• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • About Us
  • Videos
    • Featured Video
    • Foodie Friday
    • Monthly ReCap
  • Online E-Editions
    • This Week’s E-Editions
    • 2023
    • 2022
    • 2021
    • 2020
    • 2019
    • 2018
    • 2017
    • 2016
    • 2015
    • 2014
  • Social Media
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Instagram
  • Advertising
  • Local Jobs
  • Puzzles & Games
  • Circulation Request

The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

       

Click to join our weekly e-newsletter

  • Home
  • News
    • Land O’ Lakes
    • Lutz
    • Wesley Chapel/New Tampa
    • Zephyrhills/East Pasco
    • Business Digest
    • Senior Parks
    • Nature Notes
    • Featured Stories
    • Photos of the Week
    • Reasons To Smile
  • Sports
    • Land O’ Lakes
    • Lutz
    • Wesley Chapel/New Tampa
    • Zephyrhills and East Pasco
    • Check This Out
  • Education
  • Pets/Wildlife
  • Health
    • Health Events
    • Health News
  • What’s Happening
  • Sponsored Content
    • Closer Look
  • Homes
  • Obits
  • Public Notices
    • Browse Notices
    • Place Notices

Tampa’s Baseball Museum scores a home run

April 5, 2022 By Mike Camunas

You might — and probably will be — greeted by a rooster.

No, it’s not on a farm, but one that roams the historic streets of Ybor City, some of which are still laid in brick from nearly a century ago.

And, tucked away on those historic streets, at 2003 N. 19th St., is the Tampa Baseball Museum.

The Tampa Tarpons played at Al Lopez Field until 1988, when the area anticipated a Major League Team to be awarded to Tampa. The region wasn’t awarded a professional team, then known as the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, until 1995. (Mike Camunas)

It opened in September and is inside the Al Lopez House, which was painstakingly moved from its original place in West Tampa to Ybor City.

Step inside the museum, and 135 years of Tampa baseball history and heritage greets visitors. It’s a place where 89 professional baseball players with Tampa roots are honored.

The impressive and immersive exhibit displays the rich and diverse stories dating back to long before the Tampa Bay area received a major league franchise.

Baseball and Cigars
In 1887, Ybor City was a small but crowded town with about 700 residents.

What else is there to do? Start a baseball team? Why not!

Residents would come by the hundreds to watch the team play other Florida teams. A decade later, the Cuban Cigar Industry came to Ybor City and the love of baseball bloomed.

Later in the 1910s, Spring Training would come to Tampa, with the Chicago Cubs playing on Plant Field. Six other teams would join the Cubs: the Cincinnati Reds, Boston Red Sox, Detroit Tigers, Washington Senators, Chicago White Sox and New York Yankees.

The Tampa Baseball Museum at the Al Lopez Home in Ybor City showcases elements and features from the rich baseball history in the Tampa Bay area, including original seats and home plate from Al Lopez Field. The field was demolished in 1989. (Mike Camunas)

Minor League teams formed shortly after this, including the Tampa Smokers in 1919 — one of the first teams of the Florida State League. That team ended in 1929, but not before it was able to sign and develop Al Lopez, its most pivotal player.

The man, the legend
Lopez, who grew up playing in the sandlots of Ybor City, made his major league debut in 1928, becoming the first Tampa native to enter the Majors.

After a career that lasted nearly 20 years, he would become a manager, doing that for nearly another 20 years. Lopez also is the first Tampa native to manage a major league team, the first to manage a team to a World Series and the first to be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame, which happened in 1977.

What’s baseball without a Cuban Cigar? Here are some that were part of the Havana Winter League in the 1960s.

Lopez’s 1,410 MLB managerial wins are ranked 11th all-time.

It’s why the original Al Lopez Field was named after him when it opened in 1955. It would host Spring Training games for the Cincinnati Reds and the Tampa Tarpons, the Reds Class-A minor league team at the time until it was demolished in 1989, when the Tampa Bay area began pursuing a major league expansion team.

If you visit this museum …
Take your time. There’s much more Tampa Baseball History than you’ll expect. There’s a continuous running video presentation and various timelines of the different aspect of baseball in Tampa, including Tampa Bay receiving the expansion Devil Rays, the Negro Leagues and baseball during wartime.

Be sure to check out the wall of signed balls that include older players, Hall of Famers and even current players.

And once you’re done, head out past the roosters and go get a Cuban sandwich, one to honor Mr. Lopez and his hometown.

Tampa Baseball Museum at the Al Lopez House
Where: 2003 N. 19th St., Tampa
When: Thursday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Cost: $12 adults, $10 Military, Seniors 65+, Students 18+ (ID required), $6 children
Details: An interactive history museum on the 135-year history of baseball in Tampa
Info: Call 813-400-2353, or visit TampaBaseballMuseum.org

Published April 06, 2022

The Tampa Baseball Museum has dozens of signed baseballs from Tampa natives who grew up playing baseball in Tampa, including current Rays manager Kevin Cash, West Tampa’s Lou Piniella and Tino Martinez, and even Mets’ first baseman Pete Alonso, who played for Plant High School.
One of Ybor City’s many roosters that roam the streets outside the Tampa Baseball Museum at the Al Lopez House.
Great care was taken to move the Al Lopez House, now known as the Tampa Baseball Museum. It was situated in West Tampa but is now on 19th Street, in Ybor City.

Share this:

  • Tweet
  • Share on Tumblr
  • Email
  • Print

Like this:

Like Loading...

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Primary Sidebar

Search

Sponsored Content

Del Webb Bexley — 70 Years of Experience Building Quality Homes

May 30, 2023 By Special to The Laker/Lutz News

Del Webb prides itself on employing the highest quality build standards. And with over 70 years in homebuilding, Del … [Read More...] about Del Webb Bexley — 70 Years of Experience Building Quality Homes

Discover The Mattamy Homes Difference at Area Communities

May 30, 2023 By Special to The Laker/Lutz News

With every new home community, Mattamy Homes demonstrates their dedication to providing thoughtful details and … [Read More...] about Discover The Mattamy Homes Difference at Area Communities

More Posts from this Category

What’s Happening

06/07/2023 – A Night for Heroes

Elks Lodge 2284 will host “A Night for Heroes” on June 7, at the New Port Richey (NPR) Elks Lodge, 7201 Congress St. — a fundraiser for first responders in NPR and Pasco County. The event includes passed heavy hors d’oeuvres, a comedian, dueling pianos, door prize and raffles. Doors open at 5 p.m. Tickets are $50 and must be purchased in advance. For information, contact Jeff Siegel at 845-791-0091 or . … [Read More...] about 06/07/2023 – A Night for Heroes

06/08/2023 – WC Republican Club

The Wesley Chapel Republican Club will meet on June 8 at 6:30 p.m., at Myrtle Lake Baptist Church, 2017 Reigler Road in Land O’ Lakes. The guest speaker will be Ted Yoho, past Florida Congressional House member District 3. Admission is free. Coffee and dessert will be served. … [Read More...] about 06/08/2023 – WC Republican Club

06/10/2023 – Dade City Cleanup

A Dade City Community Cleanup is scheduled for June 10 from 8 a.m. to noon. The city will provide two garbage trucks and one roll-off for residents to dispose of household waste. All locations will accept glass, wood (8 feet or less), fence, carpet, household trash, furniture, mattresses and plywood. These items are not acceptable: hazardous waste, appliances, batteries, paint and tires. Residents can drop off debris at Fifth Street and Bougainvillea; 38054 Pasco Ave.; or, 38041 Pasco Ave. (roll-off for tires only). For information, call 352-523-5050, ext. 420. … [Read More...] about 06/10/2023 – Dade City Cleanup

06/10/2023 – Night…at the Museum

The Pioneer Florida Museum & Village, 15602 Pioneer Museum Road in Dade City, will host “Night…at the Museum” on June 10 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Living historians, musicians and demonstrators will “come to life” when night descends on the museum. The cost is regular museum admission; parking is free. For information, call 352-567-0262, or visit PioneerFloridaMuseum.org. … [Read More...] about 06/10/2023 – Night…at the Museum

06/12/2023 – eBay Resellers

The Greater Tampa Bay eBay Resellers will meet on June 12 from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m., at The Salvation Army, 13815 N. Salvation Army Lane in Tampa. The guest speaker will be Brian Burke, from eBay Headquarters, on the topic of seller advocacy and engagement, including international shipping and promoting listings. Guests also have the chance to win eBay swag. Space is limited. Registration is required at EventBrite.com. … [Read More...] about 06/12/2023 – eBay Resellers

06/16/2023 – Railfan Friday

The Dade City Heritage and Cultural Museum, 14206 U.S. 98, will host Railfan Friday: Father’s Day Weekend on June 16 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. The event will include train watching, games, a model train room, food trucks, and more. Admission is free, but donations will be accepted. Food and drink, as well as train memorabilia and T-shirts will be available for purchase. … [Read More...] about 06/16/2023 – Railfan Friday

More of What's Happening

Archives

 

 

Where to pick up The Laker and Lutz News

Copyright © 2023 Community News Publications Inc.

   
%d bloggers like this: