Vintage Base Ball coming to Katy

September 3, 2010

The Katy Business Association recently announced the formation of a Vintage Base Ball task force, which has been assigned the responsibility to plan, promote and host a semiannual Vintage Base Ball extravaganza in Katy City Park on October 30.

While the committee is busy hashing out the details, the event will revolve around a tournament between local and visiting teams from across Texas. "It's a community event," said KBA president Tom Flores, who is also chairing the task force. "The objective is to get people out in the town, having a good time, and remembering what a great city this is." A special emphasis will be placed on bringing visitors in from out of town, accompanying the visiting teams. "We see it as an opportunity to showcase our local businesses," KBA marketing director Ted Hawkes stated. "There are a lot of great little outfits in this town, and I wish everyone realized it." A large vendor participation is expected for the event, and sponsors are lining up to endorse the tournament. "One more reason why Katy is the best place to live: we do things like this!" said Hawkes, emphatically.

Two new Katy teams have recently been formed to compete in this and other events. The Katy Combines and the Katy Rice Birds are expected to enjoy a good season, boasting a deep bench of young players (the median age for Vintage Base Ball players in Texas is 57) and an enthusiastic manager, Dave Flores. "Some of those old guys can really play, and some of them even played in the big leagues" said Flores, who is Tom Flores' brother, "but it's tough to win a running game against guys half your age!"

Regardless of the tournament's outcome, however, participants are really in it to have a good time. Vintage Base Ball uniforms and rules are circa 1860, and the event is expected to have a vintage feel, as well. Expected to kick off the event is an old-fashioned tractor pull and a barbershop quartet.

Details regarding the event will be posted regularly at the KBA's web site.

Degally Reeves