Buffalo Stadium
Encyclopedia
Buffalo Stadium was a minor league stadium primarily used by the Texas League
Houston Buffaloes
from 1928 through 1958 (except for 1943 to 1945 because of World War II) and the Houston Buffs of the American Association
from 1959 to 1961. The Buffaloes were a farm team of the Major League
St. Louis Cardinals
and provided many great ballplayers to the Cardinals' success in 1930s and 1940s. The arrival of the National League
Houston Colt .45s in 1962 brought an end to minor league baseball in Houston. It also went by the names of Buff Stadium and later Busch Stadium. It was bounded by Leeland Street, St. Bernard Street (present-day Cullen Boulevard
), Coyle Street, and Milby Street in the East End. The railroad tracks leading to Union Station, site of the Houston Astros' current ballpark, ran behind the center field wall. Near the University of Houston
, the stadium was also home to the Houston Cougars baseball
team from the 1940s until the 1960s when it was demolished. It was replaced by what became Finger's Furniture.
of the later Colt .45s. First of all, it favored pitchers, wind blew in from right field, and it was outdoors with high humidity. At the time, it was a state-of-the-art minor league facility at a cost of $40,000,000; there was a Spanish-style tiled-roof entryway with large pictures of buffaloes on the adobe wall and in the late 1950s, ladies' rooms became air-conditioned. The stadium opened on April 11, 1928, the same year as Clark Field in Austin
, with a 7-5 win over the Waco Cubs as well as an infamous cushion fight. 12,000 fans attended the first night game at Buffalo Stadium on July 22, 1930. The cost of the lighting structures cost $250,000.
Houston Oilers. Charlie Hennigan
, who was trying to make the team in 1961 as a walk-on, remembers:
Houston Eagles from 1949 to 1950. Many future Cardinals such as Dizzy
and Daffy Dean, Enos Slaughter
, Pepper Martin
, "Ducky" Medwick
, and Tex Carleton
and many others played for the Houston Buffs. Two large black buffaloes stood on both sides of the left-center field scoreboard facing each other. Originally, outfield distances were 344 feet (104.9 m) to left field, 430 feet (131.1 m) to center field, and 344 feet (104.9 m) to right field and capacity accommodated 12,000. In 1938, outfield dimensions were slightly modified to 345 feet (105.2 m) to left, 440 feet (134.1 m) to center, and 325 feet (99.1 m) to right while capacity increased to 14,000. The heights of outfield fences varied: left and right field fences were 12 feet (3.7 m) high, left-center scoreboard was 24 feet (7.3 m) high, and the center field fence was 18 feet (5.5 m) high. Before Buff Stadium, the team played at West End Park
from 1907 until 1927; Buff Stadium was built on the East End of Houston. Home plate's specific location is commemorated by a plaque in the Houston Sports Hall of Fame, which makes up part of the Fingers Furniture Store.
Before Buffalo Stadium, Texas League
games in Houston were played in West End Park
, which was built in 1905. West End Park was located at the north corner of Bagby and Jefferson on the southwest edge of downtown.
Texas League
The Texas League is a minor league baseball league which operates in the South Central United States. It is classified a Double-A league. The league was founded in 1888 and ran through 1892...
Houston Buffaloes
Houston Buffaloes
The Houston Buffaloes or Buffs were an American minor league baseball team that was founded in 1888, played in the Texas League in the years 1888-90, 1892, 1895-99, and 1907-1958 ; in the South Texas League in the years 1903-06; and in the American Association from 1959-61...
from 1928 through 1958 (except for 1943 to 1945 because of World War II) and the Houston Buffs of the American Association
American Association (20th century)
The American Association was a minor league baseball league at the Triple-A level of baseball in the United States from to and to . Together with the International League, it contested the Junior World Series which determined the championship team in minor league baseball, at least for the...
from 1959 to 1961. The Buffaloes were a farm team of the Major League
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
and provided many great ballplayers to the Cardinals' success in 1930s and 1940s. The arrival of the National League
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
Houston Colt .45s in 1962 brought an end to minor league baseball in Houston. It also went by the names of Buff Stadium and later Busch Stadium. It was bounded by Leeland Street, St. Bernard Street (present-day Cullen Boulevard
Farm to Market Road 865
Farm to Market Road 865 is a state highway in the U.S. state of Texas within the Houston–Sugar Land–Baytown metropolitan area. Locally, the road is known as Cullen Boulevard....
), Coyle Street, and Milby Street in the East End. The railroad tracks leading to Union Station, site of the Houston Astros' current ballpark, ran behind the center field wall. Near the University of Houston
University of Houston
The University of Houston is a state research university, and is the flagship institution of the University of Houston System. Founded in 1927, it is Texas's third-largest university with nearly 40,000 students. Its campus spans 667 acres in southeast Houston, and was known as University of...
, the stadium was also home to the Houston Cougars baseball
Houston Cougars baseball
The Houston Cougars baseball team is the college baseball team of the University of Houston.Along with the university's other athletic teams, the baseball team is a member of the Conference USA as a Division I team. They play their home games at Cougar Field. In addition to numerous NCAA...
team from the 1940s until the 1960s when it was demolished. It was replaced by what became Finger's Furniture.
Features
Buffalo Stadium was named after the Buffalo Bayou, which divides Houston. The ballpark was very similar in many different ways to the first stadiumColt Stadium
Colt Stadium was a Major League baseball stadium that formerly stood in Houston, Texas. It was the home of the Houston Colt .45s. It was their temporary home from 1962-1964 while the Astrodome was being built, just to the south of it. The stadium consisted of an uncovered grandstand stretching from...
of the later Colt .45s. First of all, it favored pitchers, wind blew in from right field, and it was outdoors with high humidity. At the time, it was a state-of-the-art minor league facility at a cost of $40,000,000; there was a Spanish-style tiled-roof entryway with large pictures of buffaloes on the adobe wall and in the late 1950s, ladies' rooms became air-conditioned. The stadium opened on April 11, 1928, the same year as Clark Field in Austin
Clark Field (Austin, Texas)
Clark Field was a baseball park in Austin, Texas, used primarily by the University of Texas Longhorns. The field was used from 1928 until 1974. It is considered one of the most novel ballparks ever conceived thanks to its location. There was a limestone cliff in the outfield that created havoc for...
, with a 7-5 win over the Waco Cubs as well as an infamous cushion fight. 12,000 fans attended the first night game at Buffalo Stadium on July 22, 1930. The cost of the lighting structures cost $250,000.
Practice Field for the Houston Oilers
In the early 1960s, Buff Stadium was used as a practice facility for the AFLAmerican Football League
The American Football League was a major American Professional Football league that operated from 1960 until 1969, when the established National Football League merged with it. The upstart AFL operated in direct competition with the more established NFL throughout its existence...
Houston Oilers. Charlie Hennigan
Charlie Hennigan
Charles Taylor Hennigan, Sr., known as Charlie Hennigan , is a retired American football player with the former Houston Oilers who resides in Shreveport, Louisiana. Born in Bienville in Bienville Parish in north Louisiana, Hennigan grew up in nearby Minden, the seat of Webster Parish, located...
, who was trying to make the team in 1961 as a walk-on, remembers:
Miscellaneous
It was the home of the Negro American LeagueNegro American League
The Negro American League was one of the several Negro leagues which were created during the time organized baseball was segregated. The league was established in 1937, and continued to exist until 1960...
Houston Eagles from 1949 to 1950. Many future Cardinals such as Dizzy
Dizzy Dean
Jay Hanna "Dizzy" Dean was an American Major League Baseball pitcher. He was the last National League pitcher to win 30 games in one season. Dean was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1953....
and Daffy Dean, Enos Slaughter
Enos Slaughter
Enos Bradsher Slaughter , nicknamed "Country", was an American Major League Baseball right fielder. During a 19-year baseball career, he played from 1938–1942 and 1946-1959 for four different teams, but is noted primarily for his time with the St...
, Pepper Martin
Pepper Martin
Johnny Leonard Roosevelt "Pepper" Martin was an American professional baseball player and minor league manager. He was known as the Wild Horse of the Osage because of his daring, aggressive baserunning abilities. Martin played in Major League Baseball as a third baseman and an outfielder for the St...
, "Ducky" Medwick
Joe Medwick
Joseph Michael Medwick , nicknamed "Ducky", was an American Major League Baseball player. A left fielder for the St. Louis Cardinals during the "Gashouse Gang" era of the 1930s, he also played for the Brooklyn Dodgers , New York Giants , and Boston Braves...
, and Tex Carleton
Tex Carleton
James Otto "Tex" Carleton was a Major League Baseball pitcher from 1932 to 1940 for the St. Louis Cardinals, Chicago Cubs, and Brooklyn Dodgers. Carleton threw a no-hitter on April 30, 1940 when he was with the Dodgers. Only a year earlier he had been sold down to the minors and released...
and many others played for the Houston Buffs. Two large black buffaloes stood on both sides of the left-center field scoreboard facing each other. Originally, outfield distances were 344 feet (104.9 m) to left field, 430 feet (131.1 m) to center field, and 344 feet (104.9 m) to right field and capacity accommodated 12,000. In 1938, outfield dimensions were slightly modified to 345 feet (105.2 m) to left, 440 feet (134.1 m) to center, and 325 feet (99.1 m) to right while capacity increased to 14,000. The heights of outfield fences varied: left and right field fences were 12 feet (3.7 m) high, left-center scoreboard was 24 feet (7.3 m) high, and the center field fence was 18 feet (5.5 m) high. Before Buff Stadium, the team played at West End Park
West End Park (Houston, Texas)
West End Park was a ballpark located in Houston, TX and home to the Houston Buffaloes from 1907 to 1927. The park was built in 1905, and lasted until the more modern Buffalo Stadium opened in 1928. West End Park was located at 601 Andrews St. on the southeast corner of Andrews and Heiner streets...
from 1907 until 1927; Buff Stadium was built on the East End of Houston. Home plate's specific location is commemorated by a plaque in the Houston Sports Hall of Fame, which makes up part of the Fingers Furniture Store.
Before Buffalo Stadium, Texas League
Texas League
The Texas League is a minor league baseball league which operates in the South Central United States. It is classified a Double-A league. The league was founded in 1888 and ran through 1892...
games in Houston were played in West End Park
West End Park (Houston, Texas)
West End Park was a ballpark located in Houston, TX and home to the Houston Buffaloes from 1907 to 1927. The park was built in 1905, and lasted until the more modern Buffalo Stadium opened in 1928. West End Park was located at 601 Andrews St. on the southeast corner of Andrews and Heiner streets...
, which was built in 1905. West End Park was located at the north corner of Bagby and Jefferson on the southwest edge of downtown.
See also
- West End ParkWest End Park (Houston, Texas)West End Park was a ballpark located in Houston, TX and home to the Houston Buffaloes from 1907 to 1927. The park was built in 1905, and lasted until the more modern Buffalo Stadium opened in 1928. West End Park was located at 601 Andrews St. on the southeast corner of Andrews and Heiner streets...
- Colt StadiumColt StadiumColt Stadium was a Major League baseball stadium that formerly stood in Houston, Texas. It was the home of the Houston Colt .45s. It was their temporary home from 1962-1964 while the Astrodome was being built, just to the south of it. The stadium consisted of an uncovered grandstand stretching from...
- The Astrodome
- Minute Maid ParkMinute Maid ParkMinute Maid Park is a ballpark in Downtown Houston, Texas, United States that opened in 2000 to house the Major League Baseball Houston Astros....
- Rice StadiumRice StadiumRice Stadium is a football stadium located on the Rice University campus in Houston, Texas. It has been the home of the Rice University football team since its completion in 1950 and hosted Super Bowl VIII in 1974....
- Jeppesen Stadium
- Reliant StadiumReliant StadiumReliant Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium, in Houston, Texas, USA. Reliant Stadium has a seating capacity of 71,500, a total square footage of with of natural grass playing surface....
- Reckling ParkReckling ParkReckling Park is the baseball stadium at Rice University in Houston, Texas, USA. It serves as the home field of the Rice Owls baseball team. The stadium was built on the site of Cameron Field, Rice's home from 1978-99, in time for the 2000 season...
- Cougar FieldCougar FieldCougar Field is a baseball stadium in Houston, Texas. It is the home field of the Houston Cougars baseball team. Several iterations of Cougar Field have existed. The current stadium holds 5,000 people, and opened for baseball in 1995. Since its opening, Cougar Field has hosted several notable...
- Sam Houston ColiseumSam Houston ColiseumSam Houston Coliseum was an indoor arena, located in Houston, Texas. It was located at 801 Bagby Street near downtown. The arena was opened in November 1937 and had a capacity of 9,200. It was built in conjunction with the Houston Music Hall, which was adjacent to the Coliseum...
- Toyota CenterToyota Center (Houston)The Toyota Center is an indoor arena located in downtown Houston, Texas. It is named after the Japanese automobile manufacturer Toyota. The arena is home to the Rockets of the National Basketball Association, the principal owners of the building, and the Aeros of the American Hockey League.Rockets...
Sources
- "Green Cathedrals," Philip J. Lowry, c.2006
- "The American Football League: A Year-by-Year History, 1960-1969," Ed Gruver, c.1997.
- "The Texas League 1888-1987: A Century of Baseball," Bill O'Neal, c.1987
- "Baseball in the Lone Star State: Texas League's Greatest Hits," Tom Kayser and David King, Trinity University Press 2005