Editing Florida State League (section)

==History==
The league originated in 1919 with teams in [[Bartow, Florida|Bartow]], [[Bradenton, Florida|Bradenton]], [[Lakeland, Florida|Lakeland]], [[Orlando, Florida|Orlando]], [[Sanford, Florida|Sanford]], and [[Tampa, Florida]]. The league closed down in 1928 and resumed play in 1936. It has continued uninterrupted, except for a four-year (1942–1945) suspension during [[World War II]].

Initially, the FSL was classified as a [[Class D (baseball)|Class D]] circuit, roughly equivalent to a Rookie-level league today. It was elevated to [[Class C (baseball)|Class C]] from 1921 to 1924, roughly equivalent to an Advanced Rookie league in the pre-2021 classification system and a Rookie-level league today. It reverted to Class D from 1925 to 1928. The league went dormant from 1929 to 1935 but was revived as a Class D circuit from 1936 to 1941. After another period of inactivity from 1942 to 1945, it continued at Class D from 1946 to 1962. 

When the minor leagues were reconfigured in 1963, the FSL was reclassified as a [[Class A (baseball)|Class A]] league, placing it three steps below the majors. There it continued until the next reorganization in 1990 when it was elevated to [[Class A-Advanced]], remaining at the third rung on the minor league ladder.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/league.cgi?code=FLOR&class=A+|title=Florida State League (Adv A) Encyclopedia and History|website=Baseball-Reference|publisher=Sports Reference|access-date=November 11, 2020}}</ref> 

The championship series' first cancellation was in 2001, when playoffs were canceled after the [[September 11 attacks]]. Afterwards, the 2004 playoffs were canceled due to the threat of [[Hurricane Ivan]]. Years later, the 2017 FSL Championship finals were canceled on September 5, due to the threat of [[Hurricane Irma]]. The winners of the division series playoff games were named co-champions.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.milb.com/dunedin-blue-jays/news/championship-series-cancelled/c-252548226/t-196097178|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170905231115/https://www.milb.com/dunedin-blue-jays/news/championship-series-cancelled/c-252548226/t-196097178|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 5, 2017|title=Championship Series Cancelled|work=[[Minor League Baseball]]|date=September 5, 2017|access-date=September 5, 2017}}</ref> This marked the third time since 2000 that the championship series game was canceled.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.baseballamerica.com/business/florida-state-league-cancels-its-championship-series/#exwqsVSBmdHl517V.97|title=Florida State League cancels its Championship Series|last=Norris|first=Josh|work=[[Baseball America]]|date=September 5, 2017|access-date=September 6, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gainesville.com/news/20050319/are-the-minor-leagues-returning-to-gainesville|title=Are the minor leagues returning to Gainesville?|last=Kirkland|first=Gary|work=gainesville.com|date=March 19, 2005|access-date=September 6, 2017}}</ref> In 2019, the end of the season and playoffs were cancelled due to the threat of [[Hurricane Dorian]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Kolakowski|first=Ryan|title=Hurricane Dorian prompts Florida State League to cancel rest of season|work=Tampa Bay Times|date=August 29, 2019|url=https://www.tampabay.com/hurricane/2019/08/29/hurricane-dorian-prompts-florida-state-league-to-cancel-rest-of-the-season/|access-date=August 30, 2019}}</ref>

The start of the 2020 season was postponed due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic]] before ultimately being cancelled on June 30.<ref>{{cite news |title=A Message From Pat O'Conner|url=https://www.milb.com/milb/news/message-from-minor-league-baseball-president-ceo-pat-o-conner-313052288|website=Minor League Baseball|date=March 13, 2020|access-date=May 5, 2020}}</ref><ref name=2020can>{{cite news |title=2020 Minor League Baseball Season Shelved|url=https://www.milb.com/news/2020-minor-league-baseball-season-shelved|website=Minor League Baseball|date=June 30, 2020|access-date=July 1, 2020}}</ref> As part of Major League Baseball's 2021 reorganization of the minor leagues, the Florida State League was demoted to Single-A, four rungs below the majors, and temporarily renamed the "Low-A Southeast" for the 2021 season.<ref name=JMayo2-12-2021>{{cite web|last=Mayo|first=Jonathan|title=MLB Announces New Minors Teams, Leagues|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/new-minor-league-baseball-structure|website=Major League Baseball|date=February 12, 2021|access-date=February 12, 2021}}</ref> Following MLB's acquisition of the rights to the names of the historical minor leagues, the Low-A Southeast was renamed the Florida State League effective with the 2022 season.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.milb.com/news/minor-league-baseball-historical-league-names-to-return-in-2022|title=Historical League Names to Return in 2022|website=Minor League Baseball|date=March 16, 2022|access-date=March 16, 2022}}</ref>