The Florence Blue Jays Baseball Club was a minor league baseball team based in Florence, South Carolina.

Florence Blue Jays
Minor league affiliations
Previous classesClass A
LeagueSouth Atlantic League
DivisionSouth Division
Major league affiliations
Previous teamsToronto Blue Jays (1981-1986)
Minor league titles
League titles 1985
Division titles 1982, 1985
Team data
Previous parks
American Legion Stadium (1981-1986)

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

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Year-by-Year Record

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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

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  • 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

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Pitching

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  • 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

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  • 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

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  • 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. ISBN 978-1-932391-17-6