Jay,
I remember Pat but when I was playing it was the late Brian Martin (has Hillcrest HS field named for him - or at least a plaque on the wall)
John - I believe Barney took over for Brian.
DPA, that's not the old Dallas Police Association is it. If so, heck I was playing in that league back in 1977 listening to disco. 
OK, I'm about to date myself, but does anyone remember the team called Dallas Kips? I think the coach was Doug Scott.
Then there was another team called the Dallas Stars. I think Turner Gill played for them.
Had some intense battles against DPA when I was on the Mavericks.
Then there was another team called the Dallas Stars. I think Turner Gill played for them.
Had some intense battles against DPA when I was on the Mavericks.
Turner Gill of Nebraska fame.
Yeah, he could throw the pill.
Now he's the head football coach at University of Buffalo.
Now he's the head football coach at University of Buffalo.
Kips was the cats meow back in the late 60's and early 70's with guys playing for them like Robin Kilmer - Joe Timpa - and a catcher from R.L. Turner named David Vogal ~ S C R A P P Y too. Those were good times.
I have to agree with TYCHCO. I want my child to play with the best players in the area. If they are going to be on this new team, than that is where I want my kid...You just have another option now to pick from.
quote:Originally posted by theygrowupfast:
DPA, that's not the old Dallas Police Association is it. If so, heck I was playing in that league back in 1977 listening to disco.
How funny. My older brother, Brian Gilbreath, played on DPA back in the day.
Your OLDER brother played there...dang, Expo37, how old are you anyway? Were you guys swinging the hickory bats and wearing wool uni's? 
quote:Originally posted by tychco:
Were you guys swinging the hickory bats and wearing wool uni's?
My first bat boy uni was wool! I didn't care that it was hot, just as long as I could run the bases after the game and SLIDE!!!!!
It's amazing how summer baseball has transformed from Kips, Mavericks, Dallas Police Association, etc. into what it is today. When my dad started up the Mavericks in the mid 1960's, (they were not called that until 1976 I believe...I do remember the meeting where they picked the team name though), he had no intention of making money, which he didn't at all. Denny Dixon and B.J. Dixon both played on the team. At first he had a sponsor who would help pay for the uniforms. Then he would put a old wooden box at the gate with a sign that read "Admission is free. Donations are appreciated". You could do that back then in McKinney because people liked seeing good baseball and no one would ever steal that money either. Mom would keep score in the book, sell drinks out of an old wash tub PLUS keep an eye on me and my sisters. That was at the old McKinney high school field that directly behind the east side of the football field (Ron Poe Stadium). When the present day location was built, they put in a concession stand and that's when mom really got involved by selling her famous sweet tea. I asked my dad why he did it, start the summer baseball team and not ask for money, he told me he wanted to give something back to the community that helped keep him out of trouble and provide good baseball. He also wanted to give young men a chance to play baseball past high school. He didn't have tryouts to choose his players nor did they have to pay to play. He made up his team from the McKinney kids as well as players he had seen while umpiring in the rural towns around the area. Those that were good enough got a chance to play in college and they never went any further than Dallas, Ardmore,or Durnat, Oklahoma to play. No showcases or fall leagues, just summer baseball. That's the way I did it and I got to play in college. There weren't as many college baseball programs out there either, but it seems that people have to try harder and harder to get a chance to play now a days.
Times have sure changed.
quote:Originally posted by tychco:
how old are you anyway? Were you guys swinging the hickory bats and wearing wool uni's?
Watch it there sonny, I wore wool uni's until I got into high school.
quote:Originally posted by tychco:
Your OLDER brother played there...dang, Expo37, how old are you anyway? Were you guys swinging the hickory bats and wearing wool uni's?
EXPO is taking a nap....but may I announce that he will have the big one next month!
quote:Originally posted by tychco:
Your OLDER brother played there...dang, Expo37, how old are you anyway? Were you guys swinging the hickory bats and wearing wool uni's?
Hello, Pot? This is your 'ol buddy Kettle.
quote:Originally posted by Hawkman:quote:Originally posted by tychco:
Your OLDER brother played there...dang, Expo37, how old are you anyway? Were you guys swinging the hickory bats and wearing wool uni's?
Hello, Pot? This is your 'ol buddy Kettle.
All right Hawkman, if I wanted your opinion I would beat it out of you...
Crankiness is an unfortunate sign of advanced age.
quote:Originally posted by Hawkman:
Crankiness is an unfortunate sign of advanced age.
I surrender, I should have known better than to get into a war of wits with a wordsmith...
quote:Originally posted by L.A.:quote:Originally posted by tychco:
Were you guys swinging the hickory bats and wearing wool uni's?
My first bat boy uni was wool! I didn't care that it was hot, just as long as I could run the bases after the game and SLIDE!!!!!
It's amazing how summer baseball has transformed from Kips, Mavericks, Dallas Police Association, etc. into what it is today. When my dad started up the Mavericks in the mid 1960's, (they were not called that until 1976 I believe...I do remember the meeting where they picked the team name though), he had no intention of making money, which he didn't at all. Denny Dixon and B.J. Dixon both played on the team. At first he had a sponsor who would help pay for the uniforms. Then he would put a old wooden box at the gate with a sign that read "Admission is free. Donations are appreciated". You could do that back then in McKinney because people liked seeing good baseball and no one would ever steal that money either. Mom would keep score in the book, sell drinks out of an old wash tub PLUS keep an eye on me and my sisters. That was at the old McKinney high school field that directly behind the east side of the football field (Ron Poe Stadium). When the present day location was built, they put in a concession stand and that's when mom really got involved by selling her famous sweet tea. I asked my dad why he did it, start the summer baseball team and not ask for money, he told me he wanted to give something back to the community that helped keep him out of trouble and provide good baseball. He also wanted to give young men a chance to play baseball past high school. He didn't have tryouts to choose his players nor did they have to pay to play. He made up his team from the McKinney kids as well as players he had seen while umpiring in the rural towns around the area. Those that were good enough got a chance to play in college and they never went any further than Dallas, Ardmore,or Durnat, Oklahoma to play. No showcases or fall leagues, just summer baseball. That's the way I did it and I got to play in college. There weren't as many college baseball programs out there either, but it seems that people have to try harder and harder to get a chance to play now a days.
Times have sure changed.
Awesome stuff right there.
Not one comment from anyone until now.
Doesn't surprise me.
I enjoyed your post and just for a minute, a short minute, I reflected on what the game was and should still be.
It was observed.
I was there.
And, yep, it's awesome memories............
I was there.
And, yep, it's awesome memories............
I too played in the wool uni...the ones that you had to return to the league to be used the next season. We kept our hats and sleeves.
We played in Little League with different sections around the town playing against each other, then the champions of each section played in the city championship. When the championship was over, that was it until the next spring.
Concession stands, neighborhood teams, volunteers all made it a great memory...much like you guys are referring to.
Just because the structure of youth ball has changed, though, doesn't make it worse...just different. There are aspects of each to enjoy and aspects of each that could stand some improvement.
I choose to enjoy today's ball as much as I enjoyed playing in the wool uni of yesteryear. Ken, I do appreciate the sentiment you have regarding the old way of doing things and, if that hadn't changed much over the years, I would enjoy it today. But it has and I still believe there is quality, enjoyable baseball for every ability level today.
We played in Little League with different sections around the town playing against each other, then the champions of each section played in the city championship. When the championship was over, that was it until the next spring.
Concession stands, neighborhood teams, volunteers all made it a great memory...much like you guys are referring to.
Just because the structure of youth ball has changed, though, doesn't make it worse...just different. There are aspects of each to enjoy and aspects of each that could stand some improvement.
I choose to enjoy today's ball as much as I enjoyed playing in the wool uni of yesteryear. Ken, I do appreciate the sentiment you have regarding the old way of doing things and, if that hadn't changed much over the years, I would enjoy it today. But it has and I still believe there is quality, enjoyable baseball for every ability level today.
quote:Originally posted by tychco:
Ken, I do appreciate the sentiment you have regarding the old way of doing things
"Old Way"
And to think, I'm only 32.