However, I still feel I have to share it with you, especially since professional baseball is back in El Paso bigger and better than ever.
If you recall, when the El Paso Chihuahuas opened their new stadium, Southwest University Park, this year, part of the ceremonies included the introduction of local dignitaries.
The one who got the biggest applause and cheers was, yes, Dr. Diana Natalicio. It was no surprise. What she’s done as president to improve the curriculum, physical structures and prestige of the University of Texas at El Paso borders on the miraculous.
She’s also always been a baseball fan.
BASEBALL CARDS have been popular with fans for decades. The Topps Company in Brooklyn, New York started printing them in 1938 and found immediate success. Some of the cards, especially earlier ones, have been sold for huge amounts of money.
It brought a wide smile to my face. I hope it does to you, too.
TRIVIA QUESTION: In baseball, what is the distance, to the nearest foot, from home base to second base? Answer at end.
SPEAKING OF my book, thanks to KTSM Channel 9 sports director Fred Albers, UTEP assistant athletic director and announcer Jon Teicher, former El Paso Herald Post sportswriter Manny Ontiveros and others who have made nice comments about “The Good, the Bad and the Funny of El Paso Sports History” on the Barnes and Noble website. Getting approval from folks in the same line of work as you is especially pleasing.
Albers wrote, in part: “It (the book) can be used for entertainment or reference and should be a part of everyone’s library.” Teicher wrote, in part: “It’s a must for El Pasoans and those that enjoy sports history.”
Ontiveros called it “A great compilation of sport memories that any sports enthusiast will truly enjoy.”
By the way, the Barnes and Noble on El Paso’s Westside has scheduled a book signing from 5-7 p.m. Saturday, July 19. It would be great to see you there.
IT’S A SMALL world. The grandfather of Gustavo Mendoza-Dorsett, the highly recruited Franklin High School receiver, is Ray Dorsett, who was the head basketball coach at El Paso High School in the early 1940s. C. D. Jarvis succeeded him.
The early 1940s were the years that future Wimbledon champion Dick Savitt attended El Paso High and Ray Dorsett got to know him well. In fact, Ray Dorsett visited Savitt in New York after his Wimbledon victory.
EL PASOANS have obviously fallen madly in love with the El Paso Chihuahuas baseball team and its beautiful new Southwest University Stadium.
But some people, especially seniors, wish there were more Sunday afternoon games. It’s hard for many folks to stay up late on Sunday night and then get up early on Monday to go to work.
As for seniors, well, heck, their bedtime can be as early as 8 p.m.
Just saying …
ANSWER to trivia question: 127 feet.