“Travis Street Park”
Home of the 1888 Houston Babies ~ By Patrick Lopez ~ As “Buffalo Watching”
PRETTY ROUGH
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The Statement Made By the News as to the Disgraceful Conduct of the Galveston Ball Team – The Report is Not Believed.
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Galveston Evening Tribune, May 1, 1888. The Galvestons are out on a tour of the state and it was hoped that the players would so conduct themselves, both on and off the ball field, as to win the respect of the public. It is possible for a man to be a gentleman under all circumstances, although he may not be a ballplayer. These preliminary remarks are based on reports that have reached Galveston – reports that every lover of the National game in Galveston most heartily wishes may be untrue.
Here are some sample reports from the Houston Post of the 1st (of May) and apply to the game.
“Manager Sullivan, of the Galvestons, wants clean ball playing and will stick fines to Pujol and Stallings for their hoodlumism yesterday.”
“If the umpire cannot manage Pujol, turn him over to the police. People do pay their money to witness an exhibition of hoodlumism. Nor do ladies occupy the ladies stand to hear startling dirty talk to the umpire.”
The correspondent of the News at Houston furnishes a lot of stuff this morning that is not only absolutely sicking (sp) but untrue. It is pronounced untrue for the reason that the Houston Post of today makes no reference to anything of the kind and it is safe to say that if the Galveston players behaved as the News says they did that the Post would have referred to it both elaborately and extensively. The Post says of the game:
“The Houston Babies redeemed themselves yesterday by playing the prettiest game of baseball ever witnessed in Houston.They were mad with themselves for playing so listlessly on Monday and to ease their conscience they fairly plowed up the earth with the Galveston Giants. They jumped on (Galveston pitcher) Stallings and lined him right and left. (Houston pitcher) Flood pitched a beautiful game and was beautifully held by Lohbeck. Dunn, the new man, showed up strong in the field and at the bat, and is a dandy on he coaching line. The other players covered their territories in handsome style.”
~ Galveston Evening Tribute, May 1, 1888, Page 5.
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New Book Reminder:
If you care to learn much more about the early history of Houston baseball, please check out the following link. “Houston Baseball, The Early Years, 1861-1961” is a brand new release and the only comprehensive scholarly and entertaining work on the role of baseball in Houston, most probably from the city’s 1836 start. It is the product of the Houston Larry Dierker Chapter of SABR, the Society for American Baseball Research. It was written by multiple authors, including Steve Bertone, Bob Dorrill, Marsha Franty, Mickey Herskowitz, Bill McCurdy, Joe Thompson, and Mike Vance. Patrick Lopez provided watercolor architectural drawings of the city’s primary ball parks, dating back to the 19th century, and Mike Vance also performed a masterful job as the editor of the final product that is our legacy gift to the total history of our greater Houston community. The book was beautifully produced by Bright Sky Press in Houston. Physically, the book is 368 pages in hard cover with dust jacket format, weighing in also at 4 pounds a copy. The price is $50.00, but worth every penny for its scholarly commitment to an accurate, comprehensive study of the game’s history in this area of the state. We might add too that our “Early Houston Baseball” book is both the first and only one of its kind on this general subject. It is a good and accurate story that now belongs to the ages with its 2014 publication.
Here’s the website link for more information: http://www.houstonbaseball.org/
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See the New Houston Babies Play Today at Constellation Field Prior to the Sugar Land Skeeters Game!
The reincarnated Houston Babies vintage base ball team will square off at 5:00 PM today, Friday the 13th of May 2014 at Constellation Field against the great Katy Combine team. Come see the Babies and Katy play. Then stay to watch the exciting action of Sugar Land Skeeters Atlantic Independent League Baseball.
Tags: Houston Babies Game
The Pecan Park Eagle 
June 13, 2014 at 3:17 pm |
Yes we Galvestons want our team to be gentlemen on the field of baseball battle, and we expect them to behave themselves at game time.The Houston Babies are always welcome to play here on Galveston Island , which is near Texas.