Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp roll out license plates to support St. Johns Riverkeeper

Aquatic they may be, but the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp plan to be rolling along the highways and byways of the First Coast.

The Double-A baseball club announced Friday the launch of its new Florida license plate, with proceeds to benefit the St. Johns Riverkeeper, during a news conference at 121 Financial Ballpark.

General manager Harold Craw said the announcement highlights the four-year mark of the franchise's rebranding as the Jumbo Shrimp.

"I was thinking this morning how cool it would be to pull up next to somebody, roll down the window and just like you say, 'Go Gators,' say 'Go Shrimp,'" Craw said. "It's pretty cool. We're very excited about it."

While several professional and college franchises, including the NFL's Jaguars, have similar license plates, the Jumbo Shrimp are the first minor league baseball team in Florida to have one.

The plates, which will cost $36.75, are not available to fans yet.

Craw said that in order for the plates to begin production, the club must sell 3,000 pre-sale vouchers, which are available through the Jumbo Shrimp or through any Duval County tax collector's office. 

The time when fans actually receive their plates, Craw said, may vary depending on when the target of 3,000 is reached.

Under the terms of House Bill 1135, no more than 10 percent of proceeds may be used for promotion and marketing of the plate, with the remainder going to the St. Johns Riverkeeper.

Gov. Ron DeSantis signed the bill into law in September after it passed the Legislature, but its provisions only took effect in October.

St. Johns Riverkeeper Executive Director Jimmy Orth said the influx of funds from the license plates will help the organization advance toward its goals of preserving a clean and healthy St. Johns River.

He highlighted the Riverkeeper's push to inform residents of key issues affecting the river's health, including pollution of tributaries and mitigation efforts for sea-level rise.

"The Jumbo Shrimp's acknowledgment of how important the river is sends a powerful message that we have to protect the river and we have to take care of it," Orth said. "It's important to our community and important to our economy."

Vintage Photos:A look back at Jacksonville’s Wolfson Park

The team also introduced bobblehead promotions for its ticket drive for 2021, including one of outfielder Stone Garrett for those making $100 deposits and one featuring Seinfeld character George Costanza at the $250 level.

The Jumbo Shrimp, like other minor league ballclubs, were unable to compete in 2020 after the coronavirus pandemic halted minor league baseball. The cancellation left Jacksonville without minor league baseball during summer for the first time since 1969.

However, the club has conducted movie nights and other special events in a bid to keep the Southern League ballclub on the minds of Jacksonville residents.

On their minds, and, perhaps before long, on their roads.

"It really kind of fills you up with energy and positivity," Craw said.