Crestview Braves

The Crestview Braves were a minor league baseball teams based in Crestview, Florida from 1954 and 1956. Crestview teams played exclusively as members of the Alabama-Florida League .

The Crestview Braves were a minor league affiliate of the Chicago Cubs in 1956.

History[]

Minor league baseball in Crestview, Florida began in the 1954 season. The Crestview "Braves" became members of the six–team Class D level Alabama-Florida League. The Andalusia-Opp Indians, Dothan Rebels, Fort Walton Beach Jets, Graceville Oilers and Panama City Fliers joined Crestview in the league, beginning play on April 15, 1954.^[1][2]

In their first season of play, the Crestview Braves did not qualify for the 1954 Alabama-Florida League playoffs. With a record of 55–59, playing under manager Papa Williams, the Braved placed 5th and finished 16.5 games the Dothan Rebels in the final regular season standings. Crestview did not qualify for the playoffs, won by the Graceville Oilers. Neal Cobb of Crestview won the Alabama-Florida League batting title, hitting .432, with a league leading 188 hits.^[3][4][5]

In 1955 Alabama State League play, the Crestview Braves advanced to the finals in the six–team Alabama-Florida League. The Braves ended the regular season with a 54–66 record, playing under manager Nesbit Wilson and placed 4th, advancing to the four–team playoffs. Crestview finished 19.0 games behind the 1st place Panama City Fliers in the final Alabama-Florida League regular season standings. In the playoffs, the Braves defeated the Fort Walton Beach Jets 4 games to 1 to advance. In the Finals, the Panama City Fliers won the championship by defeating Crestview 3 games 1. Player/manager Nesbit Wilson hit .403 to lead the Alabama-Florida League in hitting, while teammate Jeff Wadkins won 20 games to lead the league.^{[3][6][7][2][8]}

Crestview played their final minor league season in 1956, becoming a minor league affiliate of the Chicago Cubs and keeping their "Braves" nickname. The Crestview Braves placed 5th in the six–team Alabama-Florida League final standings. With an overall record of 51–59, playing under manager Walt Dixon, Crestview ended their final season 19.0 games behind the 1st place Graceville Oilers in the league standings. Crestview did not qualify for the four–team playoffs, won by the Donalsonville Seminoles. The Crestview franchise permanently folded following the 1954 season, replaced by the Pensacola Dons in league play.^{[3][9][10][11]}

Crestview, Florida has not hosted another minor league team.^[12]

The ballparks[]

The Crestview Braves were noted to have hosted minor league home games at Richbourg Field.^[13][14]

(2008) Main Street. National Register of Historic Places. Crestview, Florida

Timeline[]

Year–by–year records[]

Notable alumni[]

See also[]

Crestview Braves players

References[]

External references[]

Baseball Reference Bullpen
Baseball Reference