It’s the best view in baseball,” and I’m not going to argue with them. Come hungry, because the food options are plentiful. If you want the notorious Crabzilla sandwich be prepared to pay. Also make sure you order it before 4 p.m. on game day. I settled for the crab mac and cheese hot dog, which was big enough for two people. The french fries were the best I’ve ever had.

The crab mac and cheese dog requires a fork, at least.
Save room for a Key Lime milkshake.

The ballpark has the smallest capacity of all the AA minor league teams, yet the Wahoos have drawn more fans that a lot of the teams in their division. The stadium was originally planned for an independent baseball team called the Pensacola Pelicans, but opportunity knocked when the Carolina Mudcats were put up for sale.

The team was relocated to Pensacola and became the Blue Wahoos. The first game in Pensacola as the AA team of the Cincinnati Reds was on April 5, 2012. They become a Minnesota Twins team in 2019 and are now the AA affiliate of the Miami Marlins. This brought the Marlins teams somewhat closer to home. Prior to last year’s overhaul of the minor leagues, the Marlins had affiliates in Jupiter, Fla., Jacksonville, Kansas and Iowa. The Wahoos give the Marlins another team in Florida, but it’s still quite a long ride from Miami to Pensacola, almost 700 miles in 9 or 10 hours. The Marlins fourth minor league team is still some distance away in Beloit, Wisc.

Night comes early in Pensacola. J.J. Bleday showed us how to get on base with a bunt.

The Braves brought their big bats with them and put themselves way ahead of the Blue Wahoos early. Shea Langeliers, the catcher, went 4 for 4 before striking out in his fifth at bat in the ninth. Three of his hits were solo home runs. Final: Mississippi Braves 9, Pensacola Blue Wahoos 4.