The Houston Babies found their way together from their own field of dreams back in 2008.
It Was A Glorious Day to Play Baseball
by Bob Dorrill
Bob Dorrill, our Pecan Park Eagle free lance reporter, also serves as manager of the Houston Babies, Director of the Larry Dierker Chapter of SABR, one of the seven authors of our recently released work, Houston Baseball, The Early Years, 1861-1961, and Houston Coordinator of the 2014 National Convention of SABR that comes to Houston this summer from July 30-August 3rd. Bob, The Eagle and all fans of local baseball thank you for adding Babies beat writing to your already amazing resume and busy schedule.. The Houston baseball community needs more baseball adhesive glue from people like you. So, take care of yourself. It is hard these days to find genuine heroes – and you, my friend, are one for the ages! Thanks for the great job you do in behalf of baseball.
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It was a glorious day to play baseball. The sun was out, the field meticulous after having been groomed by the grounds crew and both teams were ready to play Vintage Baseball.
This was the scene yesterday, Friday the 13th, 2014, at Constellation Field in Sugar Land as the Houston Babies hosted the Katy Combine before the regularly scheduled game between the Sugar Land Skeeters and the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs. For our game Skeeters play by play broadcaster and sometimes Babies player Ira Liebman did the honors of crying out “Play Ball” as the home team Babies hit the field.
What followed was a lively game, shortened to four innings due to time constraints. While the Babies and the Combine can’t take all the credit it must be reported that every single seat was sold for “Turn Back the Clock Night” featuring vintage baseball and some fans were turned away when they found that no more tickets were available.
The Babies, who won the initial “Turn Back the Clock Night” game last year fought hard to repeat but were defeated 5 – 3 by the highly talented Combine team. Due to the size of the ballpark triples seemed to be the rule as both teams hit the ball into the far reaches of Constellation Field including Alex Hajduk, in his new “hockey look” and Kyle Burns for the Babies as well as two Combine players.
Houston Babies slugger Alex Hajduk announced that he was wearing a beard for as long as the New York Rangers hockey team stayed alive for the Stanley Cup. – Shall we presume that the whiskers are now gone?
This year as last, we were pleased to have the multi-talented and top hat dressed Mr. Dale Ryan serve as our “Blind Tom”. Dale called them as he saw them but on one occasion did ask the “cranks” in the stands to assist him on a very close play.
Our General Manager, Bill McCurdy, was a little under the weather (I wonder if the 95 degree temperatures had something to do with that) and missed his first vintage game in memory. In his stead, Tal Smith pinch hit for Bill as acting GM. About half way through the second inning Tal was seen on his cell phone, perhaps trying to make a quick trade for another player because of a DL problem on the Babies roster. Robert Pena and Bob Blair both showed up for the game to cheer their mates, but neither could play due to injuries. . We were hoping for Tracy McGrady in Tal’s deal, but it fell through. Apparently the Skeeters wanted too much in return.
Honorary Baby Jimmy Wynn was in the house cheering us on as was “Deacon” Jones.
Clubs like the Houston Babies and the Katy Combine find their own Field of Dreams each time they meet in a friendly game of vintage 1860s base ball. All we need now is for Joe Jackson, Moonlight Graham, Kevin Costner, James Earl Jones, and Roy Hobbs to show up.
After the game we relaxed and watched the regular game which went 12 innings before the Skeeters prevailed 3-2. During the fourth inning there was a search throughout Constellation Field for “The Most Interesting Person in the Park” and it turned out to be none other than our very own second baseman Phil Holland. Phil sure looked good on the giant screen as he received his gift. He was immediately asked for his autograph.
The Houston Babies and Katy Combine next play on October 26th at the George Ranch as part of Texas Market Days.
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Happy Fathers Day
From The Pecan Park Eagle
Sunday, June 15, 2014
Tags: Houston Babies Base Ball
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