TheWinter Haven Red Sox were aminor league baseball team in theFlorida State League (FSL), based inWinter Haven, Florida, from 1969–1992.

The franchise began in 1966 inDeerfield Beach, Florida, as theDeerfield Beach Sun Sox, a Class-A affiliate of theChicago White Sox. However, on June 27, 1966, the team moved to Winter Haven becoming theWinter Haven Sun Sox. It was the city's first entry inOrganized Baseball since the 1919Bartow Polkers played part of their home schedule in Winter Haven. The Sun Sox were managed byDon Bacon and Bruce Andrew and had a 55–83 record overall.^{[citation needed]}

In 1967, the Sun Sox were renamed theWinter Haven Mets after their new parent club, theNew York Mets. The Mets posted a stellar 94–46 record, but were defeated by theSt. Petersburg Cardinals for the western division title by two and a half games.Nolan Ryan, then 20, pitched for the 1967 team, appearing in onegame as astarting pitcher and allowing onehit and oneearned run in fourinnings pitched, with fivestrikeouts. It was Ryan's last year in the minors before he began hisBaseball Hall of Fame big-league career.

The Mets left Winter Haven after only a single season, then the franchise lay dormant during 1968. In 1969, theBoston Red Sox, who had established theirspring training home in Winter Haven in 1966, took over the Florida State League franchise. The Winter Haven Red Sox then played for the next 24 consecutive seasons. In 1983, 16 years after Ryan's one-game stint,Roger Clemens began his pro career with Winter Haven, winning three of fourdecisions in four starts, and striking out 36 in 29 innings pitched.

The Winter Haven Red Sox effectively folded after the 1992 season, when, after 27 years, the parent Red Sox moved their spring headquarters toFort Myers and their FSL affiliate toFort Lauderdale. Although theCleveland Indians replaced the Red Sox as Winter Haven's spring training tenants from 1993 through 2008, they never revived an FSL franchise for the city.

The team played home games atChain of Lakes Park, located at 500 Cletus Allen Drive.^[1] The park still exists as part of the Chain of Lakes Sports Complex.

• Baseball teams established in 1966
• Winter Haven, Florida
• Deerfield Beach, Florida
• Sports in Polk County, Florida
• Defunct Florida State League teams
• New York Mets minor league affiliates
• Boston Red Sox minor league affiliates
• Chicago White Sox minor league affiliates
• 1966 establishments in Florida
• 1992 disestablishments in Florida
• Defunct baseball teams in Florida
• Baseball teams disestablished in 1992

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