The Florence Blue Jays Baseball Club was a minor league baseball team based in Florence, South Carolina.
They began play in the South Atlantic League in 1981 where they eventually captured the league title in 1985.
After the 1986 season the team relocated and became the Myrtle Beach Blue Jays (now the Hagerstown Suns).
They were a minor league club of the Toronto Blue Jays and played at American Legion Stadium.
Notable alumni
Geronimo Berroa (1985) Pat Borders (1983-1984, 1986) 1992 World Series Most Valuable Player Tony Castillo (1984) Rob Ducey (1985) Cecil Fielder (1983) 3 x MLB All-Star Glenallen Hill (1984) Jimmy Key (1982) 5 x MLB All-Star; 1987 AL ERA Title Nelson Liriano (1983) Fred McGriff (1983) 5 x MLB All-Star José Mesa (1983-1984) 2 x MLB All-Star Greg Myers (1985) Mike Sharperson (1982) MLB All-Star David Wells (1986) 3 x MLB All-Star; 239 MLB Wins
Year-by-Year Record Year Record Finish Manager Attendance Playoffs Team MVP 1981 66-72 6th Dennis Holmberg 74,645 1982 77-64 3rd Dennis Holmberg 54,446 Defeated Charleston 2–0 in South Division championship Lost to Greensboro 3–2 in league championship Ken Kinnard 1983 71-72 5th Dennis Holmberg 54,779 Cecil Fielder 1984 65-73 8th Dennis Holmberg 44,217 Pat Borders 1985 82-55 1st Hector Torres 41,546 Defeated Columbia 2–0 in South Division championship Defeated Greensboro 3–2 in league championship Sil Campusano 1986 56-76 7th (t) Hector Torres 36,010 Pedro Muñoz
South Atlantic League All-Stars First Base: Cecil Fielder (1983) Second Base: Garry Harris (1981) Shortstop: Ralph "Rocket" Wheeler (1981), Santiago Garcia (1985) Catcher: Dave Stenhouse (1983) Pitcher: Tim England (1985) Outfield: Sil Campusano (1985)(also league Most Valuable Player for 1985) Manager: Hector Torres (1985)
South Atlantic League Season Leaders
Pitching Shutouts: 3, Doug Welenc (1981) Strikeouts: 186, Devallon Harper (1982) 210, Tim Englund (1985) Strikeouts per 9 innings: 10.14, Devallon Harper (1982) Winning Percentage: .750, Tim Englund (1985) (18-6) Games Started: 30, Tim Englund (1985) 28, Mike Jones (1986) Wins: 18, Tim Englund (1985) Saves: 18, Joey Pursell (1982) Games Finished: 46, Joey Pursell (1982) Runs Allowed: 116, Jose Mesa (1983) 116, Dane Johnson (1986) Earned Runs Allowed: 96, Dane Johnson (1986)
Hitting Runs Batted In: 85, Pat Borders (1984) (tied with one other) Stolen Bases: 83, Bernie Tatis (1982) Caught Stealing: 18, Bernie Tatis (1982) Slugging Percentage: .443, Pat Borders (1984) At Bats: 502, Webster Garrison (1984) Doubles: 35, Santiago Garcia (1985) Struck Out: 208, Darrell Landrum (1985)(tied all-time league record) 161, Wayne Davis (1986)
References Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball: The Official Record of Minor League Baseball Editors – Lloyd Johnson, Miles Wolff. Publisher: Baseball America, 2007. Format: Hardback, 767 pp. Language: English.