Before I express my opinion on the issue of whether to relocate Lincoln Park, allow me to give you a short history on how and when little league baseball started in Brownsville.
Some early opponents of little league baseball
were highly critical, but what they said about America’s game was far
from the true. They declared, “That the competitive pressure of little
league baseball was a danger to the physical and psychological needs of
those that played the game.”
Fortunately,
the kids were immune to what was being said and just kept on playing
ball and – in spite of the adult squabbling – the popularity of the game
continued to spread.
On the other side of the fence,
the backers of such a program credited little league baseball
with curing everything from depression to delinquency.
Fortunately,
the kids were immune to what was being said and just kept on playing
ball and – in spite of the adult squabbling – the popularity of the game
continued to spread.
(Photo I at right: 1954 East Brownsville All-Stars)
Locally, little league baseball had and continues to have many supporters. The game made its first curtain call in this city in 1952 when the Kiwanis Club took the initiative to organize the first ever six-team league.
Locally, little league baseball had and continues to have many supporters. The game made its first curtain call in this city in 1952 when the Kiwanis Club took the initiative to organize the first ever six-team league.
The
pioneers of the program whot took the challenge to sponsor the kids
with uniforms and equipment were: The First National Bank, Brownsville
Herald, West Brownsville Lions Club, Pan American Bank, Brownsville
Shrimp Exchange and the Kiwanis Club.
With the league in place, the next step was to apply for a charter from the national headquarters – but to the surprise of city officials – the application was denied.
According to Little League officials, “Brownsville’s population dictated it have at least two
circuits.”
With the league in place, the next step was to apply for a charter from the national headquarters – but to the surprise of city officials – the application was denied.
According to Little League officials, “Brownsville’s population dictated it have at least two
circuits.”
But such a dilemma was not going to derail the little league movement in this city.
As a result, the West Brownsville Lions Club stepped up to the plate creating a second league. After realignment and the adding of two more teams to the original circuit – a new league was born.
The new group was “West Brownsville Little League” with teams that included: West Brownsville Lions, Brownsville Shrimp Exchange, Pan America Bank and Junior Service League.
Let the games begin…
But hold on.
As a result, the West Brownsville Lions Club stepped up to the plate creating a second league. After realignment and the adding of two more teams to the original circuit – a new league was born.
The new group was “West Brownsville Little League” with teams that included: West Brownsville Lions, Brownsville Shrimp Exchange, Pan America Bank and Junior Service League.
Let the games begin…
But hold on.
Before
the call of “Play Ball” was heard, the city introduced all kids to
the community as they marched proudly in uniform in the Armed Forces Day
Parade. The excitement in the city was overwhelming, so much so, that
Brownsville’s professional baseball team, the Charros, took a back seat
to little league baseball. It was said then, that because of the
introduction of television into our living rooms and little league
baseball – the Charros folded after the 1953 season.
Unfortunately, at that time, neither league had a field they could call home, so the first little league games played in Brownsville took place at Ringgold Park. Opening day in 1952 called for a city-wide celebration as the mayor, Police Chief Gus Krausse – an old baseball player himself – Fire Chief Valent and Sherriff Flaming, along with other city officials were all there to show their support and to stress the importance of little league baseball.
New Parks for both leagues…
A successful first year led to an improved following season. The number of city kids engaged in youth baseball increased to capacity in both leagues. By 1953, those sponsoring the respective leagues at East and West Brownsville took a giant step by constructing ball parks at both sites.
By the second year, the sights and sounds of little league baseball attracted over 150 pre-teens – all anxious to compete for a chance to make the roster. As dividing lines took place, so began the rivalries. The first East Brownsville Park was sponsored by the Kiwanis Club and located on the grounds of Fort Brown.
But soon after it found a permanent home close to where TSC’s Recreation Center is located today. It wasn’t until about ten years later that this field was torn down and moved to Lincoln Park to make way for the Veterans Memorial Bridge approach and the East Loop.
Unfortunately, at that time, neither league had a field they could call home, so the first little league games played in Brownsville took place at Ringgold Park. Opening day in 1952 called for a city-wide celebration as the mayor, Police Chief Gus Krausse – an old baseball player himself – Fire Chief Valent and Sherriff Flaming, along with other city officials were all there to show their support and to stress the importance of little league baseball.
New Parks for both leagues…
A successful first year led to an improved following season. The number of city kids engaged in youth baseball increased to capacity in both leagues. By 1953, those sponsoring the respective leagues at East and West Brownsville took a giant step by constructing ball parks at both sites.
By the second year, the sights and sounds of little league baseball attracted over 150 pre-teens – all anxious to compete for a chance to make the roster. As dividing lines took place, so began the rivalries. The first East Brownsville Park was sponsored by the Kiwanis Club and located on the grounds of Fort Brown.
But soon after it found a permanent home close to where TSC’s Recreation Center is located today. It wasn’t until about ten years later that this field was torn down and moved to Lincoln Park to make way for the Veterans Memorial Bridge approach and the East Loop.
The West Park was
supported by the West Brownsville Lions and situated across the street
from Lions Field on West St. Francis. By 1962, the park was moved to
where it is today, off Cottonwood Drive.
As the city grew, other leagues were added and more and more kids were leaving the sandlots to join the competitive leagues.
As the city grew, other leagues were added and more and more kids were leaving the sandlots to join the competitive leagues.
(Photo II: Old East Brownsville Park was torn down to make way for the East Loop and Veterans Memorial Bridge approach.)
Little
league baseball is just as popular today as it was then, but the
chatter coming from “City Hall,” is whether to give away and/or relocate
Lincoln Park. And if this becomes a reality, it would be a tragic blow
to our little league baseball teams because within the grounds of the
park stand two beautiful baseball diamonds that are used year around.
The
recipient of this gift will be the University of Texas System, one of
the richest in the country— a classic example of taking from the poor
and giving to the rich.
While it might seem to some
that the relocation of Lincoln Park may not cause any harm, perhaps
those in leadership positions need to rethink this impending decision.
The truth is that it will bring unwarranted anxieties – especially to
our youth who deserve to continue playing without interruptions or
reduced access. The history of the general use of the park reveals that
it’s highly attractive to the many people of the Southmost area and
beyond.
And to the players, coaches and parents that are backers of little league baseball – it’s a place they call home. But perhaps more importantly, it is a place where the kids feel a sense of belonging in a world that becomes more complex as they approach adolescence. We must remember that baseball teaches boys and girls the fundamental lessons of team work and, perhaps we as adults can learn from those lessons as well.
The by-products of baseball are important; fair play, tolerance, knowledge of the game, baseball skills, but again, they are secondary to this sense of belonging.
And to the players, coaches and parents that are backers of little league baseball – it’s a place they call home. But perhaps more importantly, it is a place where the kids feel a sense of belonging in a world that becomes more complex as they approach adolescence. We must remember that baseball teaches boys and girls the fundamental lessons of team work and, perhaps we as adults can learn from those lessons as well.
The by-products of baseball are important; fair play, tolerance, knowledge of the game, baseball skills, but again, they are secondary to this sense of belonging.
Surely,
Lincoln Park can be left as is so that our youth can continue gaining
these life lessons as they play the game and their loved ones can
continue to build fond memories.
Our mayor and his bench warmers have “turned a blind eye” to the fact that UT-Brownsville has already roughly 300 acres of undeveloped land. The local university, according to Francisco Cigarroa, University of Texas System chancellor, will become smaller not bigger, so what land they have today is more than they will ever need.
Our mayor and his bench warmers have “turned a blind eye” to the fact that UT-Brownsville has already roughly 300 acres of undeveloped land. The local university, according to Francisco Cigarroa, University of Texas System chancellor, will become smaller not bigger, so what land they have today is more than they will ever need.
What the kids of Lincoln Park are asking is, “Who in the city council is our voice for our field of dreams?
Photo I: 1954 East Brownsville All-Stars
Photo II: Old East Brownsville Park was torn down to make way for the East Loop
Photo I: 1954 East Brownsville All-Stars
Photo II: Old East Brownsville Park was torn down to make way for the East Loop
5 comments:
The UT RGV Brownsville campus already has more acreage than the Edinburgh campus with less than half the students. Why would they need more, this is just a greedy land grab.
Ok so where are these kids that grew up playing baseball or in the swings of the the old Lincoln park? We can go to the meeting, express our opinion and NOTHING good for the citizens will come out. WHERE are the citizens of Southmost, of the area around the park? The citizens that live in the old Fort Brown Villas? The parents, children, grand parents that live around the Faulk middle school area and use the park? They either dont show up because they dont care or they dont show up because they know they are fighting a lost cause. WHERE is a barrio attorney that can represent these citizens, not for monetary gain but for doing what is right? They went to law school and forgot they came out of the barrio to sell out to the highest bidder, and life goes on in the largest and under developed city in the RGV where the mayor asked to imagine Brownsville. He imagined a Brownsville for himself and the citizens gave him the votes in a silver platter.
The old East Little League park was relocated to what today is Lincoln Park. If the park becomes property of UTRGV; the community should fight to relocated the park to another location that is suitable and with much improvement to the East Little League and all the other components that has made Lincoln Park a popular area for our citizens. Nothing in this world is here forever. Ask for a new and much improve Lincoln Park.
M o n e y .
$6.5 million will not get you there.
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