prospect in the league as per managers). Additionally third baseman Chris Stynes and utility infielder Joe Lis Jr. were key offensive contributors. Pitcher Paul Spoljaric was voted the number three prospect in the circuit. Giovanni Carrara (11-7, 3.14) was a good third starter behind All-Star Spoljaric and league earned run leader Travis Baptist. Gregg Martin and Al Montoya were a fine closing duo. Move to Hagerstown The club was owned by Baltimore oxygen salesman Winston Blenckstone, who had purchased the Florence Blue Jays for $200,000 in October, 1986 moving the club to Myrtle Beach. The Blue Jays home debut on April 8, 1987 against the Savannah Cardinals drew a standing room-only crowd of 4,030, but attendance quickly settled in at less than a thousand a night. Myrtle Beach’s attendance was among the worst in the South Atlantic League, just as it had been in Florence previously. By April 1989, Blenckstone was frustrated and threatened to move his ball club if city leaders wouldn’t commit to a new two million dollar stadium. He re-branded the team as the Myrtle Beach Hurricanes in 1991, but that did nothing to change the club’s box office fortunes. In late 1992, with stadium negotiations going nowhere, Blenckstone moved the franchise to Hagerstown, Maryland, where they remain today as the Hagerstown Suns. South Atlantic League All-Stars Second Base: William Suero (1988) Shortstop: Luis Sojo (1988) Utility Infielder: Howard Battle (1991) Outfield: Junior Felix (1987), Mark Whiten (1987), Derek Bell (1988) Pitcher: Doug Linton (1987), Jimmy Rogers (1988), Denis Boucher (1988), Paul Spoljaric (1992), Chris Kotes (1992) Manager: Richie Hebner (1988) South Atlantic League Season Leaders Pitching Earned Run Average: 1.55, Doug Linton (1987); 1.44, Travis Baptist (1992) Wins: 18, Jimmy Rogers (1988) Strikeouts: 198, Jimmy Rogers (1988) Winning Percentage: .818 (18-4), Jimmy Rogers (1988) Runs allowed: 103, Tim Brown (1989) Hitting Batting Average: .344, Derek Bell (1988) Hits: 155, Luis Sojo (1988) Runs: 94, Mark Young (1989) References Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball: The Official Record of Minor League Baseball – Lloyd Johnson, Miles Wolff. Publisher: Baseball America, 2007. Format: Hardback, 767 pp. Defunct South Atlantic League teams Toronto Blue Jays minor league affiliates Professional baseball teams in South Carolina Defunct baseball teams in South Carolina Baseball teams disestablished in 1992 Baseball teams established in 1987