Inaugural Dixie Classic Features Marlins Triple-A vs Double-A Clubs

The Southern League Jacksonville Suns, Double-A affiliate of the Florida Marlins, will host the Marlins’ Pacific Coast League Triple-A affiliate New Orleans Zephyrs in the inaugural Dixie Classic exhibition baseball game.

The contest begins at 7:05 PM on Thursday, April 2, 2009, at the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville.

“For years I’ve tried to come up with a plan for a postseason Dixie Series like the one they had when I was a kid,” Suns President Peter Bragan, Jr. said in a press release. “The opportunity to have New Orleans against Jacksonville is going to be a wonderful start.”

The original Dixie Series was a best-of-seven post-season playoff between the Double-A-level Southern League and Texas League from 1920 to 1958 (plus 1967).