Conrad Park was located near the Stetson University campus, in the right field corner
of what is now Melching Field. The ballpark has gone through several transitions.
It even appears that it was completely wooden at one time (you will see
the changes from the earlier black and white photos compared to the more recent
color photos), and has served professional baseball since 1936, as well as Stetson
University. The first team to make Conrad Park their official home was the
DeLand Reds of the "new" Florida State League. The FSL had been in operation
from 1919 until 1928 but then shut down for a period of 8 years. When it resurfaced,
it began it's life as a Class D League. This version of the FSL is indeed
the same as the Single-A Florida State League we know of today. It was 1936, and
the inaugural teams of this "new version" of the former league included the
Daytona Beach Islanders (City Island Park II aka Jackie Robinson Ballpark), the
Palatka Azaleas (Azalea Bowl), Sanford Lookouts (Sanford Athletic Field), Gainesville
G-Men (Harris Field) and the St. Augustine Saints (Lewis Park) * Gord Brown,
SABR... and of course... the DeLand Reds who were tabbed as members of the
Cincinnati Reds organization. Only Jackie Robinson Ballpark in Daytona still
exists today. |