Burlington Bees
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Burlington Bees | |||||
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Minor league affiliations | |||||
Class | Class-A[1] | ||||
Previous classes | Class B, Class C, Class D | ||||
League | Midwest League (1962–present) | ||||
Division | Western Division | ||||
Previous leagues |
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Major league affiliations | |||||
Team | Los Angeles Angels (2013–present) | ||||
Previous teams | Oakland Athletics (2011–2012) Kansas City Royals (2001–2010) Chicago White Sox (1999–2000) Cincinnati Reds (1932, 1997–1998) San Francisco Giants (1995–1996) Montreal Expos (1993–1994, 1986–1987) Houston Astros (1991–1992) Atlanta Braves (1988–1990) Texas Rangers (1982–1985) Milwaukee Brewers (1975–1981) Kansas City Athletics / Oakland Athletics (1963–1974) Pittsburgh Pirates (1960–1962) Chicago Cubs (1955–1959) Cleveland Indians (1947–1949) | ||||
Minor league titles | |||||
League titles (5) |
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Team data | |||||
Name | Burlington Bees (1924–1932, 1954–1981, 1993–present) | ||||
Previous names | Burlington Astros (1991–1992) Burlington Braves (1988–1990) Burlington Expos (1986–1987) Burlington Rangers (1982–1985) Burlington Flints (1952–1953) Burlington Indians (1947–1949) Burlington Pathfinders (1906–1916) Burlington Flint Hills (1905) Burlington River Rats (1904) Burlington Hawkeyes (1890, 1898) Burlington Colts (1895–1897) Burlington Babies (1889) | ||||
Mascot | Buzz (1998–present) Beesley (1994–1997) | ||||
Ballpark | Community Field (1947–present) | ||||
Previous parks | Summer Street Park | ||||
Owner(s)/ Operator(s) | City of Burlington, Iowa | ||||
General manager | Kim Parker | ||||
Manager | Jack Howell |
The Burlington Bees are a Class A minor league baseball team, based in Burlington, Iowa, that is an affiliate of the Los Angeles Angels. The franchise was founded in 1889. The Bees have played in the Midwest League since 1962. The team was first known as the "Bees" from 1924 to 1932 and again from 1954 to 1981.[2] The Bees nickname was revived for the 1993 season and remains to this day. Their home since 1947 has been Community Field in Burlington, Iowa. Baseball Hall of Fame inductees Billy Williams, Paul Molitor and Larry Walker played for Burlington.
History
The team began playing in Burlington in 1889 as the Burlington Babies. Teams with various nicknames played until the Burlington Pathfinders were named in 1906, keeping the nickname until 1916 and playing in the Central Association. After a hiatus, the Burlington Bees played in the Mississippi Valley League from 1924 to 1932. The franchise then returned as the Burlington Indians in 1947, the same year that their current stadium, Community Field, opened.[2] They won the league championship in 1949, their third and final year in the Central Association. The team joined the Three-I (Illinois, Iowa, Indiana) League in 1952 as the Burlington Flints but was renamed the Bees in 1954. In 1958, Billy Williams played 61 games with the Bees before joining the Cubs. Burlington joined the Midwest League in 1962 as a farm team of the Pittsburgh Pirates. From 1963 through 1974 they were a farm team of the Kansas City (later Oakland) A's; subsequent affiliations included the Brewers (1975–81), Rangers (1982–85), Expos (1986–87 and 1993–94), Braves (1988–90), Astros (1991–92), Giants (1995–96), Reds (1997–98), and White Sox (1999–2000).
The Bees have won the Midwest League Championship four times, in four different decades: 1965 (won both halves), 1977 (defeated Waterloo Indians), 1999 (defeated Wisconsin Timber Rattlers) and 2008 (defeated South Bend Silver Hawks).
Catcher Herbert Whitney of the Burlington Pathfinders was killed by a pitched ball in 1906. On June 26 in Waterloo, Iowa, Whitney was beaned by a pitch from Fred Evans of the Waterloo Microbes. He suffered a skull fracture and died that day as a result.[3][4]
The team was first known as the Bees from 1924 to 1932 and again from 1954 to 1981. Starting in 1982, they used the nickname of their major league parent club, before the current Bees nickname was revived for the 1993 season.
In addition to Baseball Hall of Famers Billy Williams, Paul Molitor and Larry Walker, many former Burlington players have enjoyed major league success including: Sal Bando, Vida Blue (who struck out a team-record 231 batters in 1968), George Hendrick, Phil Garner, Chet Lemon, Claudell Washington, Rubén Sierra, Kenny Rogers, José Vidro, Ugueth Urbina, Javy López, Mark Buehrle, Mike Moustakas, and Salvador Pérez. Over 100 former Bees have played in the majors.
In 2007, the Bees changed their logo and uniforms. Since 2000, the Bees have had three affiliates: the Kansas City Royals (2001–10), Oakland Athletics (2011–12), and the Los Angeles Angels (2013–present).
Ballpark
The Bees have called historic Community Field, nicknamed "the hive", their home since 1947. The original grandstand portion of the stadium was destroyed in a 1971 fire and rebuilt. The stadium was upgraded again prior to the 2004 season, including a revamped concessions area, partial covering of the grandstand, improved sound system, and a new scoreboard. Named the 2013 "Field of the Year" in the state of Iowa by the Iowa Sports Turf Management Association, capital improvements are supported by The Friends of Community Field, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.[5]
No-hitters
Several Burlington pitchers have thrown no-hitters:[6]
- 6-4-62 Pedro Tio, Quad Cities 13-0 7 innings
- 8-14-62 Charles Ling, Keokuk 6-0
- 5-6-65 Don Pierce, Fox Cities 4-0
- 6-29-65 George Bosworth, Cedar Rapids 3-0
- 6-19-68 Vida Blue, Appleton 4-0 7 Innings
- 7-20-75 Abelino Pena Cedar Rapids 2-0 7 Innings Perfect Game
- 8-5-96 Jason Grote Clinton 8-0
- 5-6-98 Lance Davis/Dan Timm Quad City 5-0
- 8-5-03 Jonah Bayliss Peoria 1-0
- 4-12-04 Dusty Hughes/Jake Mullis Wisconsin 3-0
- 6-30-04 Chris Coughlin Beloit 3-0 Perfect game
- 8-7-08 Danny Duffy/Juan Abreu Peoria 10-0
Notable alumni
Baseball Hall of Fame alumni
- Paul Molitor (1977) Inducted, 2004
- Larry Walker (1986) Inducted, 2020
- Billy Williams (1958) Inducted, 1987
Notable alumni
- Glenn Abbott (1971)
- Gene Alley (1960) 2 x GG; 2 x MLB All-Star
- George Altman (1957)
- Sal Bando (1965) 4 x MLB All-Star
- Vida Blue (1968) 6 x MLB All-Star; 1971 AL Cy Young Award; 1971 AL Most Valuable Player
- Kent Bottenfield (1987) MLB All-Star
- Jim Brewer (1958) MLB All-Star
- Lloyd Brown (1949)
- Mark Buehrle (1999) 4 x GG; 5 x MLB All-Star
- Shawn Estes (1995) MLB All-Star
- Dan Ford (1971–72)
- Phil Garner (1971) 3 x MLB All-Star
- Wayne Gross (1973–74) MLB All-Star
- Moose Haas (1975)
- George Hendrick (1968, 1970) 4 x MLB All-Star
- Eric Hosmer (2009)
- Doug Jones (1979) 5 x MLB All-Star
- Matt Keough (1974) MLB All-Star
- Chad Kreuter (1985)
- Chet Lemon (1973–74) 3 x MLB All-Star
- Javy López (1990) 3 x MLB All-Star
- Bob McClure (1981)
- Mike Mordecai (1989)
- Mike Moustakas (2008) MLB All-Star
- Dwayne Murphy (1974)
- Mike Norris (1973) 2 x GG; MLB All-Star
- Carlos Perez (1993) MLB All-Star
- Salvador Pérez (2009) 3 x GG; 3 X MLB All-Star
- Randy Ready (1981)
- Mel Rojas (1987) MLB All-Star
- Kenny Rogers (1984) 5 x GG; 4 x MLB All-Star
- Addison Russell (2012) MLB All-Star
- Rubén Sierra (1984) 4 x MLB All-Star; 1989 AL RBI Leader
- Mike Stanley (1985) MLB All-Star
- Mike Stanton (1988) MLB All-Star
- Dave Stenhouse (1956) MLB All-Star
- Zack Thornton (2011)
- Hal Trosky (1932) 1936 AL RBI Leader (162)
- Ugueth Urbina (1993) 2 x MLB All-Star: 1999 NL Saves Leader
- Johnny Vander Meer (1953 Player/MGR)
- Jose Vidro (1993) 3 x MLB All-Star
- Claudell Washington (1973) 3 x MLB All-Star
Roster
Template:Burlington Bees roster
Players (1947–present)
- Burlington Indians (1947–49)
- Burlington Flints (1952–53)
- Burlington Bees (1954–81)
- Burlington Rangers (1982–85)
- Burlington Expos (1986–87)
- Burlington Braves (1988–90)
- Burlington Astros (1991–92)
- Burlington Bees (1993–present)
References
- ^ "Teams by Classification | MiLB.com Official Info | The Official Site of Minor League Baseball". MiLB.com.
- ^ a b "Burlington, Iowa Encyclopedia". Baseball-Reference.com.
- ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2016-02-16. Retrieved 2016-02-10.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ "Herbert Whitney - BR Bullpen". www.baseball-reference.com.
- ^ http://www.milb.com/content/page.jsp?ymd=20081015&content_id=41255838&sid=t420&vkey=team2%7Cpublisher
- ^ "Midwest League No Hitters | MWLguide.com". mwlguide.com.
Sources
- Dinda, J. (2003), "Burlington, Iowa, in the Midwest League," Burlington, Iowa in the Midwest League | MWLguide.com
External links
- Baseball teams established in 1924
- Midwest League teams
- Burlington, Iowa
- Professional baseball teams in Iowa
- Los Angeles Angels minor league affiliates
- Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim minor league affiliates
- Oakland Athletics minor league affiliates
- Kansas City Royals minor league affiliates
- Kansas City Athletics minor league affiliates
- Chicago White Sox minor league affiliates
- Cincinnati Reds minor league affiliates
- Atlanta Braves minor league affiliates
- San Francisco Giants minor league affiliates
- Montreal Expos minor league affiliates
- Houston Astros minor league affiliates
- Pittsburgh Pirates minor league affiliates
- Chicago Cubs minor league affiliates
- Cleveland Indians minor league affiliates
- Central Association
- Fan-owned baseball teams
- Illinois-Indiana-Iowa League teams
- 1924 establishments in Iowa
- Central Association teams