View source for Lexington Legends

{{Short description|Professional baseball team}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox baseball team
|name             = Lexington Legends 
|founded          = 2001
|city             = [[Lexington, Kentucky]]
|misc             =
|logo             = Lexington Legends.png
|cap_logo         = Lexington Legends cap.png
|colors           = Blue, green, silver, white<ref>{{cite web |title=Atlantic League of Professional Baseball Official Colors (1998 through present) |url=https://www.trucolor.net/portfolio/atlantic-league-of-professional-baseball-official-colors-1998-through-present/ |website=TruColor.net |access-date=21 October 2025}}</ref><br>{{color box|#004C97}} {{color box|#009F4D}} {{color box|#D0D3D4}} {{color box|#FFFFFF}}
|league           = [[Atlantic League of Professional Baseball]]
|division         = South Division
|former_leagues   = [[South Atlantic League]] (2001–2020)
|nickname         = 
|former_names     = {{plainlist |
* Lexington Legends (2001–2022)
* Lexington Counter Clocks (2023)
}}
|ballpark         = [[Legends Field (Kentucky)|Legends Field]] (2001–present)
|former_ballparks = 
|league_champs    = {{hlist|2001|2018|2019|2021}}
|division_champs  = {{hlist|2001|2018|2019|2021}}
|owner            = Temerity Baseball<ref name="2024sale">{{cite news |last1=Hale |first1=Jon |title=Goodbye Counter Clocks. Under new owner, Lexington's baseball team changing name again. |url=https://www.kentucky.com/sports/article284600655.html |access-date=January 26, 2024 |work=[[Lexington Herald-Leader]] |date=January 25, 2024 |url-status=live |url-access=subscription |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240126010520/https://www.kentucky.com/sports/article284600655.html |archive-date=January 26, 2024}}</ref>
|president        =
|general_manager  = Justin Ferrarella
|manager          = [[Paul Fletcher (baseball)|Paul Fletcher]]<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.kentucky.com/sports/article295935534.html |title=Lexington Legends hire new manager ahead of 25th anniversary baseball season |newspaper=[[Lexington Herald-Leader]] |date=November 21, 2024 |access-date=May 30, 2017}}</ref>
|website = [https://www.lexingtonlegends.com lexingtonlegends.com]
}}

The '''Lexington Legends''' are an American [[professional baseball]] team based in [[Lexington, Kentucky]]. They are a member of the South Division of the [[Atlantic League of Professional Baseball]], a "partner league" of [[Major League Baseball]].<ref>{{cite news |first=Kevin |last=Reichard |title=Indy Atlantic League designated MLB Partner League |url=https://ballparkdigest.com/2020/09/23/indy-atlantic-league-designated-mlb-partner-league/ |access-date=October 2, 2020 |work=Ballpark Digest |publisher=August Publishing |date=September 23, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=Kevin |last=Reichard |title=American Association, Frontier League now MLB Partner Leagues |url=https://ballparkdigest.com/2020/09/24/american-association-frontier-league-now-mlb-partner-leagues/ |access-date=October 2, 2020 |work=Ballpark Digest |publisher=August Publishing |date=September 24, 2020}}</ref> The Legends have played their home games at [[Legends Field (Kentucky)|Legends Field]] since 2001. The team was known as the '''Lexington Counter Clocks''' during the 2023 season before reinstating their original name in 2024.

==History==
The Class-A [[Kissimmee Cobras]] of the [[Florida State League]] contracted following the 2000 season; the Lexington Legends were established as an expansion franchise in the [[South Atlantic League]] in 2001 and assumed the [[Houston Astros]] affiliation from the Cobras. 

The 2001 season began under [[manager (baseball)|manager]] [[Joe Cannon (baseball)|J. J. Cannon]]. The team finished their first regular season with 92 wins and 48 losses and first place in the sixteen-team South Atlantic League. In the postseason, the Legends defeated the [[Hagerstown Suns]] in the first round and advanced to play the [[Asheville Tourists]] in the League Championship Series. However, the series was canceled after the Legends won the first two games due to the [[September 11 attacks]], and the Legends were declared co-champions after having gone up 2–0 before game three was canceled.

Cannon returned to manage in 2002 and led the team to another winning record, but the Legends failed to qualify for the playoffs. Lexington returned to the playoffs in 2003 but was defeated by the [[Lake County Captains]] in the first round. In 2004, the Legends finished with a record of 68–72, their first losing record in team history. The following season, the Legends posted an 81–58 regular season record and finished in first place under manager [[Tim Bogar]].

===Roger Clemens===
On May 31, 2006, [[Roger Clemens]] announced that he would come out of retirement to [[pitch (baseball)|pitch]] for the Houston Astros for the remainder of the 2006 season. Clemens, planning to keep himself to a strict 60-pitch limit, returned to baseball with the Legends, where his oldest son [[Koby Clemens|Koby]] played. Father and son denied reports that Koby would catch his dad for the return. "He doesn't listen to me," Roger Clemens said. "We'd be shaking each other off and arguing too much."<ref>{{Cite news |last=Bailey |first=Rick |date=2006-06-02 |title=Pitch and catch at the park, Clemens style |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/lexington-herald-leader-son-koby-prepari/162186892/ |access-date=2025-01-03 |work=[[Lexington Herald-Leader]] |pages=[https://www.newspapers.com/article/lexington-herald-leader-pitch-and-catch/162186833/ C1], [https://www.newspapers.com/article/lexington-herald-leader-son-koby-prepari/162186892/ C5] |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> In his first game, Clemens threw 62 pitches, allowed no [[base on balls|walks]], and only one run while [[strike out|striking out]] 6 batters in three innings of work with the Legends, who won the game 5–1.

===Joe Mikulik incident===
The team received national attention again in 2006 following a controversial game against the Asheville Tourists on June 25. In the fifth inning of the game, Tourists manager [[Joe Mikulik]] went on an extended tirade after being ejected from the game following an argument with an umpire. The event received coverage on various television programs, including [[NBC]]'s ''[[The Tonight Show with Jay Leno|The Tonight Show]]'', [[ESPN]]'s ''[[Pardon the Interruption]]'' and ''[[SportsCenter]]'', and [[MSNBC]]'s ''[[Countdown with Keith Olbermann]]''. Roger Clemens' appearance as a Legend and Joe Mikulik's meltdown are chronicled in the 2011 documentary film ''Legendary: When Baseball Came to the Bluegrass''.

===2021 and beyond===
The Lexington Legends were one of the minor league teams that lost MLB affiliation under a new plan by MLB.<ref>{{cite news |title=Lexington Legends part of proposed downsizing |url=https://www.kentucky.com/sports/mlb/lexington-legends/article237471889.html |newspaper=[[Lexington Herald-Leader]] |access-date=November 27, 2019 |date=November 17, 2019 |url-status=live |url-access=subscription |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191118120208/https://www.kentucky.com/sports/mlb/lexington-legends/article237471889.html |archive-date=November 18, 2019}}</ref> On February 18, 2021, the team announced that it would be joining the [[Atlantic League of Professional Baseball]], an independent MLB Partner league, for the 2021 season.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.lanereport.com/138525/2021/02/legends-join-the-atlantic-league-of-professional-baseball/ |title=Legends join the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball |website=The Lane Report |date=February 18, 2021 |access-date=February 18, 2021}}</ref>

On October 28, 2022, the team and their ballpark were sold to Nathan and Keri Lyons.<ref name="lex18">{{cite news |url=https://www.lex18.com/news/nashville-developer-acquires-lexington-legends-wild-health-field |title=Nashville developer acquires Lexington Legends, Wild Health Field |website=[[WLEX-TV]] |date=October 28, 2022 |access-date=October 28, 2022}}</ref><ref name="on3">{{cite news |first=Zack |last=Geoghegan |url=https://www.on3.com/teams/kentucky-wildcats/news/lexington-legends-wild-health-field-sold-nashville-developer/ |title=Lexington Legends, Wild Health Field sold to Nashville developer |website=[[Kentucky Sports Radio]] |date=October 28, 2022 |access-date=October 28, 2022}}</ref>

===2023 name change===
It was announced March 6, 2023, that the team was changing its name to the Lexington Counter Clocks.<ref>{{cite news |title=New for 2023: Lexington Counter Clocks |url=https://ballparkdigest.com/2023/03/06/new-for-2023-lexington-counter-clocks/ |access-date=March 6, 2023 |work=Ballpark Digest |publisher=August Publications |date=March 6, 2023}}</ref> For that season, their ballpark was known as Counter Clocks Field.{{citation needed|date=October 2023}}

===2024 sale and name change===
It was announced January 25, 2024, that the team had been sold to Temerity Baseball along with several local investors.<ref name="2024sale" /> On February 15, 2024, it was announced the team would be renamed back to the Lexington Legends.<ref name="back">{{cite news |last1=Hale |first1=Jon |title=The Lexington Legends are back with a new mascot for the 2024 Atlantic League season |url=https://www.kentucky.com/sports/mlb/article285421692.html |access-date=February 16, 2024 |work=[[Lexington Herald-Leader]] |date=February 15, 2024 |url-status=live |url-access=subscription |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240216031840/https://www.kentucky.com/sports/mlb/article285421692.html |archive-date=February 16, 2024}}</ref>

==Branding and mascots==
[[File:Lexington Counter Clocks logo blue.svg|thumb|Logo of the Counter Clocks (2023)]]
The Legends' mascot from 2001 to 2022 was Big L, a mustachioed [[baseball player]] caricature. His best friend was Pee Wee, another team mascot. The team's colors were blue, green, and yellow.

Along with its new name, in 2023 the Lexington Counter Clocks introduced two new mascots: Hoss, a horse that races to the left, and Dinger, a clock swinging a bat.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://lexingtoncounterclocks.com/blogs/news/were-the-lexington-counter-clocks |title=We're the Lexington Counter Clocks |website=Lexington Counter Clocks |date=March 6, 2023 |access-date=March 6, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230923101045/https://lexingtoncounterclocks.com/blogs/news/were-the-lexington-counter-clocks |archive-date=September 23, 2023}}</ref> The team's colors are now blue, red, and white.

Along with the name change announced on February 15, 2024, a new mascot was introduced: Mighty Lex, a baseball with arms, legs, and the same mustache worn by past mascot Big L.<ref name="back" />

==Season by season results==
Since its inception, the Lexington franchise has played 22 seasons, initially in the [[South Atlantic League]] (2001–2019) and later in the [[Atlantic League of Professional Baseball]] (2021–present). As of the completion of the 2022 season, the club had played in 2,886 regular season games and compiled a record of 1,400–1,486 for a .485 winning percentage. The team [[Playoffs|postseason]] record was 19–8.

{|class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%; text-align:center;"
|align="center" bgcolor="#FFCCCC"|'''League Champions'''<br />†
|align="center" bgcolor="#DBB7FF"|'''Post-season Berth'''<br />♦
|}

{|class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size: 95%; text-align:center;"
! Season !! Manager !! Record{{ref label|Record|a|a}} !! Win % !! League{{ref label|League|b|b}} !! Division{{ref label|Division|c|c}} !! GB{{ref label|GB|d|d}} !! Post-season record{{ref label|Post|e|e}} !! Post-season win % !! class="unsortable"|Result !! class="unsortable"|MLB/League affiliate
|-
| bgcolor="#FFCCCC"|2001<br />† || [[Joe Cannon (baseball)|Joe Cannon]] || 92–48 || .657 || {{sort|01.0|1st}} || 1st || {{sort|00.0|–}} || 4–0 || 1.000 || bgcolor="#FFCCCC"|''Won division series vs [[Hagerstown Suns]], 2–0''<br />Led [[Asheville Tourists]] 2–0 in League Championship Series<br />''Declared Co-League Champions''{{ref label|2001 Co-League Champions|f|f}} || [[2001 Houston Astros season|Houston]]
|-
| 2002 || [[Joe Cannon (baseball)|Joe Cannon]] || 81–59 || .579 || {{sort|02.0|2nd}} || 2nd || {{sort|02.5|2½}} || – || – || – || [[2002 Houston Astros season|Houston]]
|-
| bgcolor="#DBB7FF"|2003<br />♦ || [[Russ Nixon]] || 75–63 || .543 || {{sort|07.0|7th}} || 2nd || {{sort|25.0|25}} || 0–2 || .000 || bgcolor="#DBB7FF"|Lost division series vs [[Lake County Captains]], 0–2|| [[2003 Houston Astros season|Houston]]
|-
| 2004 || [[Iván DeJesús]] || 68–72 || .486 || {{sort|10.0|10th}} || 7th || {{sort|17.0|17}} || – || – || – || [[2004 Houston Astros season|Houston]]
|-
| 2005 || [[Tim Bogar]] || 81–58 || .583 || {{sort|01.0|1st}} || 1st || {{sort|00.0|—}} || – || – || – || [[2005 Houston Astros season|Houston]]
|-
| bgcolor="#DBB7FF"|2006<br />♦ || [[Jack Lind]] || 75–63 || .543 || {{sort|05.0|5th}} || 3rd || {{sort|08.5|8½}} || 0–2 || .000 || bgcolor="#DBB7FF"|Lost division series vs [[Lakewood BlueClaws]], 0–2 || [[2006 Houston Astros season|Houston]]
|-
| 2007 || Gregg Langbehn || 59–81 || .421 || {{sort|13.0|13th}} || 7th || {{sort|25.0|25}} || – || – || – || [[2007 Houston Astros season|Houston]]
|-
| 2008 || Gregg Langbehn || 45–93 || .326 || {{sort|16.0|16th}} || 8th || {{sort|34.0|34}} || – || – || – || [[2008 Houston Astros season|Houston]]
|-
| 2009 || [[Tom Lawless]] || 68–72 || .486 || {{sort|09.0|9th}} || 5th || {{sort|08.5|8½}} || – || – || – || [[2009 Houston Astros season|Houston]]
|-
| 2010 || Rodney Linares || 71–68 || .511 || {{sort|06.0|6th}} || 4th || {{sort|08.5|8½}} || – || – || – || [[2010 Houston Astros season|Houston]]
|-
| 2011 || Rodney Linares || 59–79 || .428 || {{sort|12.0|12th}} || 6th || {{sort|19.5|19½}}|| – || – || – || [[2011 Houston Astros season|Houston]]
|-
| 2012 || [[Iván DeJesús]] || 69–69 || .500 || {{sort|7.0|7th}} || 4th || {{sort|18.0|18}} || – || – || – || [[2012 Houston Astros season|Houston]]

|-
| 2013 || [[Brian Buchanan]] || 68–70 || .493 ||8th||6th/4th||9.5/10|| – || – || – || [[2013 Kansas City Royals season|Kansas City]]
|-
|2014
|[[Brian Buchanan]]
|57–83
|.407
|11th
|6th/6th
|17/20.5
|–
|–
|–
|[[2014 Kansas City Royals season|Kansas City]]
|-
|2015
|Omar Ramirez
|58–80
|.420
|12th
|6th
|26.5
|–
|–
|–
|[[2015 Kansas City Royals season|Kansas City]]
|-
|2016
|Omar Ramirez
|52–87
|.374
|13th
|7th
|
| –
| –
| –
|[[2016 Kansas City Royals season|Kansas City]]
|-
|2017
|[[Scott Thorman]]
|62–75
|.453
|12th
|6th
|16
| –
| –
| –
|[[2017 Kansas City Royals season|Kansas City]]
|-
| bgcolor="#FFCCCC"|2018<br />†
|[[Scott Thorman]]
|76–60
|.559 
|2nd
|1st
|{{sort|00.0|-}}
|5–1
|.833
|bgcolor="#FFCCCC" |''Won division series vs [[Rome Braves]] 2–0<br />Won League Championship Series vs [[Lakewood BlueClaws]] 3–1<br />League Champions''
|[[2018 Kansas City Royals season|Kansas City]]
|-
| bgcolor="#FFCCCC"|2019<br />†
|[[Brooks Conrad]]
|68–70 
|.493
|7th
|3rd
|9
|5–1
|.833
|bgcolor="#FFCCCC" |''Won division series vs [[Augusta Greenjackets]] 2–0<br />Won League Championship Series vs [[Hickory Crawdads]] 3–1<br />League Champions''
|[[2019 Kansas City Royals season|Kansas City]]
|-
|2020
| colspan="10" align="center" |''Season cancelled due to [[COVID-19 pandemic]]''
|-
| bgcolor="#FFCCCC"|2021<br />†
|[[P. J. Phillips]]
|60–60 
|.500
|4th
|2nd
|4.5
|5–2
|.714
|bgcolor="#FFCCCC" |''Won division series vs [[Charleston Dirty Birds]] 2–1<br />Won League Championship Series vs [[Long Island Ducks]] 3–1<br />League Champions''
|[[Atlantic League of Professional Baseball]]
|-
| 2022 || P. J. Phillips || 56–76 || .424 || 7th || 4th || 32 || – || – || – || [[Atlantic League of Professional Baseball]]
|-
| 2023 || Barry Lyons || 49-75 || .4395 || 9th || 5th || 29 || – || – || – || [[Atlantic League of Professional Baseball]]
|}

===Notes===
* {{note label|Record|a|a}}This column indicates overall wins and losses during the regular season and excludes any postseason play.
* {{note label|League|b|b}}This column indicates overall position in the league standings.
* {{note label|Division|c|c}}This column indicates overall position in the divisional standings[split seasons for 2013 and 2014].
* {{note label|GB|d|d}}Determined by finding the difference in wins plus the difference in losses divided by two, this column indicates "[[games behind]]" the team that finished in overall first place in the division [split seasons for 2013 and 2014].
* {{note label|Post|e|e}}This column indicates wins and losses during the postseason.
* {{note label|Post|f|f}}Due to the [[September 11 attacks]], the 2001 best-of-five League Championship Series against Asheville was cancelled. Asheville and Lexington were declared SAL Co-Champions.

==Roster==
{{IndyLB roster
| League            = Atlantic League
| TeamName          = Lexington Legends
| RosterCode        = 163530
| BC1               = #19468d
| BC2               = #00984c
| FC1               = #ffffff
| FC2               = #ffffff
| Date              = April 16, 2025
| Pitchers=
{{MLBplayer|--|Jose Acosta}}
{{MLBplayer|--|Dustin Beggs}}
{{MLBplayer|--|Victor Capellan}}
{{MLBplayer|--|Will Carsten}}
{{MLBplayer|--|Wilton Castillo}}
{{MLBplayer|--|Harold Cortijo}}
{{MLBplayer|--|Julio Dilone}}
{{MLBplayer|--|Colton Eastman}}
{{MLBplayer|--|Christian Edwards}}
{{MLBplayer|--|[[Durbin Feltman]]}}
{{MLBplayer|--|Ben Ferrer}}
{{MLBplayer|--|Donald Goodson}}
{{MLBplayer|--|Jonathan Haab}}
{{MLBplayer|--|Jean Herrera}}
{{MLBplayer|--|Nic Laio}}
{{MLBplayer|--|Jett Lodes}}
{{MLBplayer|--|Jimmy Loper}}
{{MLBplayer|--|Will Lopez}}
{{MLBplayer|--|Jack Lynch}}
{{MLBplayer|--|Justin Miller}}
{{MLBplayer|--|Gabriel Rodriguez}}
{{MLBplayer|--|Eury Rosado}}
{{MLBplayer|--|Dalton Ross}}
{{MLBplayer|--|Wesley Scott}}
{{MLBplayer|--|Kaleb Sophy}}
{{MLBplayer|--|Patrick Wicklander}}

| Catchers=
{{MLBplayer|--|Austin Bates}}
{{MLBplayer|--|Kole Cottam}}
{{MLBplayer|--|Jerry Huntzinger}}

| Infielders=
{{MLBplayer|--|Corbin Steinour}}
{{MLBplayer|--|Peter Bocchino}}
{{MLBplayer|--|Connor Denning}}
{{MLBplayer|--|Brian Fuentes}}
{{MLBplayer|--|Roberto Gonzalez}}
{{MLBplayer|--|Clayton Mehlbauer}}
{{MLBplayer|--|Nilo Rijo}}
{{MLBplayer|--|[[Curtis Terry (baseball)|Curtis Terry]]}}
{{MLBplayer|--|Brady Whalen}}

| Outfielders=
{{MLBplayer|--|EJ Cumbo}}
{{MLBplayer|--|Ryan McCarthy}}
{{MLBplayer|--|[[Robb Paller]]}}
{{MLBplayer|--|Luis Perez}}
{{MLBplayer|--|Dylan Rock}}
{{MLBplayer|--|Kevin Santiago}}
{{MLBplayer|--|Xane Washington}}
{{MLBplayer|--|[[Justin Williams (baseball)|Justin Williams]]}}

 | Manager=
{{MLBplayer|--|[[Paul Fletcher (baseball)|Paul Fletcher]]}}

 | Coaches=
{{MLBplayer|--|Mikey Reynolds}} <small>(hitting)</small>
{{MLBplayer|--|Tommy Thompson}} <small>(pitching)</small>
}}

==Lexington Legends Hall of Fame==
The Lexington Legends honored ten past members of the organization by inducting them into the Lexington Legends Hall of Fame.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.milb.com/news/gcs-150880 |title=Legends Hall Of Fame |website=Minor League Baseball |access-date=September 11, 2010 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160311223755/http://www.milb.com/content/page.jsp?sid=t495&ymd=20070108&content_id=150880&vkey=team3 |archive-date=March 11, 2016}}</ref> These individuals are:

{{div col|colwidth=27em}}
* [[Josh Anderson (baseball)|Josh Anderson]], [[outfielder]] (2004), inducted in 2005
* [[John Buck (baseball)|John Buck]], [[catcher]] (2001), inducted in 2005
* [[Joe Cannon (baseball)|Joe Cannon]], [[manager (baseball)|manager]] (2001–2002), inducted in 2006
* [[Félix Escalona]], [[second baseman]] (2001), inducted in 2005
* [[Mike Gallo]], [[pitcher]] (2002), inducted in 2007
* [[Kirk Saarloos]], pitcher (2001), inducted in 2006
* [[Dave Coggin]], pitcher (2005), inducted in 2008
* Alan Stein, Team President/COO, inducted in 2005
* Charley Taylor, [[Pitching Coach#Pitching and bullpen coaches|pitching coach]], inducted in 2005
* Jon Topolski, outfielder (2001), inducted in 2005
* Tommy Whiteman, [[shortstop]] (2001–2002), inducted in 2007
{{div col end}}

==References==
;General
{{refbegin}}
* [https://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/team.cgi?city=Lexington&state=KY&country=US "Lexington, Kentucky Minor League History."] Baseball-Reference. Retrieved on September 11, 2010.
* [http://thebaseballcube.com/teams/team_10277.shtml "Lexington History (SAL)."] The Baseball Cube. Retrieved on September 11, 2010.
{{refend}}
;Specific
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[https://www.lexingtonlegends.com Official website]

{{Atlantic League}}
{{Kentucky Sports}}
{{Lexington (Kentucky)}}

[[Category:Atlantic League of Professional Baseball teams]]
[[Category:Defunct South Atlantic League teams]]
[[Category:Houston Astros minor league affiliates]]
[[Category:Kansas City Royals minor league affiliates]]
[[Category:Baseball teams established in 2001]]
[[Category:Professional baseball teams in Kentucky]]
[[Category:Sports clubs and teams in Lexington, Kentucky|Legends]]
[[Category:2001 establishments in Kentucky]]