The Historical Society of Avon ParkAVON PARK, FL · EST. 1886
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The St. Louis Cardinals Spring Training Fixtures and Log at Avon Park (1927–1929)

A comprehensive survey of contemporary 1927–1929 Florida and national newspapers — notably the daily sports coverage of La Gaceta (Tampa), the Evening Star (Washington, D.C.), and Associated Press despatches — corroborates the day-by-day operations, stadium development, financial terms, and game fixtures of the St. Louis Cardinals during their three spring seasons at Cardinal Field in Avon Park.[gaceta-1927-03-07][star-1927-03-21]

1. Contract Structure and Stadium Improvements

Lease and Municipal Financing

Contemporary coverage in La Gaceta on 25 March 1927 details the legal structure of the Cardinals’ training agreement:[gaceta-1927-03-25]

  • St. Louis Cardinals club president Sam Breadon signed a formal three-year contract spanning the 1927, 1928, and 1929 spring training seasons.
  • Breadon leased the newly constructed ballpark from a private syndicate of local Avon Park civic leaders (headed by Col. Charles R. Head), who had acquired and developed the five-acre grounds and arranged reciprocal lease agreements with the municipality.[gaceta-1927-03-25]
  • On 21 March 1929, sports commentary reviewing Grapefruit League subsidies recorded that Avon Park paid an annual municipal guarantee of $7,500 to host the Cardinals (compared to $10,000–$12,000 paid to the New York Yankees in St. Petersburg).[gaceta-1929-03-21]

1928 Steel Grandstand Roof

On 5 January 1928, prior to the team’s second spring camp, La Gaceta reported that facilities at Avon Park were fully prepared and that a municipal contract had been formally awarded to complete the grandstand roof using structural steel framing to protect spectators from rain and sun.[gaceta-1928-01-05]

2. Documented Spring Fixture Log (1927–1929)

1927 Season

  • 7 March 1927: Newly acquired second baseman Frankie Frisch trained at Avon Park following his high-profile trade from the New York Giants for Rogers Hornsby; club president Sam Breadon expressed complete satisfaction with Frisch’s play at the Avon Park camp.[gaceta-1927-03-07]
  • 18 March 1927: World Series hero shortstop Tommy Thevenow settled his salary contract and departed for Avon Park to join squad workouts.[gaceta-1927-03-18]
  • 21–22 March 1927: Washington Senators visited Avon Park for a two-game series against the reigning World Champion Cardinals; manager Bucky Harris, Clark Griffith, and Sam Rice utilized the newly opened Pinecrest golf links during the series.[star-1927-03-21]

1928 Season

  • 28 February 1928: Star first baseman Jim Bottomley reported for duty at Avon Park camp.[gaceta-1928-02-28]
  • 6 March 1928: Pitchers Flint and Flint Rhem ended contract holdouts and reported to the Avon Park facility.[gaceta-1928-03-06]
  • 8 March 1928 (Grapefruit League Season Opener): Washington Senators played the Cardinals at Avon Park; Senators manager Bucky Harris started left-handers Wells and Griffis and tested infielders Gillis and Reeves.[gaceta-1928-03-08][star-1928-03-08]
  • 8 March 1928 (Final Score): Cardinals 6, Washington Senators 5; Harris used pitchers Griffin, Roy, and Wells; George Sisler and Joe Judge shared first base for Washington.[gaceta-1928-03-09]
  • 16 March 1928: Exhibition contest against the New York Yankees; the Cardinals defeated the Yankees 8 to 3 before an estimated 5,000 spectators.[newspaper-1928-03-17] Babe Ruth hit a towering home run out of Cardinal Field into the adjacent residential street (renamed Ruth Street), and Avon Park boosters presented Ruth with a commemorative 52-inch, 14-pound engraved bat.[newspaper-1928-03-17][byrne-cardinals] Morning newspapers nationwide published the box score and game recap on 17 March 1928.[newspaper-1928-03-17]
  • 20–23 March 1928: Cardinals concluded late-spring workouts and fixtures at Avon Park before embarking on northern exhibition tours, as reported by wire dispatches in The Indianapolis Times and The Brownsville Herald (datelined “AVON PARK, Fla., March 21”).[indianapolis-times-1928-03-20][brownsville-herald-1928-03-23]

1929 Season

  • 4 March 1929: New manager Billy Southworth conducted intensive spring training sessions with veteran players and minor league prospects at Avon Park.[star-1929-03-06]
  • 7 March 1929: Connie Mack’s Philadelphia Athletics traveled to Avon Park for an exhibition fixture against the Cardinals.[gaceta-1929-03-07]
  • 14 March 1929: Washington Senators 12, Cardinals 9 at Avon Park; Joe Judge played first base for the Senators.[gaceta-1929-03-15]
  • 21 March 1929: Cardinals 14, Philadelphia Phillies 7 at Avon Park; outfielder Chick Hafey hit a bases-loaded grand slam home run.[gaceta-1929-03-22]

References

Where this comes from

Evidence
corroborated — More than one independent source agrees.
Review
unverified — Drafted from sources but not yet checked by a volunteer.
Rights
society

Sources

  1. La Gaceta, Tampa, La Gaceta (Tampa, Fla.), 7 March 1927, page 3: Frankie Frisch in Avon Park (1927)
  2. La Gaceta, Tampa, La Gaceta (Tampa, Fla.), 18 March 1927, page 3: Tommy Thevenow signs (1927)
  3. La Gaceta, Tampa, La Gaceta (Tampa, Fla.), 25 March 1927, page 4: Cardinals three-year contract and park lease (1927)
  4. La Gaceta, Tampa, La Gaceta (Tampa, Fla.), 5 January 1928, page 3: Steel roof contract for grandstand (1928)
  5. La Gaceta, Tampa, La Gaceta (Tampa, Fla.), 28 February 1928, page 3: Jim Bottomley and Flint Rhem (1928)
  6. La Gaceta, Tampa, La Gaceta (Tampa, Fla.), 6 March 1928, page 3: Pitchers report to Avon Park (1928)
  7. La Gaceta, Tampa, La Gaceta (Tampa, Fla.), 8 March 1928, page 3: Senators vs. Cardinals opener (1928)
  8. La Gaceta, Tampa, La Gaceta (Tampa, Fla.), 9 March 1928, page 3: Cardinals 6, Senators 5 (1928)
  9. La Gaceta, Tampa, La Gaceta (Tampa, Fla.), 7 March 1929, page 4: Cardinals vs. Athletics at Avon Park (1929)
  10. La Gaceta, Tampa, La Gaceta (Tampa, Fla.), 15 March 1929, page 3: Senators 12, Cardinals 9 (1929)
  11. La Gaceta, Tampa, La Gaceta (Tampa, Fla.), 21 March 1929, page 3: Municipal training guarantees (1929)
  12. La Gaceta, Tampa, La Gaceta (Tampa, Fla.), 22 March 1929, page 4: Cardinals 14, Phillies 7 (1929)
  13. John B. Keller, Evening Star, Nationals at Avon Park for Pair of Contests, Evening Star (Washington, D.C.), 21 March 1927 (1927)
  14. Denman Thompson, Evening Star, Veteran Griff Pitchers in Fine Form, Evening Star (Washington, D.C.), 8 March 1928 (1928)
  15. Brian Bell, Associated Press, in the Evening Star, Southworth Keeping Cardinals Busy, Evening Star (Washington, D.C.), 6 March 1929 (1929)
  16. Jason Byrne, Florida History Blog, Cardinals Played in Avon Park from 1927-1929 (2026) · secondary
  17. Associated Press / United Press Wire Dispatches, 17 March 1928: Cardinals Defeat Yankees 8–3 at Avon Park (1928) · newspaper
  18. Cardinals Training Notes and Exhibitions, The Indianapolis Times, 20 March 1928, page 8 (1928) · newspaper
  19. Cardinals Camp Dispatch (datelined 'AVON PARK, Fla., March 21'), The Brownsville Herald, 23 March 1928, page 10 (1928) · newspaper

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