Lexington Bees

The Lexington Bees, previously known as the Lexington Giants, were a Minor League Baseball team that played in the Class D Kentucky–Illinois–Tennessee League (KITTY League) from 1935 to 1938. They were located in Lexington, Tennessee, and played their home games at Lexington Park. The team was known as the Giants from 1935 to 1937. They were renamed the Bees when they became an affiliate of the Boston Bees in 1938.

Lexington Bees
Minor league affiliations
ClassClass D (1935–1938)
LeagueKentucky–Illinois–Tennessee League (1935–1938)
Major league affiliations
Team
Minor league titles
League titles (0)None
First-half titles (1)1935
Team data
Name
  • Lexington Bees (1938)
  • Lexington Giants (1935–1937)
BallparkLexington Park (1935–1938)

History

The team began competition in 1935 as the Lexington Giants playing at Lexington Park.[1][2] They were managed by player-manager John Antonelli.[3] The Giants won their inaugural season opener on May 22 by defeating the Jackson Generals, 10–7.[4] On June 30, Lester Gray pitched a no-hitter against the Portageville Pirates in a 7–0 road win.[5] The Giants won the first half of the KITTY League's split season,[6] which qualified them for the postseason championship playoffs.[7]

Though Jackson and the Union City Greyhounds ended the second half in first and second place, respectively, the league refused to award either team the second half title because they exceeded the limit of veteran players on their rosters.[8] The second half title was then awarded to third-place Portageville.[7] Lexington refused to play Portageville for the KITTY League championship, believing they were not entitled to the second half title.[7][8] As a result, no playoff games were held, and the league declared no champion.[7][8] The Giants' season record was 43–46 (.483).[7]

The 1936 Giants, managed by Antonelli and Rip Fanning,[9] compiled a 68–52 (.567) record, but did not win either half of the season.[10] Fanning led the 1937 team to a record of 60–61 (.496), again not winning either half of the season.[11][12]

In 1938, the team changed its name to the Lexington Bees when they became a farm club of the National League's Boston Bees.[13] Fanning led the Bees to a 66–59 (.528) record and third-place finish, which qualified them for the playoffs.[13][14] The were eliminated in the first round by the Jackson Generals, three games to zero.[14] Their final game was a 9–0 road loss on September 19.[15]

Lexington did not field another team in 1939.[1] Over four years of competition, their composite record was 237–218 (.521).

Season-by-season results
Season Regular season Postseason MLB affiliate Ref.
Record Win % Finish GB Record Win % Result
1935 43–46 .483 5th 5+1⁄2 — — Won first half title
Refused to participate in playoffs		 — [7]
1936 68–52 .567 3rd 6 — — — — [10]
1937 60–61 .496 6th 14 — — — — [12]
1938 66–59 .528 3rd 8 0–3 .000 Lost semifinals vs. Jackson Generals, 3–0 Boston Bees [14]
Totals 237–218 .521 — — 0–3 .000 — — —

Notable players

Four Lexington players also played in Major League Baseball during their careers. They, along with their seasons in Lexington, were:

References
  1. "Lexington, Tennessee Encyclopedia". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved May 23, 2020.
  2. "1935 Lexington Giants Roster". Stats Crew. Retrieved May 23, 2020.
  3. "1935 Lexington Giants Statistics". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved May 23, 2020.
  4. "Yesterday's Results". The Paducah Sun-Democrat. Paducah. May 23, 1935. p. 10 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. "Kitty Leaguer Hurls No-Hit, No-Run Affair". The Paducah Sun-Democrat. Paducah. July 1, 1935. p. 7 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. "Lexington Giants Take First-Half Kitty Title". The Chattanooga News. Chattanooga. July 10, 1935. p. 23 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. "1935 Kentucky-Illinois-Tennessee League Standings". Stats Crew. Retrieved May 23, 2020.
  8. "Lexington Declines to Play Portageville in Kitty Series". The Nashville Tennessean. Nashville. September 5, 1935. p. 10 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. "1936 Lexington Giants Statistics". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved May 23, 2020.
  10. "1936 Kentucky-Illinois-Tennessee League Standings". Stats Crew. Retrieved May 23, 2020.
  11. "1937 Lexington Giants Statistics". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved May 23, 2020.
  12. "1937 Kentucky-Illinois-Tennessee League Standings". Stats Crew. Retrieved May 23, 2020.
  13. "1938 Lexington Bees Statistics". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved May 23, 2020.
  14. "1938 Kentucky-Illinois-Tennessee League Standings". Stats Crew. Retrieved May 23, 2020.
  15. "Generals Take Final Tilt From Lexington 9 to 0". Messenger-Inquirer. Owensboro. September 20, 1938. p. 6 – via Newspapers.com.
  16. "John Antonelli Minor League Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved May 23, 2020.
  17. "Johnny Beazley Minor League Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved May 23, 2020.
  18. "Sol Carter Minor League Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved May 23, 2020.
  19. "Al Javery Minor League Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved May 23, 2020.
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