Lakeland Flying Tigers (Nearly a Tribute)

Information taken from The Society for Sports Uniforms Web site in conjunction with Minor League Baseball:

Lakeland Flying Tigers Unveil New Nickname, Logo, Uniforms

November 12, 2006

By hearkening back to a previous era, the Lakeland Flying Tigers have embarked upon on a new one. Since 1967, the Florida State League franchise had gone by the name of "Tigers," a simple reference to its parent club. On Saturday, the team unveiled their new name and new logo as part of a Veterans Day celebration at Tigertown USA, Detroit's Spring Training facility.

The name "Flying Tigers" refers to Tigertown's roots as a World War II training site for American and British pilots. Between 1940 and 1945, the Lakeland School of Aeronautics graduated more 8,000 aspiring airmen, many of whom went on to complete dangerous missions in the skies of Europe and Asia.