Sunny skies and warm weather made Tampa an attractive location for spring training, beginning with the Chicago Cubs in 1913 and eventually followed by five other teams. Minor league teams enjoyed great fan support; the Tampa Smokers formed in 1919 and the Tampa Tarpons in 1957.
Tampa’s baseball legacy certainly had a deep bench. From Al Lopez - the first Tampanian to enter the Baseball Hall of Fame - to Manuel Onis, Charlie Cuellar, Bitsy Mott, and managers Tony LaRussa and Lou Pinilla, right up to recent times with Wade Boggs, Fred McGriff, Dwight Gooden, Louis Gonzalez, and Tino Martinez.
Please join Dr. Wes Singletary, author of several books including Al Lopez: The Life of Baseball’s El Senor and Florida’s First Big League Baseball Players: A Narrative History, as he shares stories from Tampa’s famed baseball past. TBHC’s baseball objects from the permanent collection also will be displayed.
Space is limited to 25; reservations are required.
Program includes:
A glass of sangria from the Columbia Cafe (soft drinks also available)
Garage Parking
Gallery Presentation
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