Houston Buffaloes
Encyclopedia
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 (excluding 1943-45, when the league suspended operations during World War II
); in the South Texas League in the years 1903-06; and in the American Association
from 1959-61. The team's last home was Buff Stadium, built in 1928. Before that, they played at West End Park
, at the southeast corner of Heiner and Anderson Streets, from 1905?-1927; and at Houston Base Ball Park, at what was then the foot of Travis Street at its intersection with McGowen Street, from 1888?-1904? (currently being researched by the Larry Dierker Chapter of SABR).
From 1921-58, the Buffaloes were an important farm team of the St. Louis Cardinals
at the Class A, A1 and AA levels. During that period, star players such as brothers Dizzy Dean
and Daffy Dean, Solly Hemus
, Vinegar Bend Mizell, Hal Epps
, Don Gutteridge
, Al Papai
, Joe Medwick
, Frank O. Mancuso, Harry Brecheen
and Howie Pollet
prepped in Houston on their way to the major leagues. In the 1931 season, led by former Cardinals outfielder Joe Schultz, Sr., the Buffaloes' had 108 regular-season victories (in 159 games) and won the Texas League championship. The Buffaloes' most notable period came between 1939-41, when, as a Cardinal farm laden with talent, they won three straight Texas League pennants, winning 97, 105 and 103 regular-season games in the process.
In addition to the Texas League championship pennants, the Buffaloes also won the Dixie Series
against the Southern Association
champions in 1928 (4-2 over the Birmingham Barons
), 1947 (4-2 over the Mobile Bears
), 1956 (4-2 over the Atlanta Crackers
), and 1957 (4-2 over the Atlanta Crackers
).
From 1950 until the Buffs' final outing in 1961, veteran radio broadcaster Loel Passe was the "Voice of the Buffs". During the 1959 season, a young television reporter with ABC affiliate KTRK-TV, Dan Rather
, sat in with Passe as the play-by-play announcer for the Buffs' radio broadcast. Then in the final season of the Houston Buffaloes, Passe was joined in the booth by Ford Frick Award winner Gene Elston
who went on to lead the broadcast for the Colt 45s and Houston Astros
from 1962 to 1986. Passe remained with the new Houston major league franchise working alongside Elston as a color commentator until he retired from broadcasting in 1976.
In 1959, the Buffs severed ties with the Cardinals to move up to the AAA level. At the same time, Houston was selected as one of the eight members of a planned "third major league," the Continental League
. However, in 1960 the city was granted an expansion franchise in the National League
, to begin play in 1962
. The Buffs played one last minor league season as the top farm team of the Chicago Cubs
in 1961
before being succeeded by the city's NL club, the Colt .45s (known since 1965 as the Houston Astros
).
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
minor league baseball
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
team that was founded in 1888, played in the 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...
in the years 1888-90, 1892, 1895-99, and 1907-1958 (excluding 1943-45, when the league suspended operations during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
); in the South Texas League in the years 1903-06; and in 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 1959-61. The team's last home was Buff Stadium, built in 1928. Before that, they 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...
, at the southeast corner of Heiner and Anderson Streets, from 1905?-1927; and at Houston Base Ball Park, at what was then the foot of Travis Street at its intersection with McGowen Street, from 1888?-1904? (currently being researched by the Larry Dierker Chapter of SABR).
From 1921-58, the Buffaloes were an important farm team of the 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...
at the Class A, A1 and AA levels. During that period, star players such as brothers Dizzy Dean
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, Solly Hemus
Solly Hemus
Solomon Joseph Hemus is a retired infielder, manager and coach in American Major League Baseball.As a player with the St. Louis Cardinals and Philadelphia Phillies, Hemus was primarily a shortstop, although he also saw significant time as a second baseman. He compiled a lifetime batting average...
, Vinegar Bend Mizell, Hal Epps
Hal Epps
Harold Franklin "Hal" Epps was an outfielder for the St. Louis Cardinals, St. Louis Browns, and Philadelphia Athletics.Although he only spent parts of four seasons in the majors, Epps had an 18-year professional baseball career...
, Don Gutteridge
Don Gutteridge
Donald Joseph Gutteridge was an American second and third baseman, coach and manager in Major League Baseball who played for the St. Louis Cardinals, St. Louis Browns, Boston Red Sox and Pittsburgh Pirates, and later managed the Chicago White Sox in 1969-1970...
, Al Papai
Al Papai
Alfred Thomas Papai was an American pitcher in Major League Baseball who played between the and seasons for the St. Louis Cardinals , St. Louis Browns , Boston Red Sox and Chicago White Sox . Listed at 6' 3", 185 lb., Papai batted and threw right-handed...
, Joe 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...
, Frank O. Mancuso, Harry Brecheen
Harry Brecheen
Harry David Brecheen , nicknamed "The Cat," was an American left-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball who played most of his career for the St. Louis Cardinals...
and Howie Pollet
Howie Pollet
Howard Joseph Pollet was an American left-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball during the 1940s and 1950s. A three-time All-Star in , and , he twice he led the National League in earned run average .Born in New Orleans, Pollet signed his first professional contract with the St...
prepped in Houston on their way to the major leagues. In the 1931 season, led by former Cardinals outfielder Joe Schultz, Sr., the Buffaloes' had 108 regular-season victories (in 159 games) and won the Texas League championship. The Buffaloes' most notable period came between 1939-41, when, as a Cardinal farm laden with talent, they won three straight Texas League pennants, winning 97, 105 and 103 regular-season games in the process.
In addition to the Texas League championship pennants, the Buffaloes also won the Dixie Series
Dixie Series
The Dixie Series was an Interleague Minor League Postseason Series pitting the playoff champions of the Southern Association and the Texas League in a best-of-seven matchup from 1920 to 1958. It was revived for one year in 1967, pitting the Southern League champ against the Texas League champ...
against the Southern Association
Southern Association
The Southern Association was a higher-level minor league in American organized baseball from 1901 through 1961. For most of its existence, the Southern Association was two steps below the Major Leagues; it was graded Class A , Class A1 and Class AA...
champions in 1928 (4-2 over the Birmingham Barons
Birmingham Barons
The Birmingham Barons are a minor league baseball team based in Birmingham, Alabama. The team, which plays in the Southern League, is the Double-A affiliate of the Chicago White Sox major-league club....
), 1947 (4-2 over the Mobile Bears
Mobile Bears
The Mobile Bears were an American minor league baseball team based in Mobile, Alabama. The franchise was a member of the old Southern Association, a high-level circuit that folded after the 1961 season. Mobile joined the SA in 1908 as the Sea Gulls, but changed its name to the Bears in 1918, and...
), 1956 (4-2 over the Atlanta Crackers
Atlanta Crackers
The Atlanta Crackers were minor league baseball teams based in Atlanta, Georgia, between 1901 and 1965. The Crackers were Atlanta's home team until the Atlanta Braves moved from Milwaukee in 1966....
), and 1957 (4-2 over the Atlanta Crackers
Atlanta Crackers
The Atlanta Crackers were minor league baseball teams based in Atlanta, Georgia, between 1901 and 1965. The Crackers were Atlanta's home team until the Atlanta Braves moved from Milwaukee in 1966....
).
From 1950 until the Buffs' final outing in 1961, veteran radio broadcaster Loel Passe was the "Voice of the Buffs". During the 1959 season, a young television reporter with ABC affiliate KTRK-TV, Dan Rather
Dan Rather
Daniel Irvin "Dan" Rather, Jr. is an American journalist and the former news anchor for the CBS Evening News. He is now managing editor and anchor of the television news magazine Dan Rather Reports on the cable channel HDNet. Rather was anchor of the CBS Evening News for 24 years, from March 9,...
, sat in with Passe as the play-by-play announcer for the Buffs' radio broadcast. Then in the final season of the Houston Buffaloes, Passe was joined in the booth by Ford Frick Award winner Gene Elston
Gene Elston
Gene Elston is a former Major League Baseball broadcaster, primarily with the Houston Astros.-Early life and career:A native of Fort Dodge, Iowa. Elston's first job in announcing was high school basketball in 1941. From there he progressed to minor league baseball starting in 1946...
who went on to lead the broadcast for the Colt 45s and Houston Astros
Houston Astros
The Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team located in Houston, Texas. They are a member of the National League Central division. The Astros are expected to join the American League West division in 2013. Since , they have played their home games at Minute Maid Park, known as Enron Field...
from 1962 to 1986. Passe remained with the new Houston major league franchise working alongside Elston as a color commentator until he retired from broadcasting in 1976.
In 1959, the Buffs severed ties with the Cardinals to move up to the AAA level. At the same time, Houston was selected as one of the eight members of a planned "third major league," the Continental League
Continental League
The Continental League was a proposed third major league for baseball, announced in 1959 and scheduled to begin play in the 1961 season...
. However, in 1960 the city was granted an expansion franchise in 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...
, to begin play in 1962
1962 in sports
1962 in sports describes the year's events in world sport.-American football:* AFL Championship – Dallas Texans won 20-17 over the Houston Oilers in double overtime* NFL Championship – Green Bay Packers won 16-7 over the New York Giants...
. The Buffs played one last minor league season as the top farm team of the Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
in 1961
1961 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:*World Series: New York Yankees over Cincinnati Reds ; Whitey Ford, MVP*All-Star Game , July 11 at Candlestick Park: National League, 5-4 *All-Star Game , July 31 at Fenway Park: 1–1 tie...
before being succeeded by the city's NL club, the Colt .45s (known since 1965 as the Houston Astros
Houston Astros
The Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team located in Houston, Texas. They are a member of the National League Central division. The Astros are expected to join the American League West division in 2013. Since , they have played their home games at Minute Maid Park, known as Enron Field...
).