Tampa Spring Training stories - Rick Vaughn

Rick Vaughn’s book "Tampa Spring Training Tales," brings the past to life  & opens up a wealth of enjoyable stories including the Chicago Cubs, Tampa Smokers, Reds, White Sox & Red Sox @ historic Plant & Al Lopez FieldsTed Williams, Wade Boggs, Jackie Robinson, Pete Rose and Al Lopez are just a few of the people we discuss this week on Florida BaseballBiz with Rick.“Chubby” Cubs owner is enamored with Tampa100th years of Spring TrainingTampa Mayor McKay was also PublisherWrigley moves Cubs from Tampa to out West1952 – Yankees celebrated their 50th anniversary at Columbia restaurant1955 World Series winners receive their awards in TampaReds extraordinary long-lasting relationship with Tampa BayBig Red Machine first gathers in TampaAl Lopez Field tore down as interest in Major League team risesYankees Core FourWade Boggs discovers he is going to the show from Johnny Bench100 Major Leaguers came through Plant Field & Al Lopez Field1940 All-Star game in Tampa for Finnish Relief Fund with Joe DiMaggio, Ted Williams, Jimmy Foxx, Hank Greenberg and Bob FellerSegregation of players by color – they could not stay at the same hotelsCardinals bought Outrigger motel in St. Pete so they could house all players at 1 locationTampa Bay Hotel proximity to Plant FieldBabe Ruth’s longest Home Run, 587 feet, hit at Plant Field on April 4, 1919Ted Williams spits at fans first in TampaTim Kurkjian of ESPN – good friend and sounding boardFrank Howard & Ted Willams storyTampa Smokers, St. Pete Saints and a bull fightBaseball as a unifier amongst the many cultures in Ybor / Tampa1963 – Pete Rose – Rookie Year – Charlie Hustle emergesJFK at Al Lopez FieldCharitable work with Metropolitan Mission, Clearwater Youth & the Homeless Empowerment Program.Rick also keeps score for Florida Complex LeagueSpecial Thanks to the Tampa Baseball Museum for background information on Tampa Baseball Spring Training - discover more at https://www.tampabaseballmuseum.org Notes generated in part by DeScript#RaysUp