Houston Babies & Friends, Galveston, Texas, May 18, 2013. ~ On the grounds where people once savored upon the 19th century pleasure & gaiety offerings of Schmidt’s Garden.
Thanks to SABR member and Babies photographer, Matt Rejmaniak, the Houston Babies and Katy Combine players are now apprised, after-the-fact, that their Saturday, May 18, 2013 vintage base ball game in Galveston played out on the historic ground of a late 19th century pleasure block of land on the beachfront of the Gulf.
“Bet nobody dressed like me back in the wild and wooly days!” ~ Beauty Queen Lynn
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Here’s how Matt Rejmaniak revealed the truth to the Pecan Park Eagle yesterday by e-mail:
“From a little research I’ve done, Saturday’s vintage ball game was played on the site of “Schmidt’s Garden”. Amazingly appropriate! It was the first time the Houston Babies ball club has played in Galveston since 1888!!!
“Schmidt’s Garden, located on five acres of ground between Avenue 0 and P and 20th and 21st Streets, was the rendezvous of pleasure seekers in Galveston a century ago. In the 1870s and 1880s parties, picnics and festivals were held within the confines of the garden, dotted with beautiful trees, flowers and shrubbery. The garden was developed and owned by F.W. Schmidt, pioneer settler in Texas…Schmidt’s Garden was one of the most popular places on Galveston Island for outdoor recreation between 1873 and 1887. Dances, athletic events, and beer-drinking contests also were held at the Garden, which boasted an octagon shaped dance hall, a saloon and a refreshment stand.”
— Matt Rejmaniak
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Writer John DeLapp of the Galveston County News also gave the 14-14 tie game great story and pictorial coverage in their Sunday, May 19th edition too. Grab a copy, if you can, or check it out over the Internet through their paid subscriber service.
If you missed our game story here at The Pecan Park Eagle yesterday, or if you haven’t seen the extra photos that were added to it late last night, try this link:
“Us Houston Babies just waited our times to bat on the bench. We didn’t know nuthin’ ’bout us playin’ a game on ground that used to be an outdoor saloon!”
Tags: Vintage Base Ball in Texas
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The Pecan Park Eagle 
May 20, 2013 at 4:39 pm |
The Civil War blog which is linked at the top and is the source of this history is written by Jim Schmidt. He refers to his book on Galveston and the Civil War. Get it. There is much interesting history. Likewise two other authors should be sought out on closely related subjects- Andy Hall who is mentioned in the blog and Ed Cotham who wrote the definitive book on the Battle of Galveston.
June 5, 2013 at 1:33 pm |
Thank you SO MUCH fo rthe kind mention of my blog and book! I really appreciate it. Andy and Ed have become good friends and were incredibly generous in their support and advice as I researched and wrote about Galveston in the Civil War. The story about Schmidt’s Garden and “Quarantine” Schmidt are so great! You might enjoy these baseball related entries on my blog, about my great uncle Willard Schmidt who pitched for the Reds and Cards in the 50s and 60s.
http://civilwarmed.blogspot.com/2007/08/willard-schmidt-rhprip.html
http://civilwarmed.blogspot.com/2009/07/almost-perfect-willard-schmidt-1955.html
June 16, 2013 at 7:54 pm |
Thanks for the reference to Schmidt’s Garden.