Spring Training Flashbacks: Fort Lauderdale Stadium


Fort Lauderdale Stadium was another famed Florida pre-season facility. Built for the Yankees when they moved their camp from St. Petersburg, the park was the March home of the iconic Mantle, Maris, Ford, Howard and Berra crew that closed out the Yankees post-World War II dynasty -- as well as the Munson, Jackson, Nettles, Guidry group that restored the Yankees winning tradition in the late '70s.
But in 1996, George Steinbrenner moved the Yankees spring headquarters to Tampa, his adopted home.  They were replaced as tenants by the Orioles, who left rundown Miami/Bobby Maduro Stadium. 

From March 2007, above, it's pitcher Jamie Walker; below, outfielder (and future MLB Network co-host) Kevin Millar.
Two years later, from the ballpark's final Grapefruit League season, the Orioles hosted the Mets.
Below: ex-Met Ty Wigginton hits for the O's.
Darren O'Day's on the mound for New York.

After finishing its life as home for soccer's Fort Lauderdale Strikers, this onetime mainstay of spring training was torn down in 2019.




Comments

Ray Barrington said…
That soccer team wasn't the only football team to use the Park. The Green Bay Packers used it for practices before Super Bowl II.
March 5, 2023 at 1:19 PM
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