League Florida State League Previous parks Chain of Lakes Park | League titles 1 (1979) | |
Previous Class A-Advanced (1990-1992)
Class A (1966-1989) Previous Boston Red Sox (1969-1994)
New York Mets (1967)
Chicago White Sox (1966) Previous names Winter Haven Red Sox (1969-1992)
Winter Haven Mets (1967)
Winter Haven Sun Sox (1966)
Deerfield Beach Sun Sox (1966) | ||
The Winter Haven Red Sox were a minor league baseball team in the Florida State League, based in Winter Haven, Florida. However the team began life in Deerfield Beach, Florida, as the Deerfield Beach Sun Sox, a Class-A affiliate of the Chicago White Sox. However the team moved in the middle of their inaugural season, on June 27, 1966, to Winter Haven becoming the Winter Haven Sun Sox. The team was managed by Don Bacon and Bruce Andrew and had a 55-83 record overall.
In 1967, the Sun Sox were renamed the Winter Haven Mets after their new affiliate, the New York Mets. The Mets posted a 94-46, but were defeated by the St. Petersburg Cardinals for the western division title by two and a half games.
The Winter Haven Mets only existed one year before they were renamed the Winter Haven Red Sox in 1969 and became an affiliate of the Boston Red Sox, until folding in 1992.