The Florida Winter Baseball League, based in Miami, Florida, is a professional baseball organization located in Florida. It is based in Pompano Beach, Florida.
History
The Florida Winter Baseball League (FWBL) was a professional sports league, which began its inaugural season in October 2009.
The FWBL was a four team league which planned to play a 60-game schedule through the winter months in various Floridian markets. It was planned to feature players from the low levels of the minors, rookie leagues and A ball.LET’S PLAY TWO: Winter Baseball League to bring 2nd attraction to Memorial Stadium The league featured teams from Cocoa, Miami, Lake County and Seminole County.
The FWBL suspended operations on November 18, 2009 after completing 25% of its inaugural season, or 15 games. The organization did not raise all of the initial startup capital it required.Florida Winter Baseball League Suspends Operations The poorly run league had trouble paying the players and reports existed of player paychecks bouncing.The FWBL Flop
A separate league, called Florida Winter League Baseball, featuring overlooked college players or released pro players is scheduled to open in January 2012. It is unclear if the leagues have any connection other than similar names.
A league by this name resurfaced in 2015 and featured four teams: The Broward Waverunners, the Collier County Loggerheads, the Miami-Dade Red Snappers and the Palm Beach Spoonbills. It is based in Pompano Beach, Florida.
League commissioner Jamie Siragusa had been a player in the independent Empire State League in 1987 and reorganized the FWBL in 2015, following the Empire State League's single complex format.
Teams TeamCityStadiumMiami DiamantesMiami, FloridaUniversity Park StadiumLake County Black BearsLeesburg, FloridaPat Thomas StadiumSeminole County NaturalsSanford, FloridaHistoric Sanford Memorial StadiumSpace Coast SurgeCocoa, FloridaCocoa Expo Sports Center
2015–2016 season
The season was completed. Miami-Dade Red Snappers Won FWBL Championship 2015
TeamWinLossTiesGamesMiami Dade Red Snappers 11 2 1 14Broward Waverunners 6 8 1 15Collier County Loggerheads 6 8 0 14Palm Beach Spoonbills 5 10 0 15
2009–2010 season
The season was incomplete and interrupted after 30 games played
TeamWinLossStreakLake County Black Bears 11 4 W3Seminole County Naturals 9 6 W5Miami Diamantes 8 7 L3Space Coast Surge 2 13 L5
References