Clearwater Threshers Founded in 1985 Clearwater, Florida |
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Class-level | |||||
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Current | A-Advanced (1990-Present) | ||||
Previous | Class A (1985-1989) | ||||
Minor league affiliations | |||||
League | Florida State League | ||||
Division | North Division | ||||
Major league affiliations | |||||
Current | Philadelphia Phillies (1985–present) | ||||
Minor league titles | |||||
League titles (2) |
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Division titles (1) |
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Team data | |||||
Nickname | Clearwater Threshers (2004–present) | ||||
Previous names
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Clearwater Phillies (1985–2003) | ||||
Ballpark | Spectrum Field (2004–present) | ||||
Previous parks
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Jack Russell Memorial Stadium (1985–2003) | ||||
Owner(s)/
Operator(s) |
Philadelphia Phillies | ||||
Manager | Chris Truby | ||||
General Manager | John Timberlake |
The Clearwater Threshers are a minor league baseball team that currently plays in the Florida State League. Since 2009, the team competes in the North Division.
The team plays its home games at Spectrum Field in Clearwater, Florida which opened in 2004. Spectrum Field seats more than 7,000 fans. A single-game attendance record of 9,090 was set on July 3, 2008.
The team is the High-A affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies. The team has always been affiliated with the Phillies since 1985, the franchise's first season. From 1985 to 2003, the Clearwater Threshers were called the Clearwater Phillies. While as the Clearwater Phillies, the team played at Jack Russell Memorial Stadium from 1985 to 2003. When the team moved to the new Spectrum Field, it changed its name from Phillies to Threshers.
Clearwater city officials approached the Philadelphia Phillies as early as 1981 about locating a Phillies minor league affiliate at Jack Russell Stadium in Clearwater. In July 1982, in a visit to Philadelphia, Clearwater city officials and the president of the Florida State League again asked the Philadelphia Phillies about affiliating with a team to be based in Clearwater. The Amateur Softball Association Clearwater Bombers had long used Jack Russell Stadium during the summer months when the field would be reconfigured for softball. The placement of a minor league baseball team would mean the relocation of the Bombers.
The Florida State League granted the city of Clearwater a franchise on September 26, 1984. The Clearwater Phillies began play in 1985 after the Philadelphia Phillies ended their affiliation with their High Class A minor league team, the Carolina League Peninsula Pilots, based in Hampton, Virginia, and placed their new team at Jack Russell Stadium. The Philadelphia Phillies owned the franchise and named the club the Clearwater Phillies. The Clearwater Phillies played their first game on April 12, 1985, at home, against the Tampa Tarpons.