Lakeland Flying Tigers


The Lakeland Flying Tigers are a minor league baseball team based in Lakeland, Florida.
Home games are played at Publix Field at Joker Marchant Stadium; opened in 1966 and most recently renovated in 2017. The park, which doubles as the Detroit Tigers spring training home, seats 8,500 fans. It plays in the Florida State League and has been the High-A affiliate of the Tigers since 1963, one of the two longest unbroken affiliate relationships currently existing. Until November 2006, the team was known as the Lakeland Tigers, with branding similar to the parent club. However the team originated in 1960 as the Lakeland Indians, an affiliate of the Cleveland Indians. After a one-year hiatus, the team was restarted in 1962 as the Lakeland Giants, and an affiliate of the San Francisco Giants.
In 1997, playing with the Flying Tigers, Gabe Kapler led the Florida State League in doubles and total bases, and tied for first in extra base hits.
In 2012, the Flying Tigers won their first FSL title in 20 years by defeating the Jupiter Hammerheads, three games to two. It was the fourth league title in club history.

Team name

In 2006, the team introduced a new name and colors to pay homage to the Lakeland School of Aeronautics, later the Lodwick School of Aeronautics. The school trained over 8,000 pilots between 1940 and 1945, some of whom later flew with the Flying Tigers in China during World War II, and was actually located at the current site of Publix Field at Joker Marchant Stadium.

Roster

Notable alumni

alumni
Notable former ballplayers