Ohio State League 1939 to 1941 After Lima first hosted a minor league team in 1888, the Lima Pandas were preceded in minor league play by the 1934
Lima Buckeyes, who played briefly as members of the Class D level
Central League. The Buckeyes folded after compiling an 0–8 record to begin the season. The 1939
Lima Pandas resumed minor league baseball play as members of the six–team
Class D level
Ohio State League. The "Pandas" nickname was chosen by the club with fan input. The Lima franchise was formed with the support of Henry Rigney and
Michael V. DiSalle, businessmen from
Toledo, Ohio. DiSalle was later elected as
Governor of Ohio in 1958. In February, 1939 the Lima club was approved at a league meeting in
Fostoria, Ohio. At a home game in May 1939, Lima pitcher
Frank Biscan married Lilly Jane Pearson at home plate before a Pandas ballgame. Biscan then pitched a complete game shoutout against the Tiffin Mud Hens in the game to follow. After the Pandas ended the month May in last place with a 5–12 record, manager William Ward, was replaced in by
Merle “Lefty” Settlemire. By the end of June, the almost entire player roster was replaced, with the exception of three players Lima played the season under managers William Ward and
Merle Settlemire, finishing 4.0 games behind the first place Findlay Oilers in the final Ohio State League regular season standings. Hubert Wooton led the Ohio State League with 18 home runs With an 85–34 regular season record under returning manager Merle Settlemire, the Pandas won the league pennant. Lima finished the season 17½ games ahead of the second place Findlay Oilers in the six-team league. In the playoffs, Lima swept the Mansfield Braves in three games to advance. In the Finals the Pandas defended their title in defeating the Findlay Oilers four games to two and winning their second consecutive league championship. Lima had numerous players lead the Ohio State League in various Categories. John Cindric had 39 home runs and 150 RBI to lead the league, while scoring 141 total runs, tops in the league. Player/manager Merle Settlemire had a 15–0 record, while Frank Biscan led the league with both 26 wins and 243 strikeouts. With a record of 43–64 record, playing the season under managers Otis Brannan and Rex Settlemire, Lima finished the regular season in fifth place, as the league held no playoffs. Lima ended the season 28.0 games behind the first place Fremont Green Sox in the final standings.
Ohio State League 1944 to 1947 Lima continued minor league baseball play in 1944, when the Lima "Red Birds" resumed play as members of the six–team
Class D level
Ohio State League, which reformed during
World War II. The
Marion Diggers,
Middletown Red Sox,
Newark Moundsmen,
Richmond Roses Springfield Giants and
Zanesville Dodgers joined Lima in resuming league play on May 2, 1944. The Lima Red Birds were a minor league affiliate of the
St. Louis Cardinals, adopting a version of the team's nickname. The Red Birds ended the Ohio State League season with a record of 65–62, placing fourth in the regular season standings, finishing 9½ games ahead of the first place Springfield Giants, as
Runt Marr and Jack Norris served as managers. In the playoffs, Lima lost in the first round to the Newark Moundsmen, who defeated the Red Birds three games to one. Harvey Zernia of Lima led the Ohio State League with 114 RBI, while teammate Neal Reside had 173 total hits and scored 120 runs to top the league in both categories. With a record of 72–68, the Reds placed third in the six–team league, playing the season under manager Clarence Crossley and finishing 17½ games behind the first place
Middletown Rockets in the regular season final standings. In the first round of the playoffs, Lima lost to the eventual champion
Zanesville Dodgers four games to two. In 1946, Lima became a minor league affiliate of the
Chicago White Sox, playing as the Lima "Terriers" in continuing Ohio State League play as the league expanded from six teams to eight teams. The Terriers finished the regular season with a record of 67–71, placing fifth in the Ohio State League, finishing 14½ games behind the first place Springfield Giants in the final regular season standings. With their fifth-place finish, Lima did not qualify for the four-team playoff won by the Zanesville Dodgers. Wayne Reside, who also played for Springfield during the season, led the Ohio State League with both 21 home runs and 118 RBI. Lima pitcher Merlin Williams had 275 strikeouts to lead the league. In 1948, the Ohio State League expanded beyond the state of Ohio and changed names to become the
Class D level
Ohio–Indiana League ==The ballpark==