FSL Jays at Home in Clearwater

CLEARWATER, FLA.–The Jack Russell Memorial Stadium in Clearwater, Florida will be returning to professional baseball on April 7th this year when the Florida State League Dunedin Blue Jays take over as tenants.

The Dunedin team is being displaced by the construction that will be taking place at Dunedin Stadium at Grant Field in Dunedin.     Jack Russell Stadium opened in 1955 hosting the Philadelphia Phillies until 2003 before moving to Bright House Field now Spectrum Field across town.     The Clearwater Phillies also called the stadium home from 1985 until August 23, 2003 when the last professional game was played at the corner of Phillies Drive and Seminole Street in Clearwater.     The stadium hosted a number of events over it’s 60-plus years including the Rolling Stones first USA concert on May 6, 1965.     That was the trip to Clearwater that the Stones Keith Richards woke up in the middle of the night at the Ft. Harrison Hotel and recorded the riff “I Can’t Get No Satisfaction.”     Also on June 25, 1985 organist Wilber Snapp was ejected from the stadium for playing “Three Blind Mice” after a questionable call at the plate by the umpires.     The Clearwater Bombers 10-Time ASA Fastpitch Softball Champions used to call Jack Russell home drawing capacity crowds during their heyday.     Dunedin will play between 50-60 of their home games at Jack Russell Stadium during the FSL regular season and those hosting the Clearwater Threshers as the home team at Spectrum Field.     The seating at the renovated Jack Russell Stadium presently is under 700 without counting a couple of small metal bleachers.
Notes: At present the St. Petersburgh College and Clearwater High School baseball teams use Jack Russell Stadium.  Unfortunately both will have to vacate the stadium including club houses when it conflicts with the Dunedin Blue Jays games.