Jesup Bees


The Jesup Bees were a minor league baseball team that was based in Jesup, Georgia from 1950 to 1953. The Jesup Bees played in the Class D Georgia State League. The Bees won Georgia State League regular season pennants in 1951 and 1953. The Bees folded following the 1953 season.

History

The Jesup Bees first began play as an expansion team in the Class D Georgia State League 1950.
In their first season, Jesup finished 5th 69–69 in 1950, under manager Herb Stein. The Jesup Bees did not qualify for the playoffs. The Jesup Bees drew 23,893 for the season, an average of 346 per game.
The 1951 Jesup Bees captured the Georgia State League pennant. The team finished 1st in the regular season with a 86–43 record under manager Donald Stoyle. In the playoffs, the Douglas Trojans swept the Jesup Bees 4 games to 0. Don Rudolph had a 28-8 record and a 2.98 ERA in 285 innings on the mound. Season attendance was 23,931.
In 1952, Jesup finished last in the eight-team league. Their record was 52–73 under manager Stoyle and player/manager James Warren. the Jesup Bees drew 16,657, an average of 267 per game.
The 1953 Jesup Bees won the Georgia State League pennant. Jesup finished 78–46, 1st in the league under manager Bill Steinecke. They lost in the first round of the playoffs, being swept by the Eastman Dodgers in four games. The Bees drew 20,629 in 1953. After the 1953 season, both Jesup and Eastman folded, leaving the 1954 Georgia State League with six teams.
Jesup has not hosted another minor league franchise.

The ballpark

The Bees played at Milikin Park. Jesup drew between 16,000 and 24,000 total in each of their four years. Milikin Park was located at Sunset Boulevard & Milikin Street in Jesup, Georgia.

Notable alumni