Burlington Bees

MiLB infobox
name = Burlington Bees
founded = 1947
city = Burlington, Iowa
misc =

uniform
class level = Single-A
past class level=
current league = Midwest League (1962-present)
conference =
division = Western Division
past league = *Three-I League (1952-1961)
*Central Association (1947-1949)
majorleague = Kansas City Royals (2001-Present)
pastmajorleague = Chicago White Sox (1999-2000)
*Cincinnati Reds (1997-1998)
*San Francisco Giants (1995-1996)
*Montreal Expos (1993-1994)
*Houston Astros (1991-1992)
*Atlanta Braves (1988-1990)
*Montreal Expos (1986-1987)
*Texas Rangers (1982-1985)
*Milwaukee Brewers (1975-1981)
*Kansas City Athletics / Oakland Athletics (1963-1974)
*Pittsburgh Pirates (1962)
nickname = Burlington Bees (1993-present)
pastnames = Burlington Astros (1991-1992)
*Burlington Braves (1988-1990)
*Burlington Expos (1986-1987)
*Burlington Rangers (1982-1985)
*Burlington Bees (1954-1981)
*Burlington Flints (1952-1953)
*Burlington Indians (1947-1949)
ballpark = Community Field (1947-present)
pastparks =
leaguechamps = 1949, 1965, 1977, 1999, 2008
divisionchamps =
misc6 =
owner = City of Burlington, Iowa
manager = Brian Rupp
gm = Chuck Brockett

The Burlington Bees are a Class A minor league baseball team, affiliated with the Kansas City Royals, that plays in the Midwest League. Their home is in Burlington, Iowa.

The team began playing in the Central Association of Professional Baseball as the Burlington Indians in 1947, the same year that their stadium, Community Field, was opened. 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, but that affiliation lasted only one season. From 1963 through 1974 they were a farm team of the Kansas City (later Oakland) A's; subsequent affiliations included the Brewers (1975-81), the Rangers (1982-85), the Expos (1986-87 and 1993-94), the Braves (1988-90), the Astros (1991-92), the Giants (1995-96), the Reds (1997-98), and the White Sox (1999-2000). The Bees won the Midwest League championship in 1965, 1977, 1999, and 2008.

The team was known as the Bees from 1962-81, but starting with the 1982 season they used the nickname of their major league parent club. The Bees nickname was revived for the 1993 season.

In addition to Billy Williams, the first Bee inducted into the Hall of Fame, former players who have enjoyed major league success include Sal Bando, Vida Blue (who struck out a team-record 231 batters in 1968), George Hendrick, Phil Garner, Chet Lemon, Claudell Washington, Hall of Famer Paul Molitor, Randy Ready, Larry Walker, Rubén Sierra, Kenny Rogers, Jose Vidro, Ugueth Urbina, Javy López, Mark Buehrle, Mike Mordecai, Shawn Estes and Ruben Gotay. In total 159 former Bees have played in the majors, including 35 on active rosters in 2004.

Their home park is Community Field, built in 1947 and rebuilt after a 1971 fire. The franchise attendance record of 83,927 was set in 1994. The stadium was upgraded for the 2004 season, including a revamped consessions area, a partial covering of the grandstand, an improvement in the sound system, and a new scoreboard. In 2007, the Bees changed their logo and uniforms.

Current roster

Current staff

* Manager - Brian Rupp
* Hitting Coach - Ryan Long
* Pitching Coach - Doug Henry
* Strength & Conditioning Coach - Allan Potts
* Athletic Trainer - Yoshi Kitaru
* Clubhouse Manager - Dave Smith

ource

* Dinda, J. (2003), "Burlington, Iowa, in the Midwest League," http://www.mwlguide.com/cities/burlington/index.html

External links

* [http://www.gobees.com Official Burlington Bees website]