Photographs courtesy of Halls Nostalgia |
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
(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. |