Burlington Astros

Midwest League (1991-1992)

Tombstone

Born: 1991 – Affiliation change from Burlington Braves
Re-Branded: 1993 (Burlington Bees)

First Game: April 12, 1991 (L 4-1 vs. Quad City Angels)
Last Game: September 3, 1992 (L 5-2 @ Springfield Cardinals)

Midwest League Championships: None

Stadium

Community Field (3,500)¹

Ownership & Affiliation

Owner: Burlington Baseball Association (David Walker, President)

Major League Affiliation: Houston Astros

Attendance

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Print Download

Source: The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball (3rd ed.), Lloyd Johnson & Miles Wolff, 2007

Background

Burlington, Iowa’s community-owned Minor League Baseball team has been known as the ‘Bees’ for the better part of seven decades dating back to 1954. The exception was a 10-year stretch from 1982 to 1992 when Burlington adopted the name of their Major League parent clubs during a series of short-lived partnerships. The last of these four Player Development Contracts was with the Houston Astros during the summers of 1991 and 1992.

Five players from the 1991 Burlington Astros ultimately made it to the Major Leagues. Pitcher Donne Wall enjoyed the longest career, playing eight seasons in the Majors between 1995 and 2002. First baseman Robert Petagine became a star in Japan, winning Central League MVP honors with the Yakult Swallows in 2001.

Burlington’s final season with Houston in 1992 was absolutely wretched. The Astros finished 47-89, by far the worst record in the Midwest League. No members of the 1992 Astros advanced to the Major Leagues.

Following the 1992 season, the Houston Astros shifted their Midwest League operations to Quad City. The Montreal Expos took over as Burlington’s parent club and the team switched back to its historic ‘Bees’ identity prior to the 1993 season.