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North Brevard History - Titusville, Florida

Titusville Gulls Semi-Pro Baseball Team - 1947
of the Central Florida East Coast League

By Michael Knight

The Titusville Gulls semi-pro baseball team players for 1947 were identified from the picture by Dr. Jim Clark. Dr. Clark was a four-year letterman in baseball from Titusville High School. He played baseball for THS during the 1950-1954 baseball seasons. His uncle, Joe (Buster) Brown was the manager of the Gulls during the time Dr. Clark played baseball for THS. Dr. Clark had a close association with most all of these players because his uncle allowed him to participate in team practices with the players and he came to know most all of them.

The 1947 Titusville Gulls semi-pro baseball team

The team consisted of some local players and some students from Rollins College. They played at the old Draa Field when it was in the Baseball configuration. There was a large multi-tiered wooden stadium that provided different levels of view of the field for the observation of the game by the crowd.

The stadium had restrooms, two locker rooms with showers, lockers and a dressing area for the players. Dugouts were provided on either side of the stadium for the home and visitors. Day games were played there normally but high wattage lights were mounted on top of the stadium that provided lighting for night games at Draa Field. About an equal amount of day and night games were played there during the season.

A circular wooden fence was positioned around the outfield and there were bull-pen areas provided for each team on their respective side of the field.

Titusville's Draa Park in the 1970's baseball configuration.


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Identified from the 1947 Gulls Team Picture

Row/Pos Name Local/Rollins College Position Played




T/1 Jack Mendel
Utility
T/2 Earl Joyner
Utility
T/3 Doug Barnhart Local Infield
T/4 Harvey Cox Rollins College Outfield
T/5 Smiley Wellman Rollins College Infield
T/6 Jim Blalock Rollins College
T/7 Jim Cavello Rollins College Pitcher
T/8 Bob Hartman Local Utility
T/9 William Levan Local Manager




B/1 Buddy McBryde Rollins College Catcher
B/2 Bob Lassiter Rollins College Pitcher
B/3 Milford Talton Rollins Collins Infield
B/4 Kenny Duff Local Outfield
B/5 Selby Bailey Local Coach
B/6 Roscoe Ray
Utility
B/7 George Whidden Local Infield
B/8 Courtland Flake Local Utility
B/9 David Marese Local Batboy


North Brevard History



10/7/2017