LEXINGTON, Ky. — Fans of the minor league baseball team formerly known as the Lexington Legends are pushing back on their team’s recent name change. Thousands hope to turn back the clock on the now-Counterclocks baseball team.

What You Need To Know

  • Lexington’s independent minor league baseball team announced a name change from the Legends to the Counterclocks

  • A long-time Legends fan and over 4,000 others are pushing back on the name change

  • The stadium often opens doors to nonprofits, family-themed events, college games and more

  • The Counterclocks will play in their first home game at the end of April

Some say legends die hard, and that’s now why over 4,500 people are petitioning to reverse the recent name switch of the Lexington Legends, a now-independent minor league baseball affiliate. 

Ryan Smith is the creator of the petition that started less than a week ago, and said he didn’t expect many others to agree. 

“I was pretty distraught. Like I thought I was taking it a little too seriously, and then I jumped on social media and read other comments and it seemed that I wasn’t alone. So that’s when I started the petition to kind of rally the troops,” Smith explained. 

The new name is inspired by how Kentucky historically raced horses on counter-clockwise dirt tracks. Now other sports like baseball, track and field, and others run in the same manner. Leaders say the decision included hundreds of community members’ input.

Counterclocks president and general manager Justin Ferrarella recently said this was a new meaning and beginning for people around and beyond the city. 

“The Legends were a great organization for 22 years. Now you have new ownership, new changes coming to the stadium, and new staff, so why not start fresh?” Ferrarella said. 

Ryan Smith is a long-time baseball fanatic and avid Legends, now Counterclocks, attendee. (Spectrum News 1/Sabriel Metcalf)

Smith says the numbers for those who say they aren’t too sure about the new name are continuing to rise. 

“4,288, and the next goal is 5,000 and the ultimate goal is 7,000 — which is the ballpark stadium capacity,” he said.

Another way to gauge the public’s thoughts may need to be considered.  

“Especially the people who come to the games. If we’re at the games, maybe have a poll there,” Smith said. “That way we could give our opinion, the people that are coming to the games showing that, hey, we want the Legends.”

Smith, who attends nearly ten games a year, says regardless of the outcome, he hopes that the baseball park continues to spread baseball traditions around Kentucky.

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