Museum Matters

In 1953 there was a Dublin mens baseball team that played in the Bosque Valley Baseball League. The Dublin Shamrocks would play ball against teams in other communities. It must have been during this period that a discussion came up about having little league teams in Dublin.

The dream came true in May of 1953. Joe Dorsey was named president of the Dublin Little League and plans were completed. A fund was established to buy balls, bats and other equipment with each team donating $25 dollars. The program only took boys from 9 to 12 to start with. Local businesses may not have had an extra $25 dollars or time to coach the boys, so some businesses joined together to sponsor teams.

The plan was for the teams to play at the Colborn Bowl. The committee that organized Little League Baseball said that the lighting at the Colborn Bowl was not adequate. It worked for the rodeo performances each year, but kids trying to see a baseball in the darkness had problems. It was like trying to play ball in the moonlight.The committee discussed moving to the baseball field at Dublin City Park and adding new lighting there. Also if a program was started for teens from 13-15 the Colborn bowl would not be adequate for the number of games and practice sessions. (Dublin Progress, May 8, 1953) With that in mind, it was Monday night June 2, 1953 that the Little Leaguers had their first game. It was held at the Colborn Bowl. Seating for the fans was the wooden boards that were used during the rodeo each year. The Dublin Band played and School Superintendent Dewey Raley made an address before the games began. Four of the Dublin teams played in a double header. Buster McCarty was master of ceremonies. The Novit’s Department Store team played against the Sunset Service Station - Dublin Progress team. The Sunset - Progress team won over the Novit’s team 17-3. The second teams were the Henderson’s team vs the Dorsey Cleaners - Yantis Hardware. The Henderson team lost 18 - 5.

Teams continued to play over the summer on Tuesday and Friday nights.

On June 8 a special team was picked to play Higginbothams Comanche. The special Dublin team lost in this first community game but the enthusiasm continued for youth sports in Dublin. The Dorsey - Yantis team persevered though the season to win top honors for the first year of Little League play against other Dublin teams. They won 11 games and lost only 4. (Dublin Progress, Aug. 7, 1953) For the 1954 season, the committee decided to start at the Colborn Bowl and move to the city park when the light poles were in place and working. (Dublin Progress, June 4, 1954) Work started on installing new lighting for the City Park baseball field in April. New poles were being installed with the help of Texas Power and Light, Westinghouse Electric and John Moore of the Soil Conservation Service. (Dublin Progress, April, 9 1954) Eight of the 75 foot poles were needed to complete the lighting project. The poles cost about $130 dollars each. The committee had to work to come up with the money to pay for them. Then, Texas Power and Light ran into problems when they hit rock while digging the holes for the new light poles. They ended up having to use dynamite to finish the project.

The swimming pool was under construction at the same time that the new baseball field was being completed . It must have been exciting to be working on the swimming pool and having dynamite blasts coming a short distance away. Finally, the celebration of the new field with it’s new lighting was dedicated right after a bathing beauty contest was completed at the dedication of the new swimming pool. Over 5000 people filled the park for the pool dedication. The group then moved over to the other side of the park for the dedication of the new lighting and beginning of play at the new baseball park. (Dublin Progress, July 2, 1954) On the first day of play for the new Little League field, the Novit’s team won over Henderson’s, while Sunset-Progress downed Dorsey-Yantis. The enthusiasm that began Little League play then, continues today. Anytime caring adults work with kids, the outcome is in the best interest of the kids lives and the community. Come visit us at dubinhistorical.org