The Georgia–Florida League was a minor baseball league that existed from 1935 through 1958 (suspending operations during World War II) and in 1962–1963. It was one of many Class D circuits that played in the

Southeastern United States The Southeastern United States, also referred to as the American Southeast or simply the Southeast, is a geographical region of the United States. It is located broadly on the eastern portion of the southern United States and the southern por ...

during the postwar period—a group that included the

Georgia State League The Georgia State League was an American Class D minor league in professional baseball that existed in 1906, 1914, 1920–1921 and 1948–1956. During its last incarnation, it existed alongside two nearby Class D circuits, the Georgia–Florida Le ...

Georgia–Alabama League The Georgia–Alabama League was a minor league baseball league that operated in its two namesake states. The circuit first operated from 1913 to 1917, was revived from 1928 to 1930, then returned to operation for a final time from 1946 through 1 ...

Florida State League The Florida State League (FSL) is a Minor League Baseball league based in the state of Florida. Having been classified at various levels throughout its existence, it operated at Class A-Advanced from 1990 until its demotion to Single-A following ...

, and the

Alabama State League The Alabama State League was a minor league baseball league that played between 1940 and 1950, with an interruption due to World War II. The Alabama State League was a Class D (baseball), Class D level league. The Alabama State League consisted of ...

. The GFL's longest-serving clubs represented Moultrie, Thomasville and Albany, all in

Georgia Georgia most commonly refers to: * Georgia (country), a country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia * Georgia (U.S. state), a state in the Southeast United States Georgia may also refer to: Places Historical states and entities * Related to the ...

. While it managed to survive the downturn in minor league baseball attendance through 1958 and experienced only a handful of in-season franchise shifts (and no in-season team foldings), its member clubs frequently switched affiliations and identities. In

1963 Events January * January 1 – Bogle–Chandler case: Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation scientist Dr. Gilbert Bogle and Mrs. Margaret Chandler are found dead (presumed poisoned), in bushland near the Lane Cov ...

, the minor leagues reorganized and the Georgia–Florida League was designated Class A. But there were only four teams in the '63 GFL, and its champion, the

Thomasville Tigers Thomasville may refer to: *Thomasville, Alabama *Thomasville, Georgia *Thomasville, Iowa *Thomasville, Missouri *Thomasville, North Carolina *Thomasville, Pennsylvania Other uses *Thomasville Furniture Industries, a company named after Thomasville ...

, a

Detroit Detroit ( , ; , ) is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is also the largest U.S. city on the United States–Canada border, and the seat of government of Wayne County. The City of Detroit had a population of 639,111 at th ...

affiliate, attracted only 7,234 fans over the entire course of a home schedule of over 60 games—an average of about 120 fans per game. Attendance woes such as that sealed the league's fate; it folded that autumn and has not since been revived.

Cities represented

Albany, GA Albany ( ) is a city in the U.S. state of Georgia. Located on the Flint River, it is the seat of Dougherty County, and is the sole incorporated city in that county. Located in southwest Georgia, it is the principal city of the Albany, Georgia ...

: Albany Travelers 1935–1938;

Albany Cardinals The Albany Cardinals were a minor league baseball club, based in Albany, Georgia, that existed between 1935 and 1958. It was member of the Class D Georgia–Florida League and an affiliate with the St. Louis Cardinals, through most of their existen ...

1939–1942, 1946–1958 * Americus, GA: Americus Cardinals 1935–1938; Americus Pioneers 1939–1942; Americus Phillies 1946–1950; Americus Rebels 1951; Americus-Cordele Orioles 1954 * Brunswick, GA:

Brunswick Pirates The Brunswick Pirates were a minor league baseball team based in Brunswick, Georgia. The team was a member of the Georgia–Florida League and a Class D affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates from 1951 to 1956. In 1957 the team played as the Brunsw ...

1951–1956; Brunswick Phillies 1957–1958;

Brunswick Cardinals Brunswick is the historical English name for the German city of Braunschweig ( Low German: ''Brunswiek'', Braunschweig dialect: ''Bronswiek''). Brunswick may also refer to: Places and other topographs Australia * Brunswick, Victoria, a suburb ...

1962–1963 * Cordele, GA: Cordele Reds 1936–1938; Cordele Bees 1939–1940; Cordele Reds 1941–1942; Cordele White Sox 1946; Cordele Indians 1947–1949; Cordele A's 1950–1953; Cordele Orioles 1955 * Dothan, AL: Dothan Browns 1942 * Dublin, GA: Dublin Orioles 1958; Dublin Braves 1962 * Fitzgerald, GA: Fitzgerald Pioneers 1953; Fitzgerald Redlegs 1954; Fitzgerald A's 1956; Fitzgerald Orioles 1957 *

Moultrie, GA Moultrie is the county seat and largest city of Colquitt County, Georgia, United States. It is the third largest city in Southwest Georgia, behind Thomasville and Albany. As of the 2010 census, Moultrie's population was 14,268. It was original ...

Moultrie Steers Moultrie may refer to: * Moultrie (name) * Moultrie, Georgia, a town * Moultrie, Ohio, an unincorporated community * Moultrie County, Illinois * Fort Moultrie Fort Moultrie is a series of fortifications on Sullivan's Island, South ...

1935;

Moultrie Packers The Moultrie Packers were a class D, and class A minor league baseball team, based in Moultrie, Georgia, founded by J.S. Dillard. History Moultrie teams played in the Dixie League from 1916 to 1917 and the Georgia–Florida League from 1935 t ...

1936–1942, 1946–1947; Moultrie Athletics 1948–1949; Moultrie Cubs 1950; Moultrie To-Baks 1951; Moultrie Giants 1952; Moultrie Reds 1955–1956; Moultrie Phillies 1957; Moultrie Colt .22s 1962–1963 *

Panama City, FL Panama City is a city in and the county seat of Bay County, Florida, Bay County, Florida, United States. Located along U.S. Route 98 in Florida, U.S. Highway 98 (US 98), it is the largest city between Tallahassee, Florida, Tallahassee and ...

: Panama City Pilots 1935 *

Tallahassee, FL Tallahassee ( ) is the capital city of the U.S. state of Florida. It is the county seat and only incorporated municipality in Leon County. Tallahassee became the capital of Florida, then the Florida Territory, in 1824. In 2020, the population ...

: Tallahassee Capitols/Caps 1935–1942; Tallahassee Pirates 1946–1950 Tallahassee Capitols/Caps * Thomasville, GA: Thomasville Orioles 1935-1939; Thomasville Tourists 1940;

Thomasville Lookouts Thomasville may refer to: *Thomasville, Alabama *Thomasville, Georgia *Thomasville, Iowa *Thomasville, Missouri *Thomasville, North Carolina *Thomasville, Pennsylvania Other uses *Thomasville Furniture Industries Thomasville Furniture Industries w ...

1941;

1946–1950; Thomasville Tomcats 1952; Thomasville Dodgers 1953–1958;

1962–1963 * Tifton, GA: Tifton Blue Sox 1951–1953; Tifton Indians 1954; Tifton Blue Sox 1955; Tifton Phillies 1956 *

Valdosta, GA Valdosta is a city in and the county seat of Lowndes County, Georgia, United States. As of 2019, Valdosta had an estimated population of 56,457. Valdosta is the principal city of the Valdosta Metropolitan Statistical Area, which in 2021 had a ...

: Valdosta Trojans 1939–1942;

Valdosta Dodgers Valdosta is a city in and the county seat of Lowndes County, Georgia, United States. As of 2019, Valdosta had an estimated population of 56,457. Valdosta is the principal city of the Valdosta Metropolitan Statistical Area, which in 2021 had ...

1946–1952; Valdosta Browns 1953;

Valdosta Tigers The Valdosta Tigers were a "Class-D" minor league baseball team, based in Valdosta, Georgia, that operated in the Georgia–Florida League, from to . The club played its home games at Pendleton Park, which was located on the current site of Sou ...

1954–1958 * Waycross, GA:

Waycross Bears Waycross may refer to: *Waycross, Georgia *Waycross College (1973-2013), former two-year public college *Waycross, Indiana Waycross is an unincorporated community in Jackson Township, Brown County, in the U.S. state of Indiana. The community i ...

1939–1942, 1946–1955;

Waycross Braves The Waycross Braves were a minor league baseball team located in Waycross, Georgia, United States. An affiliate of the Milwaukee Braves, they played in the Georgia–Florida League The Georgia–Florida League was a minor baseball league that ...

1956–1958, 1963

References

* Johnson, Lloyd, and Wolff, Miles, editors: ''The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball''. Durham, North Carolina:

Baseball America ''Baseball America'' is a sports enterprise that covers baseball at every level, including MLB, with a particular focus on up-and-coming players in the MiLB, college, high school, and international leagues. It is currently published in the form o ...

, 1997. {{DEFAULTSORT:Georgia-Florida League Defunct minor baseball leagues in the United States Baseball leagues in Florida Baseball leagues in Georgia (U.S. state) Sports leagues established in 1935 Sports leagues disestablished in 1963 Baseball leagues in Alabama