Right Field in Buff Stadium is a place of mystery and curiosity in this photo, starting with the fact that I'm not sure of the exact year it was taken.
Sometimes a photo makes everything obvious. Just as often, a photo may raise more questions than it really answers. The photo shown above is of the latter type. I acquired it some time ago from the very special Texana Collection at the julia Ideson wing of the Houston Public Library. We knew that it was taken in old Buff Stadium in the Houston East End, but that was about the only fact that was clear.
I’m not sure who #15, the pitcher, is but he is a Buff, as best I can see from the old English H that is visible on the left jersey breastplate in another close up of the unidentified Buffs first baseman. The year of this uniform could have been anywhere from 1938 to 1942 or 1946-47. The ’47 Buffs club preferred the Buff logo on the jersey, but they also used the old English H. I simply cannot find another photo of the 46-47 team wearing the light colored caps with stripes – and a photo I have of the ’41 Buffs shows them wearing dark caps. More research is needed.
The HR-resistant Gulf winds came roaring in over these walls in the Houston summertime.
If you look closely above at the first crop-shot from the main photo, you may be able to see that the distance down the right field line was 325 feet, the same as I remember it from my Buff Stadium kid days (1947-54) and the same as it is now in Minute Maid Park. The major differences between these two ballpark right field lines would be the roof option at MMP and the no choice prevalent winds that blew in and over to left field from right field at Buff Stadium. – Also, you may have trouble seeing it here, but the right field foul pole is barely taller than the “325” distance sign.
I’m not sure about the outfield box area with two windows in this photo. There was no scoreboard function in right field during my Buff Stadium days and the main Press Box are was located on the roof behind home plate. I’m not even sure what those lined stands in right were about. We certainly had no outfield bleachers during my time there either.
"Don't Let Wash Day Buffalo You!"
That top sign is from Burkhart’s and it’s promoting the idea in words and pictures that you (meaning “you housewives”) should not let wash day make you fear dirty clothes. With Burkhart’s help, they are offering protection from being buffaloed by the challenge.
Left to right above, the signs are also advertising Dr. Pepper, Leopold & Price Men’s Store, A Special Giveaway at Mading’s Drugs, Save Time, Money, and Worry by Riding Street Cars and Buses, and enjoy the comfort of the Texas State Hotel, including their first class modern grill.
Who could ask for anything more?
The sad days of segregated stands existed into the mid-1950s at Buff Stadium. The empty stands at left above were the designated "colored section.".
Segregated seating for black fans at Buff Stadium existed through the 1954 season, the year that first baseman Bob Boyd broke the color line by becoming the first black player to integrate any Houston sports team, amateur or professional, in the City of Houston. Why the so-called “colored section” at the left above is empty in this photo I could not begin to explain. It’s just shameful that even baseball wasn’t big enough to rise up sooner against the formal practice of racial discrimination, but that’s not the way history played out.
As for today, the empty “colored section” is simply one of the curiosities and mysteries that float forward in this single photo of an active past game day in right field at old Buff Stadium.
There are numerous lessons on the loose here in this picture, but not the least of these for all those photographers of history is this one: If you want your photos to capture history, do not expect the picture alone to tell the story. Write down when and where it was taken and leave a few words about who is in it and why it may be important to remember. Otherwise, by taking and leaving the photo alone, you will have over time simply left another visual egg of mystery to scramble the brains of viewers in the future.
Pass the salt and pepper, Mammy! Let’s close with a good clear closeup of that wash day buffalo ad:
"Buffalo Gal, Won't You Come Out Tonight - And Dance by the Light of the Moon?"
Thanks to a post-publication contribution suggestion from Larry Hajduk, the following photo, compliments of the Story Sloane Gallery, is added to show how Burkhart’s Laundry appeared in 1928. It appears that Burkhart’s had a long ago thriving business helping Houston do its laundry.
Burkhart's Laundry, Houston, compliments of Story Sloane Gallery, http://www.sloanegallery.com
Also, local history sleuth Mike Vance checked in with an important observation that he somehow could not register below as a comment. Mike says the last streetcar in Houston ran in 1940. So, if we are to believe the outfield sign advocating public use 0f Houston’s “street cars,” that does narrow down the year possibilities for this photo considerably. Thanks, Mike Vance. That’s a major help.
Tags: Baseball, culture, History, Houston Buffs
The Pecan Park Eagle 
May 28, 2010 at 4:31 pm |
The design of that that Dr. Pepper sign is from the 1930’s and early 1940’s. Along with the information on the history of the street cars which stopped running in 1940 the two are indicative of this photo taken sometime in the mid to late 1930’s.
May 28, 2010 at 4:34 pm |
Oh…by the way. When were lights erected at Buff Stadium? You can see the light standards in the photo.
June 10, 2010 at 8:55 pm |
That date of Thursday, June 2nd in conjunction with James Anderson’s info that the streetcars stopped running in 1940 suggests to me that this might be 1938. That would also tie in with the presence of lights for night games.
Just a guess…..
June 10, 2010 at 9:03 pm |
By the way, that date of Thursday, June 2nd comes from the advertising sign “Be Mading’s Guest” in the background.
October 22, 2011 at 11:48 pm |
I am the great grandson of J.E.Burkhart Sr. I really enjoyed seeing these pictures. If any has anymore, I would love to see them. I am John E. Burkhart iv and my email is jebivl@sbcglobal.net. Many thanks to whoever posted these.