The Pecan Park Eagle

Fair Grounds Base Ball Park
By Patrick Lopez
~ As advertised earlier this year for the February 20, 2016 dedication of the old park’s location as a historical Houston site.

Fair Grounds Base Ball Park’s Last Game

Here’s how the Galveston Daily News reported a now more appreciated iconic moment in Houston baseball history with only a mild notation and no fanfare on July 2, 1904. Historical appreciation for the importance of the moment, especially by our fifty-miles-away neighboring Galveston media, simply wasn’t present beyond the minimal allowance that this “was the last game at the park”:

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ANOTHER GAME FORFEITED.

Houston Won the Game Played with Beaumont.

Special to The News.

Houston, Tex., July 1. – Houston this afternoon took another game forfeited by Beaumont under the decision of Secretary Farrell. The Beaumont club did not appear at the park and the decision went to Houston. The other game was played, and was won by Houston on the good work of Sorrell in the box. The visitors got only one hit off him. The team gave him strong support. This was the last game at the park.

~ Galveston Daily News, July 2, 1904

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Houston defeated Beaumont in the actual last game played on July 1, 1904, with pitcher Sorrell of Houston throwing a complete game, 1-hit, 3-0 shutout of Beaumont. The actual appearance of the above scripted article, complete with the box score, follows this notation. Thanks again to Darrell Pittman for providing the Pecan Park Eagle with this classic reminder that the significance of most detail matters in history serves best over the low flame grill of time. Even today, details are not so microwavably  apparent in the moment that some would hope to have us believe they should be. Maybe some things of far greater frame, like the assassinations of Lincoln or JFK, the tragedy of “911”, and, in sports, even the last night incredible comeback of LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers in the NBA Finals are obviously significant in the near moment of their occurrences, but little nuts and bolts matters that hold together the history fabric of a long-time process, like the growth and development of baseball in Houston, are much slower to relish appreciation for their less obvious contributions, if at all.

The variably referenced ball park at the corner of Travis and McGowen, south of downtown Houston, was formally dedicated by the name “Fair Grounds Base Ball Park” as a historical site on February 20, 2016. A permanent plaque was installed at the SE corner of the Milam and McGowen intersection. Mike Vance of the Harris County Historical Commission served as Master of Ceremonies for the Saturday morning ceremony that also represented support from the State of Texas Historical Commission. It was nicely attended by a good showing of local baseball history supporters.

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“Buffalo Walking”
(at Fair Grounds Base Ball Park)
~ a more lyrical view of the venue
By Patrick Lopez

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Bill McCurdy

Publisher, Editor, Writer

The Pecan Park Eagle

Houston, Texas