Spring Training Ballparks at Marlin, Texas: Early Twentieth Century Major League Baseball in a Central Texas Town

The Arlington Hotel, a spring training hotspot for two decades. (Author’s collection)

 

From 1900 to 1941 as many as seven major league teams held spring training in Texas. San Antonio was the preferred Texas locale. Marlin, in central Texas near Waco, was second. The Alamo City hosted for 29 seasons; Marlin for 16.1

For nearly 60 years, beginning in the 1890s, Marlin was a popular resort, known for its hot mineral baths. The natural waters were discovered accidentally in 1892 when sinking a new well for drinking water produced a gusher of 147-degree water containing large amounts of sodium, sulfur, magnesium, iron, and other minerals.2

Marlin already had two hospitals and was a regional medical center. The Marlin Sanitarium bathhouse was built in 1896. It and others built in that era attracted thousands of the afflicted, as well as health vacationers. To support these visitors, several first-class hotels were built, including the Arlington and the Falls (the eighth hotel in Conrad Hilton’s chain).

Many patrons came by rail. The Houston and Texas Central Railway (H&TC) had completed its line through Marlin in 1872. A spur of the International-Great Northern (I&GN) came into town in 1900, followed by the Missouri Pacific in 1902.3

The same factors that made Marlin welcoming and accessible to tourists made it attractive to major league baseball clubs. Beginning in 1904, five different major league teams spent all or part of the pre-season in Marlin.

EARLY VISITORS: 1903 TO 1907

In February 1903, Ted Sullivan, representing Charles Comiskey, contacted Marlin about training there in March. Marlin responded favorably and committed to providing suitable grounds for the Chicagos.4 But the window of opportunity was too narrow, as Comiskey wrote the following week that his team could not come in 1903. He did leave the door open for a Marlin visit the following year.

Sullivan returned in December 1903 to meet with locals at the Arlington Hotel, and subsequently the Sox arrived in Marlin on March 7, 1904. With the team were four Chicago newspapermen. The local Marlin Democrat reporter wrote that “a million people will… learn Marlin’s location on the map.”5 The team trained at the “ballpark at the old fairgrounds.”

EAST SIDE FIELDS AT THE FAIRGROUNDS

The “Fair Ground” was east of downtown. The Falls County Fair was held there and included harness racing. The race track had grandstands. The high school used the grounds for track meets. This ball field was called the “east side” field, the “old fairgrounds” field, or the “Comiskey” field, and was used exclusively by visiting teams until 1911.

In December 1904 Comiskey stated the club would not return to Texas, opting for New Orleans in 1905.6 He wrote that he preferred to come back, but could not work out the scheduling with “.the St. Louis men, who had pre-empted training places in Texas.” and wanted a commitment that his club would spend the entire spring in Texas.7

In early February 1905, Arlington hotel management received a telegram from Cardinals manager Charles “Kid” Nichols requesting arrangements to train in Marlin. They responded that the same rates and grounds that Comiskey had used would be available to the St. Louis Nationals. The Cardinals committed the following week to train in Marlin for three weeks. Marlin also received a letter from the Browns expressing interest in training there.8 This fell through, as the Browns trained in Dallas in 1905.

The Redbirds did not return in 1906, but the Cincinnati Reds arrived March 6. The Reds planned to train there for two weeks, spend a few days in San Antonio, and then take an exhibition tour around the state. The following week, Reds business manager F.C. Bancroft said that he loved Marlin as a training site and planned a three-year commitment to train there. The local news reported that the I&GN railroad offered a special price for Marlin fans to travel to Waco to see the Reds play: 75* round trip in coach!10

With growing interest and the potential for multiple teams in Spring 1907, improvements were needed for the East Side Fairgrounds. In January 1907 the local Daily Democrat challenged: “Ball Grounds Must be Fixed Up—Great Opportunity for Publicity of Marlin’s Health Resort.” A second field and enclosed grounds were needed. $200 was being requested from local supporters. The Arlington committed $50. The Reds returned in 1907 and were joined by Connie Mack’s Philadelphia Athletics.11

Mack, along with John Shibe, son of co-owner Ben Shibe, and the Athletics reached Marlin on March 3. They immediately went to work at the east-side grounds.12 The Reds had their entire squad in Marlin by March 11. Upon arrival, Reds management expressed concern to the Arlington that both teams could not be properly accommodated. They were assured of a separate floor at the hotel, separate dining facilities, and the use of a second field at the east-side grounds. As Mack’s men stayed as planned until March 15, things worked out.13 The Reds left Marlin on March 25 for New Orleans. On the way, they stopped in College Station for a game with the Texas A&M squad.14

 

The Giants at the East Side Fairgrounds, prior to their move to their new park. (Author’s collection)

 

THE GIANTS COME TO MARLIN

In September 1907 Arlington management received a letter from Texas League representatives in Dallas asking whether Marlin could give the Giants exclusive accommodations for Spring 1908. The letter stated, “It would be much better for you to have the New York team…owing to the great amount of advertising you would get in the New York papers. McGraw would bring about 30 or 35 people with him, including the best sporting writers in the country.”15

Giants’ groundskeeper John Murphy, head gardener at the Polo Grounds, was already in Marlin working the East Side Fairgrounds fields. Murphy said “…it is lucky they sent me ahead, as the grounds had been given up for steers, pigs, and horses…but the field is now in shape, with the infield grassy and the outfield as smooth as a billiard table.”17

The first group of Giants, mostly “yannigans” trying to make the team, arrived in Marlin on February 19, 1908, led by veteran catcher Roger Bresnahan. With them were sportswriters Sam Crane of the New York Journal & American and Sid Mercer of the New York Globe. Crane also authored stories that ran in the local newspaper. Arriving from Los Angeles on Saturday, February 22, McGraw immediately fell in love with Marlin. Crane, writing in the Marlin Democrat, quoted McGraw as saying, “If we do win the flag this year, much of the credit will go to Marlin!” By March 4, McGraw reported that all 29 players were in Marlin, and that “real practice” would start the next day. “Mac” also noted with satisfaction that several members of the squad were much lighter than the previous spring.18

After a good experience at Marlin, the Giants returned in spring 1909. Arlington management was cabled that majority owner John T. Brush would accompany the club. Brush suffered from locomotor ataxia, a progressive disease of the nervous system, and hoped to improve his health by partaking of the curative waters. After just a few days in Marlin, Brush said he was “…deriving a world of benefit from the Marlin water…I will become a walking advertisement for Marlin.” Likewise, sportswriter Crane, ill upon arriving in Marlin, said he was “100 percent better after my first two baths in the mineral water.”19

The Giants continued to train at the East Side Fair-grounds during 1909 and 1910. However, Brush planned to purchase local land for a future permanent spring training facility.20

 

The Giants walking the railroad tracks, 1913. This is a seldom seen wide-angle view of the team walking to Emerson Park. (Public domain)

 

EMERSON PARK, THE GIANTS’ PERMANENT FACILITY

Before leaving in late March 1910, McGraw “…took a ride to the outskirts of the town and selected the place for the new ball grounds which the people of Marlin are to present to the New York Giants. The site finally chosen will make a fine large field, being over 400 feet square.” This was to become Emerson Park, the Giants’ spring training home for the rest of the decade.21

On March 7, 1911, the site was deeded to the Giants. A ceremony was held preceding a Giants intra-squad game. Postmaster Dunn R. Emerson, a landowner in south Marlin and baseball booster, made the presentation. Mayor F.S. Heffner went to the pitcher’s mound and pitched to Giants catcher Chief Meyers, with McGraw batting.22

The Giants built a large park, complete with grandstands and bleachers, on this property south of the business district. Fred Snodgrass claimed the park was about two miles (actually round trip) from the Arlington. Twice daily the Giants walked south to the ballpark along nearby railroad tracks.

During January 1912, groundskeeper Murphy warned McGraw of a meningitis outbreak in Texas, reporting cases statewide at 1300, with 518 deaths. After discussion with local health officials, McGraw was convinced that the danger was minimal.23 Christy Mathewson was shortly in St. Louis, on February 28, in charge of 15 Giants players traveling by rail to Marlin. McGraw opened spring workouts on March 1.24

Early 1913 found groundskeeper Murphy back in Marlin. Livestock had grazed on the outfield grass and he again worked to make the field level. Murphy also advised that the Arlington was under new management.25 That spring was rainy with up to three inches falling daily. The Giants resorted to other exercises, including running, handball, and throwing medicine balls.

Also early in 1913, Olympic hero and Native American Jim Thorpe negotiated with McGraw to play for the Giants. Sealing the deal “by long distance telephone,” Mac ordered Thorpe to Marlin. He arrived shortly and impressed with his batting power. One clout landed “beyond the tennis courts in far left field.”26 McGraw used Thorpe at first base and in the outfield”27 Thorpe played parts of six seasons with the Giants.

In a unique Fall appearance, the Giants played the White Sox on November 3, 1913, at Emerson Park, part of an exhibition swing prior to the teams’ World Tour. Marlin fans lobbied McGraw to put Mathewson in the pitcher’s box, but Matty was ill. Jeff Tesreau pitched the “home team” to an 11-1 thrashing of Comiskey’s men. The teams went on to Los Angeles, then sailed for Japan, India, Egypt, France, and England. Fortunately for the travelers, the Great War had not yet started. They sailed from England back to New York aboard the Lusitania—some 15 months before the ship would be sunk by a German U-boat.29

Baseball gossip in early 1914 concerned “raids” by the Federal League. The Feds claimed 175 players from major league rosters. Rumors swirled that Mathewson, Tesreau, and Snodgrass might jump. Once McGraw returned from the World Tour and was able to talk to his men (several of whom did not travel overseas) he was generally able to retain their services by inking multiyear contracts.30

New groundskeeper Henry Fabian made his first visit to Marlin in early 1914. John Murphy had passed away in September and Fabian was in his first year as the Polo Grounds head gardener. Fabian reported that Emerson Park’s pitching rubber was twelve inches too far from home plate!31 The pitchers were grateful for this discovery. In December 1914, the Marlin ballpark was deeded to the Giants.32 The property was controlled by the Giants organization until the 1970s.33

The local newspaper was now affiliated with the Associated Press, so World War reports dominated the news. But the Giants continued to be big local news. The Giants’ party numbered 62 on the Arlington register by late February 1915.34 Training was often interrupted during Spring 1915 due to cold weather. As a result, the Giants sent their “colts” on a 17-day barnstorming tour through Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Tennessee, and Virginia, finally arriving at the Polo Grounds.35

Ted Sullivan returned to Marlin in early 1916. He was the featured speaker at the Orpheum Theater for “World Tour of the Giants and White Sox,” a lecture and film about the recent global tour.36 Deciding not to retire, Mathewson signed for another year and led the first contingent of Giants headed for Marlin. McGraw arrived from Havana with Crane, Mercer, and a “moving picture crew.”37

The highlight of Spring 1916 was an exhibition game with the Tigers. Detroit trained in nearby Waxahachie and visited Marlin to close out training. Several Tigers, including manager and McGraw buddy Hughie Jennings, joined the Giants for their Farewell Ball held at the Arlington. The next day, Friday March 24, the Giants defeated the Tigers, 4-1. Over 2,000 fans from throughout Central Texas watched the game at Emerson Park.38

With the nation nearing war in early 1917, the Giants returned for their tenth spring in Marlin. Groundskeeper Fabian arrived early after visiting his son at Texas A&M. Improvements were underway at Emerson Park, including construction of batting cages, more grandstand seating, and piping of water to the field. The Marlin Commercial Club was funding some of this work, as Port Arthur and Corpus Christi attempted to lure McGraw to the Texas Gulf Coast.39

RIMES PARK

Needing more pitching for 1917, McGraw had nineteen hurlers in camp. To provide space for everyone, plus accommodate exhibition games, improvements were made to a semi-abandoned ballfield called Rimes Park.

With America’s full involvement in the Great War, questions arose about the status of professional baseball for 1918. Traveling to New York in January, Marlin’s Dr. N.D. Buie visited McGraw and Giants secretary John Foster. Dr. Buie was assured the Giants would return to Marlin, although wartime considerations might dictate a later arrival and shorter stay.40

Consequently, the Giants arrived in Marlin on March 11, 1918. As in 1917, both Emerson and Rimes Parks were needed. Emerson was used for batting, fielding, and general workouts by the entire team, while Rimes was used by the pitchers and for exhibition games. A highlight of that Spring was a game with the Army Air Service aviators from Waco’s Rich Field. After defeating the airmen 14-11 at Rimes, McGraw was flown back to Waco for dinner with the commanding officers.41

 

(Monte Cely)

 

SPRING TRAINING MOVES AWAY

Spring training and the regular season were curtailed in 1919. “Giants not Coming Here” lamented the Marlin Democrat on February 3, 1919. The Marlin Commercial Club had received a letter from Foster that expressed the club’s utmost regret that they would not return to Marlin that year. The 1919 major-league season was limited to 140 games, with spring training prohibited until March 22. Those restrictions, plus the lack of training opponents in Texas, forced the Giants to seek other arrangements.42

The Giants spent the spring of 1919 at the University of Florida campus. Although Foster’s letter had said the Giants would only skip one year in Marlin, when they returned to Texas in 1920 it was to San Antonio. In December 1919 The New York Times reported, “For many years the Giants had a training camp at Marlin…McGraw has chosen San Antonio because it affords better hotel facilities and a better ballpark…”43

A contingent of Giants players returned briefly to Marlin in late February 1923. Pitchers and catchers reported early in the care of coaches Hughie Jennings and “Cozy” Dolan. The Kiwanis Club held a luncheon in the team’s honor, and New York writer Crane waxed nostalgic about past days in Marlin. After two weeks, they joined the rest of the team in San Antonio. As the Giants were leaving the Arlington, a group of White Sox and manager Kid Gleason arrived in the hotel’s lobby. The Chicago group planned to spend a week in Marlin and then travel to Seguin.44

The Giants batterymates left Marlin, this time for good, on March 2, 1923.45 The Chicago group left on March 8. This marked the end of major league spring training in Marlin. Improved transportation and civic investments were drawing more teams to Florida. By 1941, only the St. Louis Browns and Boston Braves trained in Texas, spending their last spring at San Antonio.46

Today, nothing remains of Marlin’s three early twentieth-century ballfields. The Emerson Park site was converted into a housing project, and the Fair-grounds and Rimes locations were redeveloped for other uses. However those railroad tracks still exist, and a visiting baseball fan can easily envision Giants players of the past century walking to spring training in Marlin, Texas.

MONTE CELY is a member of the Society for American Baseball Research, and has previously written articles about baseball’s Cy Young Award, as well as co-authored a research study on SABR’s baseball reminiscence programs. He grew up playing baseball in Staunton, Illinois, a town about the size of Marlin, Texas. He is a fan of the St. Louis Cardinals, having attended his first game with his Dad in 1959 (against the Giants!) Monte and his wife Linda reside in Round Rock, Texas, about 90 miles south-west of Marlin.

 

Acknowledgments

Many thanks to librarians Dale Kling and Gail Woodward at the Pauline & Jane Chilton Memorial Public Library in Marlin, Texas. Thanks also to librarians Alisha Bell and Hannah Kubacak at the Waco-McLennan County Library Genealogy Services department. All these librarians provided great assistance in locating and accessing primary source materials. Thanks to Mark Pelzel at the Marlin Democrat newspaper office for his advice as to sources. Finally, thanks to my wife Linda for her many hours in helping locate online resources, viewing microfilm, and reviewing drafts of this paper.

 

Notes

1. Frank Jackson, “Crossing Red River—Spring Training in Texas,” The National Pastime #26 (SABR, 2006): 85-91; A summation of the author’s findings from Daily Democrat (Marlin, Texas) issues (1903-23) and from The New York Times issues (1907-23).

2. Gerald McLeod, “Day Trips—Marlin,” Austin Chronicle, February 18, 2005, www.austinchronicle.com, accessed September 3, 2023.

3. “About Marlin, Texas,” www.marlintx.net, accessed September 4, 2023.

4. “Want to Come to Marlin—Chicago League Team Wants to Train Here,” Daily Democrat (Marlin, Texas), February 9, 1903: 1.

5. “They Like Marlin Weather—A Fine Lot of Fellows are Comiskey’s Men,” Daily Democrat (Marlin, Texas), March 8, 1904: 1.

6. Chicago Tribune, December 31, 1904, online at www.pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune, accessed February 3, 2008.

7. “White Sox Not to Visit Marlin,” Daily Democrat (Marlin, Texas), January 5, 1905: 1.

8. Daily Democrat (Marlin, Texas), February 13, 1905: 1.

9. “The Cardinals Arrive—Reach Marlin in Special Car, Twenty-seven Strong—Manager Nichols Sees Grounds and Likes Them,” Daily Democrat (Marlin, Texas), March 6, 1905: 1.

10. “Bancroft in Love with Marlin—Best Training Ground He Ever Saw— Three-year Contract,” Daily Democrat (Marlin, Texas), March 16, 1906: 1.

11. “Ball Grounds Must Be Fixed Up!,” Daily Democrat (Marlin, Texas), January 5, 1907: 1.

12. “Athletics Are Here—Famous Quaker City Team in Training,” Daily Democrat (Marlin, Texas), March 4, 1907:1.

13. “Connie Mack Says This Town Best Place On Map—Ganzel Is Better Pleased and Reds Will Stay,” Daily Democrat (Marlin, Texas), March 6, 1907: 1.

14. “Reds Bid Good Bye to Marlin—Leave for New Orleans with Stop at A&M,” Daily Democrat (Marlin, Texas), March 25, 1907: 1.

15. “New York Ball Team May Come—Dallas Manager Says They Can Be Secured for Marlin,” Daily Democrat (Marlin, Texas), September 26, 1907: 1.

16. “Giants Plan for Spring Training—New York Nationals to Thaw Out Next March at Marlin Springs, Texas,” The New York Times, December 22, 1907: 1S.

17. Peter Morris, Level Playing Fields: How the Groundskeeping Murphy Brothers Shaped Baseball (University of Nebraska Press, 2007): 102.

18. “McGraw’s Team Complete—More Players Report to Marlin Springs— Regulars Win Game,” The New York Times, March 4, 1908: 3S.

19. “Giants Talk for Marlin,” Daily Democrat (Marlin, Texas), February 26, 1909: 1.

20. “Eastern Newspapers Reflect Sentiment to Town’s Great Advantage,” Daily Democrat (Marlin, Texas), February 26, 1909: 1.

21. “Eastern Newspapers Reflect Sentiment to Town’s Great Advantage,” Daily Democrat (Marlin, Texas), February 26, 1909: 1.

22. “Marlin Presents Giants with Park,” The New York Times, March 8, 1911: 8.

23. “The Meningitis Record—For State Since January 1,” Daily Democrat (Marlin, Texas), February 14, 1912: 1.

24. “Giants All Report at Marlin Camp—38 Players Round Out Squad— Matty and Rube Look Good,” The New York Times, March 2, 1912: 9.

25. “Sun Will Shine on Giants in South Land,” The New York Times, January 21, 1913: 24.

26. “Wet Day Spoils Practice—Rain Follows One of Best All-around Days Yet,” Daily Democrat (Marlin, Texas), March 12, 1913: 3.

27. “Giants Return Home: All Will Be Seen in Games with Yale at Polo Grounds To-day,” The New York Times, April 9,1913:10.

28. Charles Alexander, John McGraw (Viking, 1988): 167.

29. John McGraw, My Thirty Years in Baseball (Boni & Liveright, 1923; Bison Press reprinting, 1995): 248.

30. “Mathewson Halting—Considering Federal’s Boston Offer,” Daily Democrat (Marlin, Texas), February 25, 1914: 1.

31. “Grounds Keeper for Giants Here—Much Work is Needed,” Daily Democrat (Marlin, Texas), January 30, 1914: 2.

32. “Giants’ Christmas Gift—Citizens of Marlin Present Deed in Training Park,” The New York Times, December 20, 1914: 3S.

33. Frank Jackson, “Crossing Red River—Spring Training in Texas,” The National Pastime #26 (SABR, 2006): 88.

34. Daily Democrat (Marlin, Texas), February 27, 1915: 2.

35. “Colts Start Touring—Leave Marlin at Midnight on Exhibition Trip With Extra Strong Lineup,” Daily Democrat (Marlin, Texas), March 24, 1915: 2.

36. “Giants vs. White Sox at the Orpheum Theater—Tomorrow,” Daily Democrat (Marlin, Texas), February 1, 1916: 4.

37. “Giants Hold First Try-out—McGraw Puts Fledglings Thru Lively Paces While Old Players Limber Up,” Daily Democrat (Marlin, Texas), February 28, 1916: 2.

38. “Giants vs. Tigers—Baseball Game at Emerson Park,” Daily Democrat (Marlin, Texas), March 25, 1916: 4.

39. “Points on Building City—Ten Reasons Why Every Citizen Should be Member of Commercial Club,” Daily Democrat (Marlin, Texas), March 6, 1917: 4.

40. “New York Giants Coming—National League Pennant Winners Will Reach Marlin Next Week,” Daily Democrat (Marlin, Texas), January 3, 1918: 2.

41. “McGraw Takes Air Trip—Giants Defeat Aviators from Waco Before Many Spectators,” Daily Democrat (Marlin, Texas), March 26, 1918: 2.

42. “Giants Not Coming Here—Secretary Writes That Team Will Have to Skip One Year,” Daily Democrat (Marlin, Texas), February 3, 1919: 3.

43. “Pick Camp for Giants – N.Y. Nationals Will Train at San Antonio Next Spring,” The New York Times, December 7, 1919: 3S.

44. “White Sox Reach Marlin—Chicago Players Mingle with Giants Here for Conditioning,” Daily Democrat (Marlin, Texas), February 28, 1923: 3.

45. “Two Sessions at Marlin—Giants’ Battery Men Helped by Ideal Weather,” The New York Times, March 3, 1923: 12.

46. Frank Jackson, “Crossing Red River—Spring Training in Texas,” The National Pastime #26 (SABR, 2006): 91.