Burlington Bees

Burlington Bees
Founded in 1924
Burlington, Iowa
(First Season: 1889)
Team logoCap insignia
Class-level
Current Class-A[1]
Previous Class B, Class C, Class D
Minor league affiliations
League Midwest League (1962–present)
Division Western Division
Previous leagues
Major league affiliations
Current Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (2013–present)
Previous
Oakland Athletics (2011–12)
Kansas City Royals (2001–10)
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)
  • 1949
  • 1965
  • 1977
  • 1999
  • 2008
Team data
Nickname 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 (1895–1997)
Burlington Babies (1889)
Ballpark Community Field (1947–present)
Previous parks
 Summer Street Park
Owner(s)/
Operator(s)
 City of Burlington, Iowa
Manager Chad Tracy
General Manager Chuck Brockett
Burlington Community Field

The Burlington Bees are a Class A minor league baseball team, based in Burlington, Iowa, that is an affiliate of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. 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 members Billy Williams and Paul Molitor 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.[3] 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 won the Midwest League championship in 1965, 1977, 1999, 2008, and 2009.

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.[4][5]

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. The Bees nickname was revived for the 1993 season and remains.

In addition to Baseball Hall of Famers Billy Williams and Paul Molitor, 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, Larry Walker, Rubén Sierra, Kenny Rogers, José Vidro, Ugueth Urbina, Javy López, Mark Buehrle, Mike Moustakas, and Salvador Perez. 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 of Anaheim (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.[6]

No-hitters

Several Burlington pitchers have thrown no-hitters:[7]

Notable players

Roster

Burlington Bees roster
Players Coaches/Other

Pitchers

  • 45 Eric Alonzo
  • 18 Jaime Barria
  • 33 Joe Gatto
  • 25 Ronnie Glenn
  • 27 Zach Hartmann
  • 15 Adam Hofacket
  • 44 Winston Lavendier
  • 34 Grayson Long
  • 14 Jake McDavid
  • 32 Luis Pena
  • 30 Cody Pope
  • 31 Jose Rodriguez
  • 40 Jared Ruxer
  • 28 Tyler Watson
  • 41 Jonah Wesely

Catchers

  •  4 Angel Genao
  •  8 Tanner Lubach

Infielders

  •  2 Juan Moreno
  •  7 Hutton Moyer
  • 22 Michael Pierson
  • 23 Brendon Sanger
  •  3 Jordan Serena
  • 21 Jared Walsh
  • -- Jake Yacinich

Outfielders

  •  9 Alex Abbott
  • 12 Ranyelmy Alberto
  • 24 Josh Delph
  • 19 MZach Welz

Manager

Coaches

  • 26 Buck Coats (hitting)
  • 50 Jairo Cuevas (pitching)
  • 46 Matt Spring (coach)



7-day disabled list
* On Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim 40-man roster
# Rehab assignment
∞ Reserve list
‡ Restricted list
§ Suspended list
† Temporary inactive list
Roster updated April 24, 2016
Transactions
→ More MiLB rosters
→ Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim minor league players

Players (1947–present)

Angels franchise affiliations

Level Team League Location
MLB Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim American League Los Angeles, CA
AAA Salt Lake Bees Pacific Coast League Salt Lake City, UT
AA Arkansas Travelers Texas League Little Rock, AR
A+ Inland Empire 66ers California League San Bernardino, CA
A Burlington Bees Midwest League Burlington, IA
Rookie Orem Owlz Pioneer League Orem, UT
Rookie AZL Angels Arizona League Tempe, AZ

References

  1. ↑ http://www.milb.com/milb/info/classifications.jsp
  2. ↑ http://www.baseball-reference.com/register/team.cgi?city=Burlington&state=IA&country=US&empty=0
  3. ↑ http://www.baseball-reference.com/register/team.cgi?city=Burlington&state=IA&country=US&empty=0
  4. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2016-02-16. Retrieved 2016-02-10.
  5. ↑ http://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Herbert_Whitney
  6. ↑ http://www.milb.com/content/page.jsp?ymd=20081015&content_id=41255838&sid=t420&vkey=team2|publisher
  7. ↑ http://mwlguide.com/reference/nohitters.html

Sources

External links

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