Foreword: Time for Expansion Baseball

JULY 2, 2018 — While I was somewhat oblivious to it at the time, my baseball career began to change in the summer of 1960. I was in my third year working as an administrative assistant for the Cincinnati Reds, in what was then a three-person farm department.

My contact with Gabe Paul was somewhat limited. The Reds’ general manager and the person who had listened to my pleas had eventually given me an opportunity to realize my dream of working in baseball. Even though the Reds’ front office, like many teams in those days, consisted of only a dozen or so employees, most of my dealings with Mr. Paul consisted of running down the hall to provide him with the latest scouting reports on players in whom he was interested.

This particular day though when I answered a summons from Miss [Frances] Levy to see Mr. Paul, I wasn’t asked to bring any scouting reports. There were two gentlemen in his office whom Gabe introduced as Craig Cullinan and George Kirksey. Gabe explained that they were from Houston and had a franchise in the newly created Continental League which was seeking major-league status. I was asked to acquaint them with the operation of our eight-team farm system and to answer any questions they might have about scouting and player development. I did as asked but then turned my attention back to the daily tasks, giving little thought to my meeting with the Houston delegation.

 

 

Soon thereafter though, there was another surprising development that piqued my curiosity. It was July and the Reds were on the road. I was enjoying an evening at home with my wife, Jonnie, and our 2-year-old daughter, Valerie, when the phone rang. It was Mr. Paul. He was in Chicago for a National League meeting. This was the first time he had ever called me at home. There was really little substance to the call. When finished, I told Jonnie, “That was strange. I don’t know why he called.” As we subsequently learned, that was the day the National League owners voted to expand. I suspect it is also the day that Gabe emotionally considered going to Houston if it got an expansion franchise. Subconsciously perhaps, he was lining up those he might be able to take with him to help launch the expansion franchise. But, expansion was an exclusive issue for owners, or their representatives. I was more concerned with how Tony Perez and Pete Rose were doing in their rookie seasons at Geneva in the NYP and Johnny Vander Meer’s need for another pitcher at Topeka.

The baseball season is long and the days are full. Time away from the daily grind is something most welcome. The baseball calendar was far different in my early years in the game prior to free agency. The one long break in the schedule was between the filing of reserve lists on October 16 and the winter meetings which usually began right after Thanksgiving. With this in mind, Jonnie and I began to plan a vacation trip to Durham, North Carolina where her mother and my parents both lived. Phil Seghi was the farm director for the Reds and my boss. I told Phil of our plans a couple weeks in advance. All was fine with Phil until one day he returned from his customary lunch with Gabe. Phil went on to say he had mentioned our vacation plans to Gabe, who seemed to take objection to my going at that time. I was somewhat chagrined by Mr. Paul’s reaction and indicated such to Phil. We were anxious for the grandparents to see Valerie and proceeded with our plans with what I assume was the reluctant approval of Phil and Gabe.

We drove from Cincinnati to Durham in my 1955 Chevy which did not have a radio. Upon arrival my mother rushed out to greet us and quickly related that Gabe, Phil, and others in the Reds office had called. Now I understand why Gabe was reluctant for us to go on vacation. The day we arrived in Durham, October 25, 1960, was the day Gabe stunned many by announcing he was leaving the Reds after some 25 years of service, the last nine as general manager. He was appointed general manager of the new Houston franchise in the first expansion of the major leagues since the formation of the American League in 1901.

The phone kept ringing as callers checked to see if we had arrived. Phil was the first one I spoke to, and he said Gabe wanted me to go to Houston with him and would be calling back shortly. I realized what an opportunity this might be and quickly accepted Gabe’s offer to serve as his assistant and help develop the new organization. Jonnie, Valerie, and I had a very brief visit in Durham and turned the Chevy around the next day to head back to Cincinnati, pack up there and embark on our new journey in Texas.

And what a ride it turned out to be!

We arrived in Houston and went to work for the new major-league team on November 1, 1960. We found Houston to be a very friendly and lively environment. It had the aura of the southwest – oil, cattle, cowboy boots, and 10-gallon hats. We have continued to make our home ever since with the exception of an interesting 21-month tour of duty in 1974-75 with George Steinbrenner’s New York Yankees where we were reunited with Gabe Paul. Today Houston has become more cosmopolitan and developed into the fourth-largest city in the country while maintaining energy and spirit that is undaunted.

I am so thankful that I had the opportunity to be part of a new major-league franchise. It was an exciting and unique experience to help form the Colt .45s and to see the team develop. Upon moving into the Astrodome and being renamed the Astros in 1965, we continued to serve the club in many capacities over the years – a total of 35 years over three different time periods. There were many bumps in the road, but the memories of the wins, on and off the field, far outweigh the losses. Many of those great moments in the club’s history are recounted in this book by Bill Nowlin and Maxwell Kates.