MLB Spring Training, early 20th century baseball took center stage in Central Texas

By Monte Cely, Special to The Democrat

The following is part one of a series by Monte Cely taking an in-depth look at America's Pastime in Marlin, Texas...

INTRODUCTION

"People ask me what I do in the winter when there's no baseball. I'll tell you what I do. I stare out the window and wait for Spring."

- Rogers Hornsby 1

While most baseball fans have neither the desire nor luxury of sitting around the house all winter, most of us do share The Rajah's anticipation for the start of Spring Training. For "only" a few thousand dollars, today we can purchase travel/hotel/ticket/event packages to see our favorite teams train in Florida or Arizona, and put the memories of another cold winter behind us.

In the first few decades of the 20th century, there were no airlines or interstate highways to efficiently transport fans and players to Spring Training. For that matter, the key sites for pre-season training had not yet gravitated to today's Grapefruit and Cactus League cities. While there has been no major league spring training in Texas for over sixty years, from 1900 to 1941 as many as seven major league teams concurrently held their pre-seasons in the Lone Star State. San Antonio was by far the preferred Texas locale for managers to get their squads in shape. Marlin, in central Texas about 100 miles south of Dallas, was the next most popular destination. The Alamo City hosted major league teams for 29 seasons; Marlin was second in popularity with 16 seasons.2, 3, 8

In 2007, Texas members of the Society for American Baseball Research (SABR) launched an effort to locate and commemorate major league Texas spring training sites from the early 20th Century. This paper is a result of that project as it pertains to the people, players, and personalities in long-ago Marlin, Texas.

BACKGROUND

Just how did Marlin become a key destination for spring training in the early 1900's? The answer is closely tied to the history and development of this central Texas town.

For nearly 60 years, beginning in the late 19th century, Marlin was a popular resort location. The key attraction was the town's hot mineral baths. The natural waters were discovered by accident in 1892, when a new well being sunk for drinking water produced a gusher of 147-degree water containing large amounts of sodium, sulfur, magnesium, iron, and other minerals.4

At that time, Marlin had two hospitals and was already a regional medical center. The first bathhouse was built in 1895 to capitalize on the new found mineral waters. The tubs of the Marlin Sanitarium and other bathhouses that followed attracted thousands of the afflicted, as well as many "health vacationers."5 To support this expanded medical trade, along with the growing tourist traffic, several first-class hotels were built. These hotels included the Arlington, the Majestic, and the Falls (the eighth hotel in Conrad Hilton's growing chain).

The railroads helped bring these travelers and their business to Marlin. The Houston and Texas Central Railway (H&TC) completed its line through Marlin in 1871. The International-Great Northern (I&GN) laid its tracks into town in 1901, followed by the Missouri Pacific in 1902.5

The availability of first-class hotels, the therapeutic waters, and good transportation via the railroads were all key factors that attracted major league baseball to Marlin. Beginning in 1904, five different major league teams spent all or part of the pre-season in Marlin. They were:

Chicago White Sox: 1904, 1923

St. Louis Cardinals: 1905

Cincinnati Reds: 1906 - 1907

Philadelphia Athletics: 1907

New York Giants: 1908 - 1918, 1923

WHITE SOX, CARDINALS, REDS and ATHLETICS - 1903 - 1907

The Chicago American League team almost came to Marlin in 1903. In early February Ted Sullivan, baseball entrepreneur and associate of Chicago owner Charles Comiskey, was in contact with Marlin city officials about the possibility of the White Sox training in Marlin the next month, rather than in Mobile, Alabama.3A Within two days, Marlin responded with a strong invitation to the Chicago club and committed to providing a suitable park and grounds if the team would come. Apparently the window of opportunity was just a little too narrow, as Comiskey wrote the following week that his team would not be able to come in 1903. He did, however, clearly leave the door open for the following year.3B With expectations that they would have a major league team in Spring 1904, the city of Marlin proceeded with improvements to "the ballpark at the old fairgrounds."

The city fathers' hopes were realized when Ted Sullivan came back to Marlin in late December of 1903, to meet with a local delegation at the Arlington Hotel. Sullivan pronounced that the Chicago club was satisfied with arrangements, and that the team would indeed train at Marlin. The White Sox arrived in Marlin on March 7, 1904. Along with the team were four Chicago newspapermen. The local Marlin Democrat reporter wrote his expectation that "a million people will, for their first time, possibly, learn Marlin's location on the map."3C

A few days later, an intra-squad exhibition game was played between the White Sox and the "Chicago Blues". (The "White" squad wore the Sox' home uniforms, the "Blues" wore the road uniforms.) Admission was 25 cents. The lineups featured Chicago's future manager "Fielder" Jones playing outfield for the Blues, current manager Jimmy "Nixey" Callahan at second base for the Blues, and pitchers Nick Altrock and Ed Walsh in the box and also subbing for both squads in the outfield. Comiskey, a "hands on" owner who was expected to be in Marlin, was temporarily detained on business in New York.3D More than 250 local folks showed up for the game. Without television or commercials, the nine innings were played at a leisurely pace and still finished in one hour and forty-five minutes!3E

Two days later the team traveled to Dallas to meet up with Comiskey and his wife and niece. The club then split up to play weekend exhibition games in Dallas and Fort Worth.6A Comiskey finally arrived in Marlin on March 14. The next day, the White Sox played a benefit game for the Ladies Social Club, with the funds going to improve Bartlett Park.3F

At this same time, two of Marlin's city fathers went to Houston to extend an invitation to the St. Louis Cardinals to train at Marlin. This was apparently done with the knowledge and support of White Sox officials, as manager Callahan and sportswriter Jack Tanner provided letters of recommendation. This move may have inadvertently led to the White Sox leaving Marlin. Although lamenting that his troops would miss the Marlin baths, Comiskey later that year reported to the Chicago press that the club would not return to Texas. Instead, he planned an extended stay in New Orleans in the spring of 1905.6B Comiskey wrote to Marlin saying that he preferred to come back, but could not work out the scheduling with "... the St. Louis men, who had pre-empted training places in Texas..." and who apparently wanted a commitment from the Chicago magnate that his club would spend the entire spring in Texas.3G

In early February of 1905, Arlington Hotel management received a telegram from St. Louis Cardinals manager Charles "Kid" Nichols requesting arrangements and rates to train in Marlin the next month. The Arlington quickly responded that the same rates and grounds that Comiskey had used last spring would be available to the St. Louis Nationals. The Cardinals committed the following week that they would train in Marlin, and requested room reservations at the Arlington for three weeks. Interestingly, the Arlington Hotel manager also received a letter from the St. Louis Browns expressing their interest in training that spring in Marlin.3H Apparently this fell through, as the Browns trained in Dallas in 1905.

The Cardinals arrived in Marlin on Sunday night, March 5, 1905. Their contingent of players, coaches, and staff, 27 passengers in total, arrived in a private rail car on the I&GN tracks. After a Monday morning tour of the Arlington and the east side fairgrounds ball field, Nichols expressed his satisfaction to the hotel's manager and local newsman.3I Also with the Cardinals were reporters from both of the major St. Louis newspapers, the Post-Dispatch and the Globe-Democrat. Later that week, Cardinals vice president and part owner Stanley Robison returned to Marlin from Fort Worth, where he completed arrangements for games on the Cardinals return trip to St. Louis via "Indian Territory" (Oklahoma).3J

While in Marlin, the Cardinals players attended a badger fight.3K This was a contemporary form of "entertainment" pitting a trapped wild badger against a fighting dog. Sportswriter G.E. Palfry of the St. Louis Globe-Democrat did the "honors" of releasing the badger to start the fight. Apparently the dog won. An intra-squad game to benefit the local Ladies Social Club was rained out on March 15; and three days later the Cardinals headed to Waco for an exhibition game that began their return trip to St. Louis. They arrived back in the Mound City on March 31.

The Redbirds did not return in 1906, but the Cincinnati Reds made Marlin their spring training site that season. They arrived in town at 1am on March 6. The Reds planned to train in Marlin for about two weeks, spend a few days in San Antonio, and then take an exhibition tour around the state. In addition to the players, reporters from the Cincinnati Times-Star and Post accompanied the team. Expected later that week was Reds President August "Garry" Herrmann. A local reporter noted that Herrmann was not only team president, but also the chairman of the National Commission, "the Supreme Court in Baseball Circles" of that day.3L

The following week, Reds manager F. C. Bancroft said that he loved Marlin as a training site and that he was entering negotiations with the city and the Arlington Hotel for a three-year commitment to train in Marlin. The local news also reported that the I&GN R.R. offered a special price for Marlin fans to travel to Waco to see the Reds play: seventy five cents round trip in coach!3M

The Reds did indeed return to Marlin in 1907. They were joined that Spring by Connie Mack's Philadelphia Athletics. Mack had originally planned to train in Dallas, but decided to spend at least part of that Spring in Marlin. The "Tall Tactician" along with John Shibe, son of co-owner Ben Shibe, and the rest of the Athletics' entourage reached Marlin on Sunday night, March 3. They immediately went to work on Monday at the east-side grounds.3N The Reds began to arrive early that same week, planning to have their entire squad in Marlin by Monday, March 11. As the Reds arrived, their management expressed concern to the Arlington that both teams could not be properly accommodated. They were assured that they would have a separate floor at the hotel, separate dining facilities, and the use of a second field at the east-side grounds. As Mack's men left for Dallas as planned on March 15, apparently things worked out.3O

Both clubs had their home town newspaper reporters traveling with them. As a result, more than 6,000 words daily were dispatched from the Marlin telegraph office to the big newspapers back East.3P

An exhibition game was planned between the Reds and Athletics for Thursday March 14. This was such a major event that local businesses planned to close early that day so that their employees could help make a strong showing at the "big-league game." The weather intervened and the contest was rained out. The Athletics left for Dallas as planned the next day. The Reds remained, and traveled to Waco for exhibition games that weekend. On March 25 the Reds left Marlin for New Orleans and began their trip home. On the way, they stopped in College Station for a game with the Texas A&M squad.3Q

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Monte Cely is a member of the Society for American Baseball Research, and has previously written articles about baseball's Cy Young Award. He grew up playing baseball in Staunton, Illinois, a town about the size of Marlin, Texas. He is a long time fan of the St. Louis Cardinals, having attended his first game with his Dad in 1959 (against the Giants!) Monte and his wife Linda reside in Round Rock, Texas, about 90 miles southwest of Marlin.

NOTES, REFERENCES & CREDITS:

1 From numerous sources, quoted on www.springtrainingonline.com

2 "Crossing Red River - Spring Training in Texas", Frank Jackson, The National Pastime #26, SABR, 2006

3 The Marlin Democrat archives, located at the Pauline & Jane Chilton Memorial Marlin Public Library. Issue dated:

3A - February 9, 1903

3B - February 19, 1903

3C - March 8, 1904

3D - March 10, 1904

3E - March 11, 1904

3F - March 15, 1904

3G - January 5, 1905

3H - February 13, 1905

3I - March 6, 1905

3J - March 9, 1905

3K - March 10, 1905

3L - March 6, 1906

3M - March 16, 1906

3N - March 4, 1907

3O - March 6, 1907

3P - March 8, 1907

3Q - March 25, 1907

3R - September 26, 1907

3S - February 24, 1908

3T - February 25, 1908

3U - February 26, 1909

3V - January 19, 1910

3W - February 21, 1910

3X - February 14, 1912

A historical note to those fans that enjoy spring training at the Cactus League sites: President Taft signed a proclamation admitting Arizona as the 48th state in the Union in February, 1912!

3Y - March 6, 1909

3Z - March 17, 1909

3AA - March 5, 1910

3AB - March 31, 1908

3AC - March 17, 1911

3AD - February 20, 1912

3BB - February 3, 1919

3CC - January 5, 1907

3DD - March 12, 1913

3EE - February 25, 1914

3FF - January 30, 1914

3GG - February 27, 1915

3HH - March 24, 1915

3II - February 1, 1916

3JJ - February 28, 1916

3KK - March 25, 1916

3LL - March 6, 1917

3MM - March 2, 1917

3NN - January 3, 1918

3OO - March 26, 1918

3PP - March 3, 1913

3QQ - February 28, 1923

4 "Day Trips - Marlin", Gerald McLeod, The Austin Chronicle, column written on February 18, 2005

5 "The History of Marlin, Texas" and "The History of Falls County", Marlin city website - www.marlintexas.com, both pages were noted as "used with permission of The Handbook of Texas Online"

6 The Chicago Tribune archives, online at www.pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune Issue dated:

6A - March 12, 1904 6B - December 31, 1904

7 Pitching in a Pinch - Baseball from the Inside, Christy Mathewson, G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1912; Bison Press reprinting, 1994, 0-8032-8212-5

8 The New York Times archives, online at www.select.nytimes.com.

8A - December 22, 1907

8B - March 4, 1908

8C - February 20, 1910

8D - March 2, 1912

8E - January 21, 1913

8F - February 19, 1913

8G - March 16, 1912

8H - December 7, 1919

8I - March 3, 1923

8J - March 8, 1911

8K - December 20, 1914

9 Marlin, 1851-1976, Marlin Chamber of Commerce - Bicentennial Heritage Committee, Texian Press, 1976, 76-54435

10 The Glory of Their Times, Lawrence S. Ritter, Quill, 1966, 0-688-11273-0

11 My Thirty Years in Baseball, John J. McGraw, Boni & Liveright, 1923; Bison Press reprinting, 1995, 0-8032-8139-0

12 Level Playing Fields - How the Groundskeeping Murphy Brothers Shaped Baseball, Peter Morris, University of Nebraska Press, 2007, 0-8032-1110-4

13 John McGraw, Charles Alexander, Viking, 1988, 0-670-80730-3

14 Interview conducted with Mr. Edward Glass on December 3, 2007

Monte Cely wishes to thank the following:

SABR members Frank Jackson, Norman Macht, and Tom Wancho - for their guidance and support in finding sources for this work, and for commenting on numerous drafts of this paper. Frank Jackson's article "Crossing Red River - Spring Training in Texas" served as the starting point and a key reference for this paper. Norman Macht and Tom Wancho are leading the effort to locate Texas spring training ball park sites.

Librarians Dale Kling and Gail Woodward at the Pauline & Jane Chilton Memorial Marlin Public Library - for their outstanding assistance in finding local references, for their reviews of drafts of this paper, and for ably and patiently helping me with the microfilm reader and Sanborn maps.

Falls County Historical Commission members Trudie Asbury and Dr. James Bryan; Marlin Economic Development Director Pam Kelly; and Texas Pneumatic Tools founder and CEO Carl Evans for their enthusiastic support and help ball park sites.

SABR members Jan Larson, Chuck Kaufman, Steve Braccini, Michael Bass, Dan Walsh, Peter Morris, Gilbert Martinez and Bill Gilbert - for reviewing and commenting on drafts of this paper.

My wife Linda for her help and support in finding sources for this paper and her patience while I labored at the microfilm reader and my computer.