06/02/2026
In Major League Baseball - the St. Louis Cardinals have a long and storied history that goes back to the 1890s. They've won 19 National League Pennants and 11 World Series Titles over the years - the most of any National League team and the second-most of any team - second to the legendary New York Yankees.
Their first World Series Title occurred in 1926 when they beat the Yankees 4 games to 3. They were National League Champions in both 1926 and 1928. Why is that so notable locally ?
It's because those St. Louis Cardinals called Avon Park their Spring Training home during the February and March 1927, 1928, and 1929 seasons. That's right - the World Series Champion St. Louis Cardinals played their exhibition games here in Avon Park at the brand-new Cardinal Field. And those games drew fans from all over the Heartland region - from Lake Placid to Lake Wales.
Perhaps the most memorable Spring Training game occurred on March 16TH 1928 when the New York Yankees came to town. "The Iron Horse" Lou Gehrig was there. "The Bambino" Babe Ruth was there. In fact - "The Sultan Of Swat" Babe Ruth hit a home run out of the park that landed in the street. That street is now known as Ruth Street.
It was a businessman in Avon Park - Colonel Charles R. Head - who convinced his longtime friend - the owner of the Cardinals - to bring his team here to train. And what was once Cardinal Field - is now Charles R. Head Field - located in-between Anoka, Winthrop, Emmanuel, and Ruth. Nowadays - the Avon Park Red Devils of Avon Park High School continue Avon Park's baseball tradition of the past 100 years.
