Who says it never snows in Ballinger?This picture, if you haven't already guessed, was taken while we were in high school. Notice the cars parked on the right. How about those bobby sox and loafers? Can any of you name every one of the teen cuties in the picture?
In regards to the Ballinger baseball team that Jim Cowlishaw talked about, Jerry Eoff wrote that he thinks there was one named Ballinger Cats, a member of the original Longhorn League started in the mid-40s that included other teams such as the San Angelo Colts, Carlsbad Potashers, Odessa, and Artesia -- one was the Drillers and the other the Oilers. There were more teams in the league that he doesn't recall. He remembers "Stormy" Davis, a power hitter for the Cats, who was killed by being hit in the head by a pitch.
Eskell Powell, later a Ballinger Police Chief, came here as a player for the Cats, according to Jerry's recollection, and he thinks the Cats were a pro team. One team in the league was a farm team for one of the big leaguers, and Pee Wee Reese (even I remember him!), later a big league star shortstop (wasn't he with the Brooklyn Dodgers?), played on one of the teams.
Jerry says he has home movies of his Pony League team playing in what was called "Cat Park" in 1955. The scoreboard showed "Westerners". Perhaps there was a semi-pro team then. Cat Park was on top of the hill on the Bronte Highway a mile or so past the new high school when these movies were taken. Those have got to be fun movies to watch! Jerry, who were your teammates at that time?
There is a new feature (I know -- again?). I apologize to the January birthday folks for being late to put this out. Happy belated birthday to Jerri, Charles, and Tommy. And Paul - have a great day tomorrow. In the future I will post the birthdays at the beginning of the month. If your (or someone you know) birthday isn't here, please let me know.
If you wish to leave a comment, just click on "Comments" at the end of the article and follow the directions. They come through me first so I can keep "spam" comments or anything obscene or too offensive from being put there by strangers. I will also make minor corrections to spelling, etc.
Medical updates: Peggy Sharp says she is feeling like her old self. I am too, other than a little shortness of breath. I see a pulmonary specialist tomorrow to see if I need to do something about that. I haven't heard from Gene Routh lately, nor from Rosalyn Hoelscher... however, she sent me a forwarded email, so I know she's at home! I hope both of you are still well on the road to complete recovery!
James Hays is putting in two days a week at his Coleman medical office, and the rest of the time he's working on his old planes and guns. He sounds glad to have one of his sons now practicing radiology in Brownwood.
Did any of you play the "If" game with me? "If you had the ability to change three things in this world, what would you change?" I'll share my answers with you:
1) End all wars forever. 2) End poverty, and, therefore, all hunger in the world. 3) Stop global warming now!
Ahhh...if only we could accomplish even one of the above. What a difference it would make in the world for our children and grandchildren.
In regards to the Ballinger baseball team that Jim Cowlishaw talked about, Jerry Eoff wrote that he thinks there was one named Ballinger Cats, a member of the original Longhorn League started in the mid-40s that included other teams such as the San Angelo Colts, Carlsbad Potashers, Odessa, and Artesia -- one was the Drillers and the other the Oilers. There were more teams in the league that he doesn't recall. He remembers "Stormy" Davis, a power hitter for the Cats, who was killed by being hit in the head by a pitch.
Eskell Powell, later a Ballinger Police Chief, came here as a player for the Cats, according to Jerry's recollection, and he thinks the Cats were a pro team. One team in the league was a farm team for one of the big leaguers, and Pee Wee Reese (even I remember him!), later a big league star shortstop (wasn't he with the Brooklyn Dodgers?), played on one of the teams.
Jerry says he has home movies of his Pony League team playing in what was called "Cat Park" in 1955. The scoreboard showed "Westerners". Perhaps there was a semi-pro team then. Cat Park was on top of the hill on the Bronte Highway a mile or so past the new high school when these movies were taken. Those have got to be fun movies to watch! Jerry, who were your teammates at that time?
There is a new feature (I know -- again?). I apologize to the January birthday folks for being late to put this out. Happy belated birthday to Jerri, Charles, and Tommy. And Paul - have a great day tomorrow. In the future I will post the birthdays at the beginning of the month. If your (or someone you know) birthday isn't here, please let me know.
If you wish to leave a comment, just click on "Comments" at the end of the article and follow the directions. They come through me first so I can keep "spam" comments or anything obscene or too offensive from being put there by strangers. I will also make minor corrections to spelling, etc.
Medical updates: Peggy Sharp says she is feeling like her old self. I am too, other than a little shortness of breath. I see a pulmonary specialist tomorrow to see if I need to do something about that. I haven't heard from Gene Routh lately, nor from Rosalyn Hoelscher... however, she sent me a forwarded email, so I know she's at home! I hope both of you are still well on the road to complete recovery!
James Hays is putting in two days a week at his Coleman medical office, and the rest of the time he's working on his old planes and guns. He sounds glad to have one of his sons now practicing radiology in Brownwood.
Did any of you play the "If" game with me? "If you had the ability to change three things in this world, what would you change?" I'll share my answers with you:
1) End all wars forever. 2) End poverty, and, therefore, all hunger in the world. 3) Stop global warming now!
Ahhh...if only we could accomplish even one of the above. What a difference it would make in the world for our children and grandchildren.
Oh, it only......
ReplyDeleteI would wish for
The end to prejudice in all hearts
The end to all wars in this world(the same as yours)
To lose all my excess weight and be totally healthy again (I'm not as unselfish as you, Marilyn)