Babe Ruth in Jacksoville circa 1920 (Photo courtesy of John Thron/MLB Historian)
Jacksonville Baseball History
Before the First Coast had its own professional baseball team, Jacksonville was already known as a baseball town. In 1888, Jacksonville hosted the first ever Major League Spring Training, as the Washington Statesman hosted the Philadelphia Athletics, Brooklyn Dodgers, Boston Nationals, and the Cincinnati Reds. Jacksonville would continue to host other Major League Spring Trainings for a few more years.
Professional baseball in Jacksonville was founded in 1904, when the Jacksonville Jays became apart of the newly formed South Atlantic League. Jacksonville hosted the first South Atlantic League game on the Southside of Town at Dixieland Park, when the Jays defeated Macon, 1-0. At that time, there were no bridges in Jacksonville, so fans would have to ride ferries across the St. Johns River to attend a game at Dixieland Park.
From 1904 to 1917, Jacksonville won two South Atlantic League titles, with the first coming in 1908 with a record of 77-34, and the second in 1912 after a 70-41 season. During this time period, Jacksonville went through some name changes. In 1911, the team was known as the Jacksonville Tarpons, and for only the 1917 the team was known as the Jacksonville Roses.
In 1921, there were a few changes for the Jacksonville club, as they found a new home park at Barrs Field, which would later be named Durkee Field (currently known as J.P. Small Park). Jacksonville also changed its name to the Scouts and debut in the Florida State League (Class C). In 1922, the team changed to the Indians. Jacksonville changed its name to the Tars in 1926 and moved to the Southeastern League (Class B). They captured the Southeastern League title in 1927 before rejoining the South Atlantic League in 1936, but this time as a Class B team and then a Class A team in 1946.
Jacksonville joined the Nergo League ranks in 1938 as the Red Caps made their debut in the Negro American League. The team shared Barrs Field with the Tars. The Red Caps left after one season in 1939, but returned for the 1941 and 1942 seasons.
In 1952, Jacksonville officially had a second Minor League team, when the Jacksonville Beach Sea Birds debut in the Florida State League (Class D). The team played at South Penman and Shutter Avenue which was about a mile from the ocean. The Sea Birds lasted for three seasons, leaving after the 1954 season.
On the other side of town, in 1953, the Tars were purchased by Samuel W. Wolfson and the team became the Jacksonville Braves. Along with new ownership and name change, another great part of history happened as future MLB Home Run King Hank Aaron broke the South Atlantic League color barrier playing for the Braves. In his only season in Jacksonville, Aaron made a mark by recording a .362 average, with 22 home runs, 36 doubles and 14 triples to earn League MVP honors. Aaron made his Major League debut a year later in 1954.
After playing at Durkee Field for more than 30 years, the city opened Jacksonville Municipal Ballpark in 1955, which was later named Wolfson Park. The following year, the Braves won their first South Atlantic League Championship. For the 1961 season, Jacksonville played in its final season in the South Atlantic League as the Jets.
In 1962, baseball became hotter in Jacksonville, as the Suns were born under owner Samuel W. Wolfson. The team also transitioned to Triple-A as a member of the International League. The Suns would be affiliated with the Cleveland Indians (1962-1963, 1971), the St. Louis Cardinals (1964-1965), and the New York Mets (1966-1968) during the 1960's. Jacksonville also hosted three future Hall of Famers in this decade as Phil Niekro pitched in the River City in 1960, Tom Seaver was on the mound for the Suns in 1966 and Nolan Ryan pitched for the club in 1967. Randy Johnson would be the next and only other Hall of Famer to appear for Jacksonville in 1987.
During the 1968 season, the Suns won their only International League Championship in their final season at the Triple-A level. In 1969, Jacksonville was without baseball for the season, but the Suns returned to the diamond in 1970 as a Double-A team in the Southern League. The Suns spent the 1970 season affiliated with the Montreal Expos and affiliated under the Indians once again in 1972. From 1972-1983, the Jacksonville ballclub was affiliated the Kansas City Royals.
The Suns name was born under owner Sam W Wolfson in 1962.
After completing the new renovations to start the 2025 season, the Jumbo Shrimp enjoyed a banner year on the field by posting an 89-61 record, their fourth-highest win total in franchise history. They claimed their first International League Championship since 1968 at home by defeating the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders in three games. A few days later, a Jacob Berry two-run, walk-off home run that lifted the Jumbo Shrimp past the Las Vegas Aviators, 8-7, for the franchise's first Triple A National Championship. In December 2025, owner Ken Babby moved to the Major Leagues and sold the Jacksonville franchise to the Prospector Baseball Group (PBG) led by John Abbamondi and Ben Boyer.
The Jumbo Shrimp captured the International League title and Triple AAA National Championship in 2025.