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{{POV}}The '''Pensacola Dons''' are a defunct minor league baseball team that competed in the Class-D [[Wikipedia:Alabama-Florida League|Alabama-Florida League]] from 1957-1959. The Dons were an affliate of the [[Wikipedia:Baltimore Orioles|Baltimore Orioles]] of [[Wikipedia:Major League Baseball|Major League Baseball]] in 1958 and 1959. The league operated from 1936-1939, and then from 1951-1962 typically from April through August. The Dons fit into Pensacola's professional baseball heritage with the [[Pensacola Pilots]], the [[Pensacola Fliers]], the [[Pensacola Angels]], the [[Pensacola Senators]] and currently the [[Pensacola Pelicans]].
The Dons home field was [[Admiral Mason Park]], a 2,000 seat stadium located on 9th Avenue at the edge of Pensacola Bay (what is now the corner of 9th and Bayfront Parkway). The stadium was actually a miserable place to watch baseball. A sewage treatment plant was located directly across the street which meant a westerly breeze could choke even the most loyal fan. The lone parking lot was small and the dusky, humid summer evenings mixed with a large body of water brought mosquitoes. Admiral Mason Park was nicknamed "Stinko Stadium."
The General Manaager Manager was '''Doc McCormick'''. The players usually were paid $200-$250 a month and most lived in the Old [[Manhattan Hotel ]] on Garden Street. The Dons would later be renamed the Angels (1960) and then the Senators (1961-1962).
==1957==
In the six-team season, Pensacola took fifth place with a 56-64 (.467) record, 12 games behind leader Montgomery. The Dons started the season with manager Rex Ford but was replaced by Lew Fitzgerald. The team would miss the playoffs. Panama City and Graceville were declared Co-Champions. The Dons led the league in attendance with 43,882 fans.
==1958==