Sports stats



SL1 Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp

Peter Bragan, Sr. in Southern League Hall of Fame Inaugural Class

May 20, 2014 - Southern League (SL1)
Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp News Release


JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - The Jacksonville Suns are proud to announce that longtime owner Peter Bragan, Sr. is the club's inductee in the inaugural class of the Southern League Hall of Fame, announced by the league office on Tuesday morning.

Bragan, Sr. joins his brother Jimmy Bragan in the Southern League Hall of Fame, with the former league president a member of the inaugural class as well.

"When Daddy bought the team in Jacksonville it was what somewhat of a floundering franchise, attendance was down and the stadium was in rough shape," said Suns President and Owner Peter Bragan, Jr. "Through his efforts Jacksonville became one of the crown jewels of the Southern League. I'm very proud of everything he accomplished and I'm trying to carry on his tradition with the Suns today."

Bragan, Sr. and this inaugural class of thirteen inductees will be recognized at the 2014 All-Star Game in Chattanooga on June 17. Starting in 2015, there will be three inductees every year. While a physical location for the Hall of Fame is down the road, a web site will be developed and a plaque will be placed in the Southern League office listing Hall of Fame inductees from each year.

Other 2014 inductees include: Reggie Jackson (Birmingham Barons), J. Frank Burke (Chattanooga Lookouts), Rosemary Hovatter (Huntsville Stars), Bo Jackson (Jackson Generals), Dale Murphy (Mississippi Braves), Mike Darr (Mobile BayBears), Alan Trammel (Montgomery Biscuits), Tim Wakefield (Pensacola Blue Wahoos), and Ryne Sandberg (Tennessee Smokies), as well as past league presidents Bragan, Billy Hitchcock, and Don Mincher.

Bragan, Sr. was born in Birmingham, Alabama, into a baseball family. His brother, Bobby, was a major league player and manager, and another brother, Jimmy, served as the president of the Southern League. Peter Bragan was unable to play professional baseball due to his time spent in the military, but upon returning from World War II, Bragan began a successful car dealership in Birmingham. Deciding he was not done with baseball, Bragan set out to buy a minor league team, attempting to buy the Birmingham Barons of the Southern League. However, the team's ownership was unwilling to sell, and Bragan set his sights on Jacksonville.

He purchased the Suns from Lou Eliopoulos in 1984 and remained at the helm for 28 years. During his time in Jacksonville Bragan became known as one of the most respectable men in all of minor league baseball while developing his Suns into the most successful baseball franchise in Jacksonville history. Under Bragan's ownership, the Suns won their first Southern League championship in 1996 and won four more titles in 2001, 2005, 2009 and 2010. He was also instrumental in bringing a new stadium, the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville, to the city in 2003.

The Suns led the Southern League in attendance during the first nine years at the Baseball Grounds. Bragan passed away in July 2012 of heart failure, shortly after his 89th birthday. Following the 2012 season, Jacksonville's city council passed a resolution to name the field at the Baseball Grounds "Bragan Field," in honor of Jacksonville's legendary owner. Bragan passed on his love for baseball, as well as the ownership of the Suns to his own son, Peter Bragan, Jr.

The Southern League Hall of Fame will share its inaugural year with the 2014 season commemorating the 50th anniversary of the "modern era" of the league, which began in 1964. The purpose of the Southern League Hall of Fame is to honor individuals for their accomplishments and/or contributions to the League on the field of play or in an administrative role. This shall include but not necessarily be limited to: players, managers, coaches, umpires, League and team executives, owners, and media members.

Check out the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp Statistics



Southern League Stories from May 20, 2014


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

Other Recent Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp Stories



Sports Statistics from the Stats Crew
OurSports Central