LUBBOCK, Texas (KCBD) – Lubbock’s century of baseball history includes national titles, trips to the College World Series for both men and women, and even a 2007 trip to Williamsport, Penn for the Little League World Series.
It all began when Lubbock first fielded an organized team in 1909. Thirteen years later, the baseball world was introduced to the Lubbock Hubbers, who would win the West Texas League in its first year- and add on an additional league title two years later. On Saturday afternoon, the club was honored with a historical marker unveiled at North University and Baylor Avenue- right outside Cavazos Middle School, which is where their original ballpark once stood.
“The history of Lubbock baseball and the history of baseball in general, the history of Lubbock is all tied together with baseball,” said Lubbock County Judge Curtis Parrish, “So, to be able to honor that with a plaque and memorial here at the location of the old Hubbers Field, and to be able to honor that today is well worth it.”
While minor league teams are a vital part of modern-day baseball, Lubbock hosted one of the very first semi-pro teams which paved the way for many athletes to play on a grander stage.
“There were some that, especially kind of in the Black Hubbers, eventually played some professional baseball at the next higher level other than semi-pro ball. But there were some players that the Hubbers was kind of their stepping stone to national baseball prominence. But for the most part, this was a community team. And for the most part, it was the community that got together, supported their community team, and just enjoyed baseball.”
Lubbock Black Hubbers honored with a historical marker unveiling Saturday morning.(Lubbock County Historical Commission)
The Black Hubbers were introduced in 1928 and would have a successful tenure until 1956 when the team was disbanded. There was also a Hispanic team known as the Aguilas, which means Eagles. While all three ethnicities at that time were forced to play in different leagues, all three organizations would practice together.
“Well, this was during a time of segregation, kind of a dark time, but if you heard the stories of today, even though the teams were segregated, the fans and the families were not, and so while they had separate leagues that they played in, they would sometimes play games together, and they did not mind,” Parrish said. “And, it really showed that Lubbock, kind of the genesis of this interrogation, just the genesis of races coming together for a common goal of baseball.”
Many players elected to stay in town once they hung up the cleats for the very last time. Former Hubber , the late E.C. Leslie was recognized Saturday with his son Tim as one of the speakers. After E.C. retired from playing, he would soon become a teacher and coach at Lubbock High. He eventually became the superintendent for Lubbock ISD. Judge Parrish says he and Leslie would become friends, and often learn more about the storied ball club.
“E.C. would tell stories about playing semi-pro ball and all piling up in old yellow dog buses and driving all over the place, sometimes sleeping on the buses. If they got lucky, they could sleep in a hotel room with four to six to a room,” he said, “And it was just a time of barnstorming. It was a time of just moving from town to town to town, picking up baseball games wherever you could find them.”
Years before becoming County Judge, Parrish came to Lubbock to play baseball for Lubbock Christian, where he would be a part of the 1983 national championship team coached by Larry Hays. Parris says the Hub City’s baseball legacy began there on that field at the north side of town.
“Larry Hayes, Bobby Moegle, these great, great men who coached baseball for Lubbock Christian, for Texas Tech, for Monterey, (are impacted by) the great legacy that these that these great (Lubbock Hubber) baseball players and coaches left behind for Lubbock”.
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