Old Winter Haven MLB spring training stadium demolished for redevelopment

It was once the spring training home for two major league baseball teams, but now a Winter Haven baseball stadium is being demolished. Greg Hoecker remembers when just about everyone in town would come out to catch the games at Chain of Lakes Park as it hosted MLB spring training. “We had the Red Sox for a while and the Cleveland Indians,” Hoecker said. “The Chamber of Commerce sponsored the team every year and they would have a big barbecue when the team came into town. My boss used to take a group of employees. It was a really big deal around here,” he said.