Al Lang

Lang was an active mayor who took steps to beautify the city and increase its popularity especially among northerners who would come to Florida in the winter.

[3] In 1910, at the age of 39, Lang suffered from respiratory ailments and was told by his doctors that his condition was terminal if he stayed in Pittsburgh.

Branch Rickey, the Browns' parsimonious general manager, was attracted to the city's financial package that included payment for the team's travel expenses.

As mayor, Lang established an ordinance making all benches in the city a standard size and the same color: green.

Lang took steps to clean up and revitalize the downtown area to include the construction of an open-air post office and the removal of store signs that were intrusive or offensive.

[3] Following his second term as St. Petersburg mayor, Lang devoted the remainder of his life to facilitating the success of baseball in the state of Florida.

[3] In response to Lang's efforts over the years, the city constructed a new baseball park named for him and opened it in 1947 to great fanfare.

The new park, called Al Lang Field hosted many major league teams over the ensuing decades to include the New York Giants, the St. Louis Cardinals and the Tampa Bay Rays.