A Diamond in the Pines: Exploring the History of Stephen F. Austin University Baseball
The Stephen F. Austin (SFA) Lumberjacks baseball team represents a compelling story of perseverance, revival, and dedication within the world of college athletics. From its initial stint in the Southland Conference (SLC) to its current standing, the program reflects the enduring spirit of competition and community that defines university sports. This article delves into the history of SFA baseball, examining its early years, its hiatus, its triumphant return, and the broader context of athletics and community support that shaped its journey.
Early Inception and Southland Conference Years
The Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks baseball team is a varsity intercollegiate athletic team of Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, Texas. The team's journey began as a member of the Southland Conference (SLC), part of the National Collegiate Athletic Association's Division I. The Lumberjacks competed in the SLC from 1988 to 1995, marking an initial chapter in their baseball history. During this period, the team established its presence within the conference, laying the groundwork for future endeavors.
A Hiatus and the Drive for Revival
After the 1995 season, the SFA baseball program faced a period of discontinuation. This hiatus lasted until 2006, when the program was reinstated. The revival of the baseball team was driven by a collective effort from the university, alumni, and the local community.
The Crucial Role of Community and University Support
The story of SFA's baseball revival is closely tied to the broader efforts to enhance the university's appeal and address community needs. A pivotal moment occurred at the beginning of the fall semester in 1945, when low enrollment prompted local citizens and college officials to convene and explore strategies to attract more students.
In October, a gathering at Gibbs Hall brought together interested parties from the town and gown, including members of the Board of Regents. The proposal that emerged focused on constructing new recreational facilities on campus, an updated version of a plan previously stalled by the Depression and World War II. This complex would be on the SFA campus, and the city would retain control of the installation. The land was to be leased from the State of Texas for the longest possible period, preferably 99 years, and later deeded to the City. SFA would have an option to buy the complex later if full compensation of the expended funds were met, but until such time, both the college and the local school district would pay an equitable annual rental fee for use of the new stadium and pool. The Committee who put forward the final proposal to the voters consisted of C. D. Thomas, chairman; W. A. Mize, vice-chairman; J. E. Reese, secretary; and, E. W. Monk, R. G. Muckleroy, John Rudistill, and A. T.
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The location for the improvements was to be on the unused thirty acres of land immediately east of the main Forty Acres, as the campus was called by most people at the time. The location was the open fields to the east of the new street opened in 1938 (now Raguet Street, then North Mound), south of Birdwell Field and north of the Home Economics Practice House. The Attorney General approved the lease idea in December, and the City immediately called an election on the bonds for February 5, 1946. Intense lobbying took place in early February. The rationale ran that the facility would not only help SFA’s enrollment, but it would also help to solve the problem of juvenile delinquency in Nacogdoches. On election day, the citizens approved the bonds by a vote of 391 to 52.
Memorial Park and Stadium: A Symbol of Community Dedication
The construction of the stadium and field house were the first units to be undertaken. In a complicated financial arrangement, some of the funds were to come from bonds ($60,000.00), and some were to be borrowed from the City’s overflowing Water Fund. The Stone Fort National Bank in Nacogdoches immediately bought the bonds, with an interest rate set at one and three-fourth per cent, and the project seemed immediately under way. The Commission supported a petition bearing 550 signatures requesting that the recreation complex be officially named “Memorial Park” and “Memorial Stadium” in honor of the people who had served and died in the World War.
However, the construction of buildings at SFA had not usually gone as planned. The rosy projections of a quick solution by the fall of 1946 did not materialize. The first problem, a general problem in post-war America, was a shortage of steel, complicated by a strike in the industry. Site preparation proceeded without a problem, but as the delays mounted, concern over the comparatively short time left to sod and condition the football field made unlikely the first football game scheduled for September 13 . Then, a government order stopping all non-essential construction in order to boost housing for veterans threatened the project. Through political pressure and a favorable interpretation, however, the project received an exemption from the federal ruling. Work began in April with the grading and the dirt work. By May, however, construction costs for the Memorial Park were turning out to be nearly 20 per cent more than original estimates. Hopes revived in August when the steel arrived, and the heavy erection and welding equipment began moving onto the site of construction, but the project did not meet its projected schedule. Grass on the gridiron, planted by the City, was reportedly the only part of the project which met the schedule. Plans for the opening of the stadium were put off until October, to take place as one of the highlights of the first post-war homecomings at SFA.
A. J. Thompson, chairman of the city commission, Dr. Paul L. Boynton, president of the college, and Frank Singletary of Carlisle, president of SFA Ex- Students Association, arranged the dedication service. The details were worked out by committees chaired by such SFA people as Miss Sugene Spears, Mrs. Lawrence Franks, Andrew H. Smith, Mrs. Savanna Cross Lockey, Mrs. Carl Biggers, John Lynn Bailey, Earl Biggers, J. W. Summers, Wallace Phillips, and Edwin Gaston, Jr. Dr.
The rest of the Memorial Park-the cyclone fence around the stadium, the landscaping, the gravel ramp to cope with the mud, the restrooms, the cinder track, the swimming pool, the playing fields for baseball and recreational equipment-these all came later and came slowly. The pool was particularly difficult to complete. The Texas State Historical Commission approved a marker to commemorate the SFA faculty, staff, and students who served their country in World War II and other conflicts.
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Return to the Diamond: 2006 and Beyond
In 2006, baseball returned to SFA, marking a new era for the Lumberjacks. The team rejoined the Southland Conference and quickly re-established itself as a competitive force. The Lumberjacks play their home games at Jaycees Field in Nacogdoches, Texas, providing a dedicated venue for the team and its fans. The current coach of the Lumberjacks is Matt Vanderburg, who leads the team in its pursuit of excellence.
Transition to the Western Athletic Conference
In 2021, the Lumberjacks made a significant move, leaving the SLC to join the Western Athletic Conference (WAC). This transition represented a strategic decision to broaden the team's competitive landscape and explore new opportunities for growth and success.
Notable Players and Alumni
While specific details on individual player achievements are limited in the provided text, it is noted that three former Stephen F. Austin State University ballplayers made it to the majors. This underscores the program's capacity to develop talent and contribute to the broader landscape of professional baseball.
Connecting to Baseball History: Broader Context
To fully appreciate the journey of SFA baseball, it is helpful to consider the broader historical context of baseball in Texas and the United States. Early baseball in Texas, for instance, was marked by both excitement and segregation. Teams like the Longview Cannibals, an all-white team that existed intermittently from 1895 to 1939, and the Mineola Black Spiders, an African American team formed in the late 1920s, represent the parallel paths of baseball during a time of segregation. The Longview Cannibals played in multiple leagues in their short existence; the South Central League, the East Texas League, the Lone Star League, the Texas League, the Dixie League and the West Dixie League. The Mineola Black Spiders evolved over the years first becoming the Fort Worth Black Spiders and finally the Texas Black Spiders.
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