The George Kirksey Story: Bringing Major League Baseball To Houston

 

(Photo from Amazon)

There is a lot more to baseball than bats and balls. There are those events that happen to make it happen. This is one of those books that leads readers through the usually obscure underworkings in a major city that wants to move up from minor league to major league.

Campbell B. Titchner, then chair of the University of Houston Journalism Department, put together the story in Houston. His story was a terrific and quick read, and having seen plenty of baseball there, and sold tickets, I could identify with it, too. I think the author was there quite often.

Houston had been a successful minor league town with the St. Louis Cardinals' affiliate Buffs. Great stars played there, but it wasn't enough for automatic promotion. Guarantees, financial calculations, and plenty of meetings were necessary. I was still writing sports at that time and found the book very educational. I found the book in one of San Antonio's several used book stores.