All-Time Team of Native Texans

1B CECIL COOPER: This smooth-fielding first baseman was one of the most consistent hitters of the late 1970s and early ’80s, always among the top batting and fielding leaders. He won the Gold Glove in both 1979 and ’80, made the American League All-Star team five times, and the batting star for the Milwaukee comeback victory over California in the 1982 ALCS. He played with both Boston (1971-76) and the Brewers (’77-’87). For the Brewers he had a string of seven successive .300-plus seasons, finishing second to George Brett in the 1980, batting .352 to Brett’s .390. A native of Brenham, Cooper played in two world series.

2B ROGERS HORNSBY: “The greatest right-handed hitter of all-time” is Hornsby’s calling card. A native of Winters, he grew up on Fort Worth’s historic North Side where boyhood pals remembered him best for a total dedication to baseball. He was to compile a .358 all-time average, second only to Ty Cobb’s .367, and blast 301 home runs. His .424 average for 1924 is the highest for this century. The Rajah won seven National League batting championships. In 1926 he led the Cardinals to the World Series title in his first full year as a major league manager. He subsequently was to manage the Braves, Cubs, Browns and Reds, but never again finished first. Hornsby didn’t smoke or drink (not even coffee) but played the horses and frequently disagreed with bosses. To say the least, he was his own man. Elected to Hall of Fame in 1942.

3B PINKY HIGGINS: One of the many great ones signed off the campus of the University of Texas, Higgins for 12 years was a hard hitting, steady fielding third baseman for the Athletics, Tigers, and Red Sox. For Detroit in 1938, he delivered 12 consecutive hits which remains a record now jointly held with Walt Dropo. In the fourth game of the 1940 World Series with the Tigers, he handled a record ten chances without an error. The three-time American League All-Star piloted the Red Sox from 1955-62, and in his first year was named AL Manager of the Year by The Sporting News. His all-time batting average was .292. Born at Red Oak; died in Dallas.

SS ERNIE BANKS: Known as “Mr. Cub” and among the most popular ever to play in Chicago. Banks went directly to the Cubs from the legendary Kansas City Monarchs. Deceptively strong, Ernie belted 512 home runs in 2,528 games, all for the Cubs. In 1955, his 44 homers is an all-time record for shortstops and in 1958-59 won back-to-back MVP awards. Because injuries to his legs limited fielding range, Banks switched to first base in 1962. An All-Star five times, he earned the honor at both shortstop and first base. The Dallas native made the Hall of Fame in 1972.

RF ROSS YOUNGS: Remembered as the “tragic star,” Youngs played only eight full seasons with the New York Giants. He was struck down by Brights Disease and died at the age of 30 at a time when he should have been at the peak of one of baseball’s greatest careers. John McGraw, the stormy petrel of the NL, for 30 years, hung two portraits behind his desk at the Polo Grounds, Christy Mathewson and Ross Youngs, calling Youngs “my greatest outfielder.” Possessed of an incomparable throwing arm and tremendous range in the outfield, Youngs starred on four pennant winners from 1921-24. His all-time batting average was .322. He died at San Antonio during the 1927 pennant race. A native of Shiner, Youngs was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1972.

CF TRIS SPEAKER: The seventh player elected to the Hall of Fame (1937), Speaker’s plaque is inscribed “greatest center fielder of his day.” A peerless defensive player, his offensive stats are surpassed by few — all-time average of .344 and most career doubles with 793. Speaker, born at Hubbard, left the Polytechnic College (now Texas Wesleyan) campus in 1905 to join Cleburne of the North Texas League. Shortly after becoming a Red Sox, Speaker was the “king” of one of the game’s greatest outfields: Hooper, Speaker, and Lewis. Most valuable AL player in 1912, the swift Texan starred in a World Series victory over the Giants. Traded to Cleveland in 1916, Speaker enjoyed his most productive years, averaging .354 for 11 seasons and leading the Indians to their first World Series title in 1920, Speaker’s first full season as manager. Winding up his remarkable career with Washington (1927) and the A’s (1928), Spoke in 1950 became the first inductee in the Texas Sports Hall of Fame. He died on the fishing dock near Whitney in 1958. Made Hall of Fame in 1937.

LF SAMMY WEST: West ranked with Speaker and Youngs among the all-time defensive outfielders. Factually, he learned a lot from Speaker. Breaking in with the Senators during the 1927 season, West observed first-hand the little secrets that made Tris Speaker one of the best, if not the best ever, to play the outfield. In his first season as a regular, in 1928, West set an all-time (since broken) American League record with a fielding percentage of .996. West batted over .300 in eight of his 12 seasons as a regular. His career batting average dropped under .300 to .299 during his final season of 1942. He played 42 games for the White Sox. The transplanted West Texan, born at Longview, moved early in life to Rule in Haskell County and had been a resident of Lubbock for more than 50 years at the time of his death. He was a member of three AL All-Star squads, including the first two. He was a late inning replacement for Babe Ruth in the first.

C JERRY GROTE: Described by Nolan Ryan as the “best catcher I ever pitched to.” Grote was a key ingredient on New York Mets teams for a dozen years, backstopping in 15 World Series games. Signed originally by Red Murff for the Houston Astros, Grote got off to a slow start and was purchased by the Mets. Lou Brock called him “the toughest catcher in the league to steal on.” Grote was in two World Series with the Mets and two more with the Dodgers. He wound up his career with Kansas City in 1981. A lifelong resident of San Antonio, the fiery catcher also got into action in the recent league for seniors.

P NOLAN RYAN: If Tris Speaker was adjudged the outstanding Texas athlete of the first half of the 20th century, who but Nolan Ryan will get the accolade for the last half? Discarded by the Angels as “just another .500 pitcher,” “The Express” has improved with age. Two of his record seven no-hitters have been recorded after his 43rd birthday. More than 5,000 career strikeouts and 300-plus victories are his calling card to the Hall of Fame. Ryan has surpassed Roger Staubach and Doak Walker as the most popular athlete in Dallas-Fort Worth history. Born at Refugio and raised in Alvin, Ryan looks and talks like a Texan.

P FRED MARBERRY: One of the first pitchers used almost exclusively in relief, Marberry was nicknamed “Firpo” because of a striking resemblance of the heavyweight boxer who one knocked Jack Dempsey out of the ring. He led the AL five times in saves, won 53 games in relief and 94 as a starter. Firpo participated in three World Series during a 14-year career with the Senators, Tigers, and Giants. He finished his career pitching for and managing Dallas in the Texas League. Born at Streetman, Marberry lived out his final years at Mexia. During his heyday, he boasted one of the premier fastballs.

P PETE DONOHUE: Donohue left the TCU campus in 1921 for a spectacular early career with the Cincinnati Reds. Before he had reached his 26th birthday, Pete had totaled 103 victories, but mound over-indulgence probably cost the big Texan a niche in Cooperstown. Working out of turn repeatedly during the torrid 1926 pennant race with the Cardinals, Donohue injured his arm and was never the same after an unfortunate late-season experience. Pete is credited with perfecting the changeup. He led the NL once each in wins, starts, and complete games, and twice in innings. Donohue remained in the majors until 1932 and was to 31 games in his last six seasons. A good hitting pitcher, he was the first National Leaguer to bat over .300 and win 20 games. Born at Athens in East Texas, Donohue, like Hornsby, grew up on Fort Worth’s North Side.

MGR. PAUL RICHARDS: Although Richards never finished higher than second, he was considered one of the game’s most brilliant and innovative strategists, particularly skilled at teaching the techniques of pitching. A reserve catcher at Brooklyn and the Giants in his early playing career, Richards credited Bill Terry with giving him the background to become a successful manager. He led the White Sox and Orioles in the AL, and had been a highly successful minor league skipper at Atlanta, Buffalo, and Seattle. In 1945, he resurfaced as first-string catcher for the World Series-winning Tigers, and was credited with perfecting Hal Newhouser as a pitcher. Paul’s last position in baseball was in the front office of the Texas Rangers. He is buried in the city of his birth, Waxahachie.

UT-IF JOE MORGAN: Only Babe Ruth and Ted Williams drew more walks than little Joe, who also was a speedy second baseman with power. He won consecutive MVP crowns in 1975-76 as the mainspring of the Big Red Machine. Only a Hornsby, the “greatest right handed hitter of all-time,” could keep Morgan from making it as the all-star second baseman.

UT-OF BIBB FALK: He was the first of a string of Southwest Conference stars to go directly to the majors from a college campus, leaving the University of Texas in 1920 to join the Chicago White Sox. Before his first season had ended, seven of his teammates had been implicated in the worst scandal in baseball history. He replaced one of the culprits, Joe Jackson, in left field. Over 12 major league seasons, Falk compiled a .314 average. Afterward he became one of the most respected of big-time college coaches, leading the Longhorns to two national titles. His 468-176 record also earned for Texas 20 Southwest Conference championships. Disch-Falk Field in Austin is his monument.

THE HONOR ROLL

• 1B NORM CASH: AL batting champion for the Tigers in 1961. Played in two World Series and four All-Star Games.
• 1B EDDIE ROBINSON: On seven AL clubs including champion Indians of 1948 and the 1955 Yankees. Made All-Star Game four times.
• SS ROY MCMILLAN: One of top defensive shortstops of all time. Twice a Gold Glover and twice NL All-Star.
• OF PETE RUNNELS: Led AL in hitting 1960-62 and three times an All-Star.
• OF JOE MOORE: Perhaps the greatest left fielder in history of New York Giants. Three World Series.
• OF CURT FLOOD: All-Star three times, Gold Glover twice. Played in three World Series for Cardinals.
• C FRANK SNYDER: First-string catcher for successive New York Giant pennant winners, 1921-24. Led NL catchers in fielding three times.
• C GUS MANCUSO: Another star Giant receiver. In five World Series and three All-Star Games. Also had fine years with Cardinals.
• P BURT HOOTON: Winner of 151 games for Cubs, Dodgers, and Rangers. Pitched in three World Series and on 1981 NL All-Star squad.
• MGR. CITO GASTON: First African-American manager in postseason play and winner of back-to-back World Series titles in 1992 and ’93.