Palatka Azaleas


The Palatka Azaleas were a minor league baseball team, based in Palatka, Florida, that existed from 1936 to 1939 and from 1946 to 1953. The Azeleas were members the Florida State League. In 1936, they were affiliated with the Detroit Tigers, in 1937 they were affiliated with the New York Yankees, and in 1949 they were affiliated with the Tampa Smokers. In 1956, a Palatka team began play again and evolved into the Palatka Redlegs.

The Ballpark

Palatka teams played at the Azalea Bowl in Forrester Field, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The address is 1600 Twigg Street. The park, with the original grandstand demolished, is still in use today as home to the Palatka High School Panthers. Babe Ruth conducted clinics at the field in the late 1930s."

Notable alumni

YearRecordFinishManagerPlayoffsNotes
193660-603rdJeff Emerson / Teen GallegosLost in 1st round-
193771-695thSam Agnew / Shaw Buck-
193863-766thGeorge Andrews / Herb Thomas-
193936-998thBill Leitz / Sam "Cowboy" Jones-
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194662-756thMyril Hoag-
194764-756thJohn Toncoff-
194848-898thRay Ryan / John Toncoff / Charlie Bowles / Ben Geraghty -
194976-624thJulian Morgan / Bitsy MottLost League Finals-
195041-988thBitsy Mott / Robert Rucker-
195180-593rdBill SteineckeLost League Finals-
195278-593rdBill SteineckeLeague Champs-
195313-22--Charles BairdPalatka moved to Lakeland May 15