Men of the Houston Buffaloes; 1888-1958
In the first of a series of posts on ye old minor league teams, I’d like to examine some of the players associated with The Houston Buffaloes of the Texas League. The Buffaloes were originally founded in 1888 — although they were called the the Babies, the Mud Cats, Red Stockings, and Magnolias, and the Wanderers before settling on the Buffaloes around 1903.
From 1921-1958, the Buffaloes were a farm team for the St. Lous Cardinals, and the very first officially affiliated minor league team at that. [Insert Astros joke here]. The team had quite a few notable players in their ranks at one time or another, having played a part in the development of much of the Gashouse Gang. But those guys we’re all familiar with by now, so I’m more interested in the lesser known names on the Buff’s roster:
Fletcher Manson “Sled” Allen
Player (catcher) / Manager in 1911. Continued to play for, but not manage, the Buffaloes from 1912-1916.
Allen only played in 14 major league games in his career, and in those games his average was .130. His minor league statistics weren’t much better. But after his major league career, he became a sports and music promoter who held interracial dancing events, and held shows for Little Richard, and Hank Williams. At age 60 (!) he became the father of Terry Allen. Terry became a “renegade” country music singer who collaborated with David Byrne and who is viewed as a forefather to “alt-country”, and is also a conceptual artist whose work is featured in many internationally renowned museums. There’s gotta be something to be said for a dad who produces such a talented renaissance man, so congratulations to Sled. Sled.
Prentice Almont “Pidge” Browne
Buffaloes First Baseman, 1956–1957.
Pidge (a term of endearment I have always longed to be called) represented H-town in three different levels: he played for the Buffaloes of the Texas League, the Buffs of the American Association, and for the 1962 Colt .45s. I say we revive him for the 2012 Houston Astros season, which is sure to be a level of baseball heretofore unknown to man.
Jay Justin “Nig” Clarke
Catcher with the Buffaloes in 1915.
There is a story that says that on June 15, 1902, Nig was playing for the Corsicana Oilers in the Texas League (against the Texarkana Casketmakers!) and that he went 8/8, with each hit being a home run. Enhancing the story’s validity somewhat is Nig’s apparent admittance that the field was actually the size of a girl’s softball field (he estimated that it was 210 feet to right). Un-hancing (!) the story is that the box score claimed that Corsicana won the game 51–3. But Clarke says it happened and I’m inclined to believe him, since it wasn’t a major league contest and I have no idea what kind of team the Casketmakers were in 1902. Also, because it’s the better story. Clarke said he made $185 in hat tips that game, which is pretty good money today and almost unimaginably awesome in 1902. In less happy news, the nickname was indeed derived from Jay’s complexion — it was a common nickname for darker-skinned players before integration. Boo-urns.
Henry Harold “Cotton” Pippen
Buffaloes Pitcher, 1936-1938
Born in Cisco, TX and nicknamed Cotton because of his aryanness, Henry had a career major league FIP of 5.16. But he struck out Ted Williams in the PCL, and after he retired he became an Oakland area bartender at a “number of establishments.” Sounds like an okay life to me.
Cecil Lysander Coombs
1919, Outfielder
Dude played for the following teams: Pekin Celestials, Decatur Commodores, Bloomingtom Bloomers, Danville Speakers, Peoria Distillers, Adrian Champs, Bay City Beavers, Chicago White Sox, Birmingham Barons, Mobile Bears, Little Rock Travelers, Toldeo Iron Men, Houston Buffaloes, Galveston Pirates, Dallas Submarines, Fort Worth Panthers, Wichita Falls Spudders. He managed the: Marshall Indians, Alexandria Aces, Fort Worth Cats, and Hot Springs Panthers. !!!!!!!!!!!!
Ulysses Simpson Grant “Lil” Stoner
Pitched for Houston, 1932
An accredited judge of the American Iris Society and a fan of the opera. <- True.
1
As a lifelong resident of central Illinois, I am flabbergasted that Pekin, Decatur, and Bloomington once had minor league teams.
However, having seen Deadwood and lived here, I can relate that the Pekin Celestials were so named because it was once a racial epithet for Asian-Americans. The Pekin High School nickname was, until sometime in the early 80s, the Chinks.
Pekin is not a nice place. Unless you like meth and racism.
Lil Stoner & His Irises
Hahahaha! …
pause
HAHAHAHA!!!!
The Cubs just brought back Bobby Scales. I rest my case.
I love how, based on the first two photos, the Buffaloes appear to have a 12 man roster. You don’t often see teams use a one man bullpen anymore.
I can’t decide which team name I like more, the Wichita Falls Spudders or the Dallas Submarines.
More please! Teams now just can’t compete with the old names. Maybe there can be a post with the best team names by state or league or time period? That would be most entertaining I do believe.
I’ve been re-watching Ken Burns Baseball today, and one of the old names mentioned was the “Pretzel Benders.”
This post destroys Ken Burns.
terrific.
I approve of this post.
As to the one man pen: the starters went nine, always, back then you just gutted it out, even if the score was 51-3.
I knew I recognized that picture of Lil Stoner, I wrote it up at my work. Way to be, internet.
And suddenly I have a new favorite series on NotGraphs. There are just so many great stories in the history of baseball. I’ve been reading a bunch lately on the San Francisco Seals. Really fun team, they routinely played over 200 games a season! Some good tales from those squads.
Their long-time second baseman Frank Mohler threw left-handed.
There’s a story about how an SF Seals scout signed future MLB Hall of Famer Paul Waner on a lark. He apparently went on a ten day drinking binge while on the road. With nothing to show, a train conductor in the Midwest recommended some kid his daughter was dating to the scout. That kid was Waner. The scout used the name, sent Waner contract having never seen him play, and wound up with a guy would hit .400 for the Seals three years later.
And of course, the streak before the steak. DiMaggio hitting safely in 61 straight minor league games, foreshadowing the 56 game run in the majors.
The South Atlantic League of 1911 featured some classic team names:
Albany Babies
Augusta Tourists/Augusta Orphans (Apparently the team changed names mid-season before folding)
Columbia Commies, later the Columbia Comers
http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/league.cgi?id=b3ca4387
So you could say they were the Columbia Late Comers?
…
I’ll see myself out.