In a curious and unexpected, but never surprising dip into the halls of out-of-town digital news reports on past events in Houston, the Pecan Park Eagle could find only one article that made any reference to the 1989 Houston Baseball Dinner – and it was published in the Paris (TX) News on the early date of Thursday, October 27, 1988 and never referenced again – by any news source we could find. The article had been spawned as an Associated Press story that Glenn Davis had been named as the Houston Astros’ Most Valuable Player for 1988.
We are left with only these possible conclusions as explanations for this outcome: (1) our normally very productive research methods may have failed us for some unknown reason in looking for 1989 dinner data; (2) the February 8, 1989 dinner described in this 3.5 month earlier report was somehow cancelled; (3) it was the year of the most inept publicity effort ever made in behalf of the Houston Baseball Dinner; or (4) we need to see the Houston Chronicle and Post microfilm records for early 1989, especially for February 9, 1989 – the day after the dinner’s announced happening.
In the meanwhile, here’s our Paris (TX) News report of October 27, 1988 on what was scheduled to happen:
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Davis named Astros’ Most Valuable Player
The Associated Press
Houston – Houston first baseman Glenn Davis, who hit .271 and drove in a team high 99 runs, was named the Astros’ most valuable player Wednesday (10/26/88) by the Houston chapter of the Baseball Writers Association of America.
Davis also led the Astro with 30 home runs and had 152 hits, second on the team to shortstop Rafael Ramirez’s 156 hits.
Davis will receive the award (Wednesday) Feb. 8 (1989) at the annual baseball dinner sponsored by the Houston Athletic Council.
DOC EWELL
(far right)
Former Astros trainer Doc Ewell will receive the BBWAA award for long and meritorious service to baseball and Cleveland pitcher Greg Swindell will be honored as the Greater Houston Area Major League Player of the Year.
The player of the year award is a new honor for a major league player who played high school or college baseball in the Greater Houston area.
Swindell, who played high school baseball at Houston Sharpstown and pitched at the University of Texas, compiled an 18-14 record last season and (a) 3.20 earned run average.
Swindell struck out 180 batters in 242 innings.
~ Associated Press, Paris (TX) News, Thursday, October 27, 1988, Page 16.
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The Pecan Park Eagle 
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