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Here is the official opening of the 1949 baseball season in Fort Worth. In the year of 1839, America's favorite pastime began to grow. The game that today we call baseball had a historical birth back in colonial times when young Americans referred to the game as rounders. The story of baseball in the beginning is the story of a man with ideas of his own regard regarding the old colonial sports. Abner Doubleday, a man who took the strange rules of rounders and formed a game that sprang up with a growing nation and became almost synonymous with this country's spirit of freedom. The history of this game, which has swept the nation from Plymouth Rock to the High Sierras, from Fort Detroit to the Rio Grande, is marked by many milestones that even today have a familiar character. In 1843, the first baseball games were scheduled. They were in Brooklyn and New York. The first important league was formed in 1858 and was called the National Association. During this time they used a much larger ball than we see today and two, they pitched it underhanded. The new game really began to cover the Nation in 1867. The next year saw the first club with an all professional team. The Cincinnati Red Stockings. They call themselves. The National League was created in 1876, the American League in 1882. The rest of the story is apparent, but the milestone we're making on this day, 29th March 1949, is to open the 53rd season of baseball in the Texas League, for the city of whose ever striping Fort Worth cats have written a record in baseball that's comparable to the very history of the game. For here in Fort Worth, the fans take the game with seriousness when chasing that tenant. But even with all this reverence for the game, there's a festive spirit that takes hold of young and old when you enter an American baseball park. In baseball, the spectator almost feels an active part of the game and is certainly never reluctant to show it. Yet this is baseball. All of this background material is only to tip our hat each year to America's favorite pastime. There's only one way to open the season for the likes of folks in Fort Worth, and that's with a little piece of music that starts like this. Can't you just smell the popcorn and peanuts and even hear the crack of the bat as Mr. Average Spectator yells, throw the bum out. And with this atmosphere once again, we dedicate this half hour program to baseball in the city of Fort Worth. During the next few minutes, we will introduce to you fans the people most important to baseball in our town. I know that the team brings forth most of your questions, so let's tune in the man who probably represents the greatest link between the game and the radio, Spectator, the voice that means baseball itself in this town, Bob Jones.
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Thank you very much, Joe. It seems that each year around September and October, why, it seems everybody's tired of baseball. It's time to go out. And then the new year rings in and January, February, March, come in. The old gridiron gets hot, the hot stove league gets hotter, and, well, I guess we're all ready for baseball just about right now. Of course, the Fort Worth club coming in in these first two weeks of April have quite a few big games coming up before the actual season opener. They have the New York Yankees in, for example, two games with the Brooklyn Dodgers. They have the Chicago club, the National League, the Cubs, and they have the St. Louis Browns. And also they have the world champions, the Cleveland Indians, coming in playing a game with Leo Deroche's New York Giants. So we have some pretty good games coming up before the season actually opens. And keep in mind, that opener is on the 15th of this month with the Tulsa Oilers, a Friday night. And game time is 8 o' clock this year in the regular season, starting out 8 o' clock baseball at La Gray Field with a new ticket headquarter in downtown Fort Worth. That's Jack Collier's on 7th and Maine. Those tickets are on sale all day and they're on sale for the exhibition games as well as for the season opener. Of course, I want to say right now that nobody, I don't think, I don't think anybody, I should say, is dissatisfied with the present manager. We have in the cap, Bobby Bragan, who's really been around town. He's made Fort Worth his home this year and he's done a grand job. As far as innovations, the ballpark's concerned. Aside from that 8 o' clock starting time, why, the Knothole Gang is Going to be a little bigger this year, I believe. We're going to have a wide open affair where any sponsor with a large group can bring in any gang of kids over 8 years old any night. There's no one gang. It's open to any and all out of town or in town. And also Ladies Night, I'm sure is going to be back for the 1949 season. And I know the ladies are going to like that a lot. It's really a pleasure to be here at the start of the gun. And I want to say this. We've all proven, I think in Fort Worth that Fort Worth has the best baseball fan around. Our attendance the last three years has been the best in the league per capita. And it's been right up there, first or second every year. And Joe, it's really nice to be with you and get this season started right. Thank you very much for having me here.
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Sure sounds familiar to hear you talking baseball once again, Bob. Especially when you sound so encouraging. And you can bet your bottom dollar that these little Dodgers we've got will fight for Fort Worth like they've been here all their lives. You know, my part in this baseball business is talking to the boys themselves on the Sanford Webb Dugout interviews program. And I feel it's the best job around. The players are a lot of fun because they have a lot of fun themselves. So this is the chosen profession for most of them. They have their life moments in the dressing room and on the practice field. Usually the first remark at this time of the season by some smooth faced rookie is about the complicated compilation of averages, he says. So that's why they tried to cram all that arithmetic down me in school so as I could figure out my baseball averages, he says. Then the baseball boys get together for barbershop quartet. They are usually a little bit slow at first about this time of the season, but sometimes the music isn't bad at all. Would you folks out there mind if we tried out the first bunch of boys and see what kind of prospects we have for the coming year in the music department anyway, you may have to be better sports than they are. With a flourish of trumpets then and a bright spotlight, we present the soon to be famous Fort Worth Baseball Club Metropolitan Quartet to sing that classical aria called I want a girl just like the girl that married dear old Pop. I want a girl just like the girl that marries. Wonderful and the only girl that daddy ever had A good old mansion girl with heart so through. I want a girl. And marry. And so they seized for baseball is underway musically. Anyway, we need someone to officially open the 1949 baseball season in Fort Worth. And for that beauty, we've chosen our next guest.
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The Bleacher Report app is your destination for sports right now. The NBA's heating up, March Madness is here, and MLB is almost back. Every day there's a new headline, a new highlight, a new moment you've got to see for yourself. That's why I stay locked in with the Bleacher Report Apple. For me, it's about staying connected to my sports. I can follow the teams I care about, get real time scores, breaking news and highlights all in one place. Download the Bleacher Report app today so you never miss a moment.
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Has the news been getting you down?
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I'm Megan McCardell and I'm here to help. I'm the host of a new show
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from Washington Post Opinion called Reasonably Optimistic. And it's an antidote to the pessimism that's riddling America right now.
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Every Wednesday, I'm gonna talk to people who see a path forward.
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It does seem to me that there is some awakening of a desire to act together to solve problems where they are. You know, I am a believer in America and it's worth fighting for. Join me Wednesdays on YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts.
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Fort Worth baseball fans are mighty proud of the facilities provided for their ball team. And we're speaking of La Grave Field. All you can say about La Gray Field is that it simply is the finest in this whole part of the country. When local fans follow the cat to games in other cities, they're forcibly impressed with the superiority of this modern baseball plant out on the north side and also its very efficient staff. And there's a reason for Fort Worth leadership in this respect. It's the result of tireless efforts of the man that it's my privilege to introduce to you next, a man who has gained national recognition for his program of ballpark improvement and certainly winning baseball team. We're referring to the president of the Fort Worth Baseball Club, a man who is as colorful as the national pastime itself, Mr. John L. Reeves.
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It's a real pleasure to be here with this fine group. There is nothing any more thrilling than for this time of the season to roll around. However, the thrill could be even greater if we should end this season again as the Texas League champion. We are going into the fourth year as sponsored and owned Brooklyn Dodgers club. To me, there is not another major league club in either the national or American League that could have Given Fort Worth their proper representation in the Texas League than the Brooklyn Dodgers. I do not believe I am wrong. There could be a time when our representation be not as strong as has been in the past.
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For you must remember we are dealing
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in several combinations, the hazard of the game and professional talent. We are just about to begin this season with the opening of official schedule of exhibition games. Then our first game of the championship season will be at home with Tulsa, April 15th. So let's try and win the Fort Worth opening day trophy. This can be done with your help. And without your help it cannot be done. You can be assured that Fort Worth will have a team to properly justify our representation in this league. We shall not let you down. So be patient and tolerant with us for the first 30 days of the season until we get the club set. After that, the race will be on.
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Thank you very much, John L. Reeves, president of the Fort Worth Baseball Club, for appearing on this program saluting the coming baseball season. And now we would like to introduce the spokesman for those persons connected with the sports broadcast over this station. Here is the manager of kxo, ls, Russ Lamb.
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Thanks, Joe. It's a pleasure to appear on this broadcast with the men who will bring Forth Worth citizens so many hours of baseball enjoyment this year. There can be no question about the fact that Fort Worth is full of real baseball fans. That point has proven year after year as each previous attendance record is shattered. The fans do support our ball club, but unfortunately the Cats play only half of their season schedule here in Fort Worth. They're on the road for the other games and the best that the local fans can do is send along their good wishes. But that fired up enthusiasm for the fortunes of the Cats goes on while they're away. So it's altogether fitting that those loyal fans should expect to have a running account of the Cat successes in those ball games in other cities that they can't attend as well as those they're unable to see here at home. The medium of radio serves that purpose. And the play by play broadcast of all games over KXOL are made possible by the cooperation of four fine civic minded firms in Fort Worth. The Renfro Rexall Drug Stores, the Uncle Joe Bottling Company, Mrs. Grubbs Food Products Company and Texas Motors, your friendly Ford dealer. In behalf of the management of this station, I want to thank our four sponsors for again making it possible for baseball fans to follow every play by Bobby Brin and the Cats this year. And I know I speak for our sponsors as well as the station in wishing Mr. Reeves and his staff and Bobby and his players a lot of good luck in their championship race in 49.
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You've heard Russ Lamb speaking for the broadcasters and John L. Reeves for the ball club to get this new season underway. So with those remarks, we can now say that the 1949 baseball season is officially open.
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Wait a minute, young fella. I've been around a long time and
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in fact, Fort Worth, we always open the season with a little singing. I know what you mean, old Topper. But I think we got a group here that might be able to satisfy what you would like to hear. And that would be Take Me out to the Ball Game. Well, we enjoyed it. Hope you did. Out there it looked like a few of us need a little more practice in baseball too, perhaps. Well, we'd like to tell you now something that I know will be interesting to all of you and that is the history of the Fort Worth Baseball Club in the Texas League. And we have one of the front office men, Dick was. Dick, I wonder if we could call on you to tell us just how Fort Worth has fared in the existence of baseball in the Texas League.
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Yes, sir, Joe, thank you very much. I'd be glad to give you a brief history of the Fort Worth Cats.
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Yes, sir, Joe.
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Thank since 1888 and been act 52 years. Thirteen Texas League championships. Of course, the greatest period in Fort Worth history was the 1920-25 period, the era of Jake Ats when Fort Worth won six Texas League championships and five Dixie series. In that six year span, Fort Worth has won more games than any other club since the league was founded and also has the best winning percentage of any present day member. Last year Fort Worth hosted the All Star Game, won the Jake Epps trophy for finishing first in the straightaway race, became the Texas League champions by virtue of winning the Texas League playoffs and represented the Texas League in the Dixie Series a clean sweep in 1948. The greatest attendance increase has been in the three post war years after the league resumed operations which were halted during World War II. As Bob Jones said, we have had the best winning percentage and the best per capita attendance based on city population of any club in the post war era. Each of the past three years since the club became affiliated with the Brooklyn Dodgers, we have had a young, fairly inexperienced club, younger in average age than any club in the league. But each year we have run or tried to run the other clubs into the ground. Something which we hope to do again this year. Only this year we will Wind up by bringing the Dixie Series bunning back to Fort Worth. Thank you very much, Joe, for having had me here.
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Thank you very much, Dick Walsh. It was very interesting to hear about Fort Worth catch leading up to the 1949 season. Well, one sight that we always see around the gray field and that's Bob Jones and Bobby Bragin getting together, talking about the games coming up for the broadcast as well as the game itself. So we'd like to have Bob Jones come over here and tell you something about Bob Reagan. He may expose him a little bit, but we'll see what Bob Jones has to say about Bob Reagan. And then I understand that the Skipper's got a little surprise for you.
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Well, Joe, about anything you say about Bobby Bragan, as long as it's good, is okay with me. He's been the manager of the club. He took over the managing manager's reigns last June 30th, as I recall it. And on that day the club won. The Fort Worth team went into first place in the Texas League race and they maintained that position right down to the bitter end. They won the straightaway race and of course they won the the Texas League playoff and the championship for the catch in the league. And that bears up pretty well. Bobby not only was a good manager for us last year, but he's a major league catcher. And he had a choice, I believe, of going to a major league club or taking over the managership down here. And I think he has no regrets about that. His native home, if you don't know, is Birmingham, Alabama. I think at this point he might like to forget about it, or at least last fall maybe he just forgotten about it. And he's done a grand job here. In the winter he's been very active in Fort Worth. He makes it his home with his wife Gwen and his two children, a boy and a girl. He lives out in Arlington Heights and through the winter period he's been all around town at the civic clubs, the youth groups, the church groups and so forth, making a personal appearance, goodwill appearances as it were. And I think his average has been around four speeches or appearances a week, right straight through the winter. He's worked at the ball club and done a bang up job out there
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for the ball club too.
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He's been on a coaching clinic tour and that did a great deal of good for baseball and I hope for the coaches in the in the Texas area. He was one of the two coaching teams put up by baseball to travel throughout Texas and do a job on that. And he did that job. Of course he's been down in Vero beach. Or he will be down, however you want to look at it. And he may have something to say about the club, he may not. It's hard to tell at this point. Anyway, it's a great deal of pleasure for me to bring to you, Bobby Bragin. Thank you a lot, Bob Jones. And I really appreciate those kind bouquets that you've been throwing all over the place in here. If I could justify in just a small measure those, why, I'd be a Superman. Folks, just between you and me, this ball club is a big business. It's not up to one man or one individual to win any penance here in Fort Worth. It's right from John L. Reeves, the president. Even as far as Branch Rickey, the president of the Brooklyn club. Any manager is no better than the weakest player he has on his team. When we feel our 19 players out here, that's coming season, you can bet that our club won't be any stronger than the weakest man we have on our bench over in the dugout. It takes 19 men pulling as hard as they can all together to win a pennant. And to establish a record such as that has been established here in Fort Worth, we've got to have fireballers like Robert Austin, Willie Ramsdell, Carl Erskine, those players that represented us last year, Eddie Chandler, those pitchers that pitched us into the Shaughnessy playoff and then into the Dixie Series. You know, Bob mentioned that Birmingham playoff. I don't even like to talk about it anymore. But you can rest assured, if we get a shot at them again this coming fall, we're going to turn the tables on them. In fact, we don't care if it's New Orleans, Memphis, Birmingham or what have they over there in that Southern Association. But we do have a fine looking crew for 1949. Have some of our boys back. And recently Mr. Rickey promised that he would send Mr. Reeves some of that able pitching that he has up there on that Brooklyn club. And I'm sure we'll get our quota of what's being sent out from Brooklyn. In the meantime though, we have our entire infield intact with Dee Fondi, Johnny Legro, Jack Flindsay and Wally P. Allen. Of course we have young Jacobs from the Piedmont League who stole some 50 odd bases. I know all the fans would be wanting to see him. Have young Dick Williams, a boy who's a surefire big leaguer in center field or Homer Matinee is back. We have quite an assembly from the 1948 roster and with the additional boards we have accumulated from Vero beach and will get from Brooklyn and those Triple A clubs, I can assure you that John L. Reeves, Bob Jones, the management and those players are going to do a good job for the fans in Fort Worth who are tops. Take it from the manager and take it from boys who have played in Fort Worth. I knew a lot about Fort Worth sand before I reported out here. And believe you me, they've justified every bit of it. You know, time's running out here. I don't want to be too long winded, Joe.
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That's all right, Bobby. But there's a little surprise that you have in store for him. Excuse me. Go right ahead and introduce yourself.
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Well, I've been dared to sing a song today, and I think that the title that I will choose is the national anthem. I think I'm going to sing Dictionary.
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Well, I wish I was in the land of cotton Old times there are not forgotten look away, look away look away Dixieland In Dixieland where I was born in early on a frosty morning look away, look away look away Dixieland and I wish I was in dictator who raised R.A. in Dixie land I'll take my stand to live and die and Dixie away away away a thousand Dixie away, away. Thanks very much, Bobby Reagan. I wish that you folks could have seen him singing that song. He certainly does look like a movie star standing up here. It's not like other folks who just stand and talk. He really puts on a show for the folks in the studio. Folks in the studio? Oh, they're VIPs. Very Important People. You've heard of Willie Ramsdell? He's back with us. Bobby Austin here and a lot more of the boys. Some of the better voices that you were hearing during the singing. Willie Ramsdell. How's the old. What do you call that thing? It's not a fireball exactly, is it?
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I want to get it straight with Bobby. I'm a Yankee.
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All right, Willie. It certainly is fine seeing you back on the club for 1949.
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I'm not back on the club in 1949. Quit playing for me.
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Oh, is that where. Where are you going to be? What's your baseball future going to be, Willie?
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Well, it looks to me like me and all that fella nice brother. What's his name?
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Pop?
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Oh, Burchot. Yeah.
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Yeah.
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Well, he's got to have to get along with me this year.
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I see. Willie, it certainly is nice having you back here and hope that you have a Lot of success with the Dodgers. Now, who's that young fell over there with you? That's a boy you used to call Youthful Bob. But we saw him grow up right here in Fort Worth on the team. Wonder if you could get him over here and start needling him like you do on the practice field.
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Well, I'll tell you, Joe, the guy's a pretty young fellow and it's easy to get excited. I can't get him up here. Bob, would you step up here a minute? Hi, young fella.
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All right, all right. Well, when these two boys get together, the fur is going to fly. Well, what about this new 1949 cat team, Bobby? What do you have to say about that?
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Well, I think it's going to be okay with folks dojo some looks of things. I might be back myself, and I'm hoping so anyway.
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Well, how about some of these other fellows? They're looking pretty good in practice, aren't they?
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Very good, Joe. Looks like we'll be right up there at the top.
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All right, Bobby, thanks very much for talking to us on this program saluting the brand new season. Willie, did you have something else to say? You bet I have, as usual. What's on your mind?
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Me and Robert's gonna pitch up there in Brooklyn and these cats can take care of theirselves, all right?
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Well, they can do that. Here's John Pram, who is the road secretary for the Fort Worth Cat. John, is there any important change or what does the road look like for the Cat this year?
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Well, there aren't any major changes, Joe, in the schedule. We play 154 games, 77 on the road and 77 at home. However, this year we will open in Tulsa, our arch enemy, and then we'll come back. Our opening day in Fort Worth will be the 15th and we're anticipating winning the President's Trophy this year. We gave him a good race last year, but Shreveport outdrew us slightly and consequently we didn't win the trophy. And there's one thing I'd like to say at this time, Joe, and that is that Bobby Bragin can play ball as well as he can sing. And I think the radio listeners will be glad to hear that.
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B
All right, John Frim, thanks very much.
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Thank you, Joe.
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B
Steve, what's going on in the park facilities business? Well, Joe, as you know, in the past the concession has not been a part of the baseball club. But now and in the future will be. It is our hope to give the people the best of service possible out there. We give you the same finesse in the concession department that you get from the baseball club itself. We're making quite a few changes, putting in some new concession stands, putting in a new refrigeration room. We're widening our lobby and putting up some elaborate displays in there which we hope is going to be appealing to the fans so that when they come to the baseball game, they can enjoy themselves just the same as if they were sitting in the cool of their own home. Steve, let me ask you this. Some of the folks have grown up watching baseball from the gray field, and the improvement may not be quite as sharp to them as to an outsider. Now, you are quite familiar with the facilities in various baseball parks. What would you say are some of the advantages we have here that some of the folks in the other Texas league towns don't have? Well, Joe, of the parks I've seen, I feel that we have the most elaborate setup here at the gray field of any minor league baseball park. We're equipped to handle any capacity crowd in me what we might get. And I think the service is going to be far better than that can be encountered anywhere else. Thank you very much, Steve Crook. Well, I think it's time for us to sing that song which is almost synonymous with baseball itself. In the good old Summertime. Now, I want you to listen very sharply because these baseball boys have worked up something that might be very interesting to the avid fan. It really has to do with baseball. But first, let's get these old baseball vocal cords warmed up with. In the good old summertime. When your your baby wise. Well, that was all right, gang. A little bit old timey maybe. Now let's bring those lyrics up to date with something like this. That. Well, now everything that we've been leading up to is just about right on top of it. It's just about time to shout play ball. On this, the opening of the 1949 baseball season. This program has been dedicated to America's favorite pastime. Yes, here's another baseball season starting on the 30th of March, 1949. This is the 110th season. The old names in baseball live on and the new rookies fight for a chance as your new favorite and to someday become perhaps another Garrick, Ruby Cobb, Hornsby, Kraft, Tate Dean or Greenberg. And this radio station is happy to be a part of this sport in Fort Worth, participating as any other enthusiastic fan. We hope you've enjoyed this program. Introducing the first game of the year, which will be played in New Orleans and broadcast on the night of March 30th. It's always a memorable occasion when baseball returns to Fort Worth. Thanks to all of those who helped with this program and thanks to all of you who support baseball on the sandlot in the park for the grown ups, for the kids, we give you baseball for 1949.
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The Bleacher Report app is your destination for sports right now. The NBA is heating up, March Madness is here, and MLB is almost back. Every day there's a new headline, a new highlight, a new moment you've got to see for yourself. That's why I stay locked in with the Bleacher Report app. For me, it's about staying connected to my sports. I can follow the teams I care about, get real time scores, breaking news and highlights all in one place. Download the Bleacher Report app today so you never miss a moment.
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