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Don Baylor, Jr. remembers all the times he drove past Westenfield Neighborhood Park with his famous father who left Austin in the late 1960s to carve out a spectacular career in Major League Baseball.
“Black kids weren’t allowed to play here,” the elder Baylor told his 6-year-old son.
He never failed to bring that up whenever Westenfield was in view.
SCOTTSDALE, AZ - FEBRUARY 25: Don Baylor coach of the Arizona Diamondbacks looks on during a spring training game against the San Francisco Giants at Scottsdale Stadium on February 25, 2011 in Scottsdale, Arizona. (Photo by Rob Tringali/Getty Images) (Austin American-Statesman)
“He told me about the Jim Crow laws down here in the 1950s,” Don Jr. said. “We talked about segregated water fountains, segregated restrooms and how things were different here.”
January 16, 2016 - Hall of Fame Major League baseball player and manager, Don Baylor, a deacon at Sweet Home Missionary Baptist Church talks about growing up in the Clarksville neighborhood, life in segregated Austin, and remembering Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., during the 8th Annual Sweet Home Peace Through Pie Social in Austin, Texas, on Saturday, Jan. 16, 2015. RODOLFO GONZALEZ / AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN (Austin American-Statesman)
The park, which includes a baseball field, playpen and tennis courts, is situated on the west side of town, on the corner of Enfield and Winsted, right off Mopac South. In the Jim Crow South of the 1940s and 50s, Austin’s Black citizens were relegated east of Interstate 35. Segregation was the norm and the races rarely mixed so Westenfield was a no-go for people of color.
MORE CED: Texas tennis great Peyton Stearns breaks through
Old Westenfield is no more. Now, that field bears Baylor's name.
Over 200 supporters and local luminaries gathered Sunday at newly christened Don Baylor Neighborhood Park, including members of his Sweet Home Missionary Baptist Church, his Austin High School baseball coach Frank Seale, Mayor Kirk Watson, Baylor’s longtime schoolmate Ben Crenshaw and Hall of Fame sportswriter Claire Smith, the author of "Don Baylor: Nothing but the Truth: A Baseball Life."
Former Major League Baseball star and Austin native Don Baylor passed away Aug. 7, 2017. Baylor, shown here from 1978, won MLB’s American League MVP honors in 1979 and was a two-sport star at Austin High School. (Lon Cooper/American Statesman file 1978) (Austin American-Statesman)
The late Don Baylor grew up in the Clarksville neighborhood on as a multisport star at O. Henry Junior High and Austin High, where he was one of the first Black kids to attend those schools.
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Don Baylor wasn't permitted to play at Westenfield Park as a kid. Now the park bears his name. How it all happened.
He made history then. In death, his name will live forever, not only in the annals of Major League Baseball where he carved out an historic career as a player and one of the first Black managers, but in his hometown.
MORE HORNS: SEC Women's Tournament staff predictions
Austin Parks and Recreation funded a beautiful interpretive marker that highlighted the new namesake’s accomplishments and what he meant to this city.
“This dream has come true,” said Baylor’s widow, Becky. “Don and I have traveled many roads and many miles together but today his life has truly come true circle. I’m overwhelmed with gratitude to God for this day and this moment.”
As several kids, including their young grandson Julius — sporting a vintage Angels No. 25 Baylor jersey — played on a baseball field a few feet away, Watson encapsulated the day’s events.
“As fast paced as this city moves, as much as is going on in this city in any given time, when it takes a moment to celebrate our diversity, it celebrates our history and it celebrates us being together in a place like the Don Baylor Neighborhood Park,” he said.
About a year ago, Becky and the family contacted the office of city councilman Marc Duchen to gauge any interest in renaming Westenfield, which is a short drive from the home he shared with Becky until his death in 2017.
The idea was not only about honoring one of Austin’s most overlooked sports legends, but to also bridge the gap between the old Jim Crow South and present day where the city has sought to be more diverse — though there is soooo much work to be done.
The ordinance passed by a unanimous vote.
This was a great gesture to honor someone who has brought immense pride not only to the Black community but also to the city at-large and to MLB over a five-decade stay as a player and manager.
MORE HORNS:Where the Horns and Aggies project for March Madness
“In Austin, our parks are beloved green spaces that are accessible to everybody,” Duchen said. “So it’s entirely fitting that this park that’s closer to Don Baylor’s family home should honor his contributions to our community.”
ANAHEIM, CA - OCTOBER 10: Former Angel Don Baylor throws out the first pitch before the start of Game Five of the American League Division Series between the New York Yankees and the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim on October 10, 2005 at Angel Stadium in Anaheim, California. The Angels defeated the Yankees 5-3. (Photo by Lisa Blumenfeld/Getty Images) (Austin American-Statesman)
The man MLB great Frank Robinson nicknamed “Groove” was among the most consistent players of his generation. But even with the national acclaim he earned from a 19-year playing career, three appearances in the World Series (he won with the Twins in 1987 after a late-season trade) and nine seasons as a manager — he was one of the first Black men to manage in the bigs and won NL Manager of the Year with the 1995 Colorado Rockies — acclaim didn’t always come in his home town.
While football greats Drew Brees and Dick "Night" Train Lane and golf’s Crenshaw have gotten their flowers over the years, Baylor’s accomplishments have been largely overlooked in his hometown.
“There are lot of baseball fans who live in Austin who don’t know that he’s from Austin,” Don. Jr. said. “I hope this will begin to change that perception and turn this around.”
Plus, he went through some tough times in the 512 before he left here to reach his baseball potential. Smith recalled multiple stories Baylor told her during the writing of the book about the racism he endured and the obstacles he encountered while pursuing his dream. And it all started as a kid who was relegated to certain parts of the town.
“He was a man of excellence,” Smith said. “He loved his hometown though there were times when his hometown didn’t love him back.”
Through it all, he persevered. He also gave his idols respect, telling me in a 2015 conversation that players like Jackie Robinson and Hank Aaron provided a nice blueprint for his generation. Smith attended his funeral at Greater Mount Zion Baptist Church and upon returning to the East Coast, where she spent her entire journalism career covering MLB, took the program to his longtime friend and fellow 1971 MLB rookie Dusty Baker, who was managing the Washington Nationals.
"We just sat there and cried together," she said. "They were brothers. Dusty and Donny loved each other."
His impact cannot be measured in a few words or even a nice tribute like the one we witnessed Sunday but it’s in how he treated people, generously gave him time and money to charities and represented our city with such grace and elegance.
That’s his real legacy.
Thank you, Groove. Well earned.
Continue reading...
“Black kids weren’t allowed to play here,” the elder Baylor told his 6-year-old son.
He never failed to bring that up whenever Westenfield was in view.
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SCOTTSDALE, AZ - FEBRUARY 25: Don Baylor coach of the Arizona Diamondbacks looks on during a spring training game against the San Francisco Giants at Scottsdale Stadium on February 25, 2011 in Scottsdale, Arizona. (Photo by Rob Tringali/Getty Images) (Austin American-Statesman)
“He told me about the Jim Crow laws down here in the 1950s,” Don Jr. said. “We talked about segregated water fountains, segregated restrooms and how things were different here.”
You must be registered for see images attach
January 16, 2016 - Hall of Fame Major League baseball player and manager, Don Baylor, a deacon at Sweet Home Missionary Baptist Church talks about growing up in the Clarksville neighborhood, life in segregated Austin, and remembering Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., during the 8th Annual Sweet Home Peace Through Pie Social in Austin, Texas, on Saturday, Jan. 16, 2015. RODOLFO GONZALEZ / AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN (Austin American-Statesman)
The park, which includes a baseball field, playpen and tennis courts, is situated on the west side of town, on the corner of Enfield and Winsted, right off Mopac South. In the Jim Crow South of the 1940s and 50s, Austin’s Black citizens were relegated east of Interstate 35. Segregation was the norm and the races rarely mixed so Westenfield was a no-go for people of color.
MORE CED: Texas tennis great Peyton Stearns breaks through
Old Westenfield is no more. Now, that field bears Baylor's name.
Over 200 supporters and local luminaries gathered Sunday at newly christened Don Baylor Neighborhood Park, including members of his Sweet Home Missionary Baptist Church, his Austin High School baseball coach Frank Seale, Mayor Kirk Watson, Baylor’s longtime schoolmate Ben Crenshaw and Hall of Fame sportswriter Claire Smith, the author of "Don Baylor: Nothing but the Truth: A Baseball Life."
You must be registered for see images attach
Former Major League Baseball star and Austin native Don Baylor passed away Aug. 7, 2017. Baylor, shown here from 1978, won MLB’s American League MVP honors in 1979 and was a two-sport star at Austin High School. (Lon Cooper/American Statesman file 1978) (Austin American-Statesman)
The late Don Baylor grew up in the Clarksville neighborhood on as a multisport star at O. Henry Junior High and Austin High, where he was one of the first Black kids to attend those schools.
More Information
Don Baylor wasn't permitted to play at Westenfield Park as a kid. Now the park bears his name. How it all happened.
He made history then. In death, his name will live forever, not only in the annals of Major League Baseball where he carved out an historic career as a player and one of the first Black managers, but in his hometown.
MORE HORNS: SEC Women's Tournament staff predictions
Austin Parks and Recreation funded a beautiful interpretive marker that highlighted the new namesake’s accomplishments and what he meant to this city.
“This dream has come true,” said Baylor’s widow, Becky. “Don and I have traveled many roads and many miles together but today his life has truly come true circle. I’m overwhelmed with gratitude to God for this day and this moment.”
As several kids, including their young grandson Julius — sporting a vintage Angels No. 25 Baylor jersey — played on a baseball field a few feet away, Watson encapsulated the day’s events.
“As fast paced as this city moves, as much as is going on in this city in any given time, when it takes a moment to celebrate our diversity, it celebrates our history and it celebrates us being together in a place like the Don Baylor Neighborhood Park,” he said.
How it all happened
About a year ago, Becky and the family contacted the office of city councilman Marc Duchen to gauge any interest in renaming Westenfield, which is a short drive from the home he shared with Becky until his death in 2017.
The idea was not only about honoring one of Austin’s most overlooked sports legends, but to also bridge the gap between the old Jim Crow South and present day where the city has sought to be more diverse — though there is soooo much work to be done.
The ordinance passed by a unanimous vote.
This was a great gesture to honor someone who has brought immense pride not only to the Black community but also to the city at-large and to MLB over a five-decade stay as a player and manager.
MORE HORNS:Where the Horns and Aggies project for March Madness
“In Austin, our parks are beloved green spaces that are accessible to everybody,” Duchen said. “So it’s entirely fitting that this park that’s closer to Don Baylor’s family home should honor his contributions to our community.”
You must be registered for see images attach
ANAHEIM, CA - OCTOBER 10: Former Angel Don Baylor throws out the first pitch before the start of Game Five of the American League Division Series between the New York Yankees and the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim on October 10, 2005 at Angel Stadium in Anaheim, California. The Angels defeated the Yankees 5-3. (Photo by Lisa Blumenfeld/Getty Images) (Austin American-Statesman)
A legend often overlooked
The man MLB great Frank Robinson nicknamed “Groove” was among the most consistent players of his generation. But even with the national acclaim he earned from a 19-year playing career, three appearances in the World Series (he won with the Twins in 1987 after a late-season trade) and nine seasons as a manager — he was one of the first Black men to manage in the bigs and won NL Manager of the Year with the 1995 Colorado Rockies — acclaim didn’t always come in his home town.
While football greats Drew Brees and Dick "Night" Train Lane and golf’s Crenshaw have gotten their flowers over the years, Baylor’s accomplishments have been largely overlooked in his hometown.
“There are lot of baseball fans who live in Austin who don’t know that he’s from Austin,” Don. Jr. said. “I hope this will begin to change that perception and turn this around.”
Plus, he went through some tough times in the 512 before he left here to reach his baseball potential. Smith recalled multiple stories Baylor told her during the writing of the book about the racism he endured and the obstacles he encountered while pursuing his dream. And it all started as a kid who was relegated to certain parts of the town.
“He was a man of excellence,” Smith said. “He loved his hometown though there were times when his hometown didn’t love him back.”
Through it all, he persevered. He also gave his idols respect, telling me in a 2015 conversation that players like Jackie Robinson and Hank Aaron provided a nice blueprint for his generation. Smith attended his funeral at Greater Mount Zion Baptist Church and upon returning to the East Coast, where she spent her entire journalism career covering MLB, took the program to his longtime friend and fellow 1971 MLB rookie Dusty Baker, who was managing the Washington Nationals.
"We just sat there and cried together," she said. "They were brothers. Dusty and Donny loved each other."
His impact cannot be measured in a few words or even a nice tribute like the one we witnessed Sunday but it’s in how he treated people, generously gave him time and money to charities and represented our city with such grace and elegance.
That’s his real legacy.
Thank you, Groove. Well earned.
Continue reading...
