Fort Myers Palms

On July 10, 1925, John Wall Hendry, a young, energetic real estate dealer who was intensely passionate about baseball announced he had purchased the Sanford Celeryfeds a professional minor league baseball franchise for the City of Fort Myers.[2] The next day, Charley Britt, owner of the Sanford club, reneged on his verbal agreement to sell the team after new backers agreed to put up the $5,000 needed to keep the Celeryfeds in Sanford.[3] A week later, Hendry offered to purchase the Lakeland Highlanders, for $7,000, but ended discussions when Clare Henley, president of the Lakeland franchise made a counter proposal.[4] Hendry was successful in his application for a Florida State League franchise for Fort Myers in 1926.[5]

On March 22, 1926, in front of 1,500 fans at Terry Park, the Palms won the first game in franchise history, defeating the St. Petersburg Saints 3-0.[6] In the third inning, Palms shortstop Mike Bouza tripled and then stole home. Palms pitcher Joe Hernandez gave up 9 hits and hit two batters (including beaning Saints shortstop Dick Luckey in the sixth) but pitched a complete game shutout for the Palms.[7] The Palms finished April with a 7 and 1 record and sole possession of first place in the Florida State League standings. There was plenty of interest and buzz about the Palms throughout the city, even when the team was away, but attendance when the Palms were home was light and financial support for the team was lacking.[8]

In 1926, Hendry Brothers Realty Co. occupied the first floor of the Heitman Building at First and Jackson Streets in Fort Myers, Florida. This location also served as the business office for the Fort Myers Baseball Club.

On June 23, 1926, John Wall Hendry made a formal announcement that he was unable to continue to personally finance the team, and the Fort Myers franchise would be surrendered at the end of the first half of the Florida State League season.[9] Two days later, Hendry hosted a meeting with representatives of the Lions Club and a committees of the Chamber of Commerce at his Hendry Brothers Realty Company office. It was agreed the Lions and Chamber committee members would go door to door to solicit donations from businesses and citizens to raise the $3,000 needed for the Palms to complete the season in Fort Myers.[10]

Over the next three days, the names of 137 citizens (and businesses) and the amount of their donations were itemized in the Fort Myers Tropical News. Fort Myers Chief of Police, Larkin Moses Stroup, made the first donation, $25.[11] By the end of June, the Lions had raised $1,740.50. Encouraged by the financial support, John Wall Hendry agreed to continue the season in Fort Myers.[12] The Palms finished the first half of the Florida State League season in third place with a record of 34 wins and 25 losses.[13]

At the end of July, the Palms were in first place with a second half record of 14 wins and 9 losses.[14] By the end of August, the Palms had slipped to third place, just one game behind the league leading Orlando Colts.[15] On September 7, 1926 the Palms were in first place with a 32 win 22 loss record.[16] The Palms lost 5 of their last 6 games and finished the second half of the Florida State League season in fifth place with a record of 33 wins and 27 losses.[17] In 1926, the Fort Myers Palms won more games (67) than any other team in the Florida State League, but the Sanford Celeryfeds won the first and second half pennants by percentage points and were the league champions.[18]

On January 18, 1927, the mid-winter meeting of the directors of the Florida State League was held in Sanford, Florida. Fort Myers was not represented at the meeting. During the meeting, the Fort Myers franchise was voted forfeited[19] for failing to meet league assessments and for failing to pay players during the latter part of the 1926 season.[20]

In 1927, Miami fielded its first team in the Florida State League. The team was known as the Miami Hustlers. This was made possible by W. B. Kirby, the former president of the Bradenton Growers who turned the Bradenton franchise over to Miami as his investment in the new club.[21]

Two members of the 1926 Fort Myers Palms played major league baseball:

• Joe (Cheo) Hernandez, Cuban Stars (West), 1920[22]
• Jim Moore, Cleveland Indians, 1928-29;[23] and Chicago White Sox, 1930[24]

In addition to the 1926 Fort Myers Palms, Fort Myers has been home to two additional minor league franchises:

• Fort Myers Royals, affiliate of the Kansas City Royals, 1978-1987
• Fort Myers Mighty Mussels, (formerly the Fort Myers Miracle), affiliate of the Minnesota Twins 1992 - present