As we celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday, I want to take a look back over the last year or so and share a few of the reasons we at the Texas Baseball Hall of Fame have to be thankful.

Our 2006 induction banquet was quite a memorable evening, featuring two once-in-a-lifetime events. The 45th anniversary of the Colt .45s/Astros franchise was highlighted by the inductions of franchise founders Roy Hofheinz, R. E. “Bob” Smith, and George Kirksey; former Colt .45s/Astros star Rusty Staub, and former Astros star Terry Puhl. Thanks to all the Colts who shared this special anniversary with us.

We also honored Texas women in baseball with our Bluebonnet Belles theme. The All-American Girls Professional Baseball League held their annual reunion here in Houston for the first time ever. Approximately 50 former players joined us for the induction banquet that featured AAGPBL players Alva Jo “Tex” Fischer, Ruth “Tex” Lessing, and Marie “Red” Mahoney in addition to Astros President Pam Gardner.

We were also very happy to have Patti Pelton and Anne Ramsay from A League of Their Own join us for the AAGPBL reunion and TBHOF banquet. These dear friends are two of the most gracious and caring people you’ll ever meet, and we are very thankful that they took the time to be with us.

In 2006 we also had two special exhibits hosted and sponsored by Cranks Rooters and Fans. Thanks to Paul Bohannon and his staff for giving our 45 and Bluebonnet Belles exhibits a first-class home. Thank you to John Oats, Robert Reed, Mark Wernick, and all the folks whose generosity made the 45 exhibit a reality. To the Northern Indiana Center for history, we appreciate you entrusting us with all the wonderful AAGPBL artifacts from your museum.

Our 2007 banquet featured the inductions of Austin native & star outfielder/DH/manager Don Baylor; Astros star outfielder Cesar Cedeno; Astros star infielder/manager Phil Garner; Rangers star outfielder Juan Gonzalez; pioneer sports journalist Anita Martini; and Negro League star shortstop Willie Wells. Astros Vice President of Community Development, Marian Harper, received the 4th annual Toy Cannon Award. The evening was another big success, and we appreciate all those who came out to support us as we celebrated Texas baseball excellence.

Without our sponsors and volunteers, the TBHOF wouldn’t be able to do our banquets, exhibits, scholarships, or any other events. Our heartfelt thanks goes out to our selfless and dedicated volunteers, Lone Star League members, and all of our generous sponsors who have contributed to the Texas Baseball Hall of Fame: Dene Hofheinz Anton, Tom & Mimi Dompier, the Houston Astros, Opie Otterstad, Robert Reed, Chris & Don Sanders, Hercules Offshore, R. E. Smith Interests, Sterling Bank, the AAGPBL, Cranks Rooters and Fans, Fox Sports Net, Luis Mayoral, HomeVestors, Zita Witte Maxwell, McDonald’s, the Northern Indiana Center for History, Nancy & Ted Reynolds, Sports Collectibles, and the Texas High School Baseball Coaches Association.

Dene Hofheinz Anton – When it comes to creativity and enthusiasm, no one does it better than Dene. Her support as the title sponsor for our past two induction banquets is just the beginning. Now she is a member of our Board, and is a major force in getting the TBHOF to the next stage!

TBHOF Board – Where would we be without the invaluable efforts of our Executive and Advisory Boards? No ship can properly sail without first charting the course, and we are counting on the expertise and dedication of these fine people to bring the TBHOF even more success in 2008! I want to offer a special thanks to my friend and our Board President, Bill McCurdy, for bringing the TBHOF to its new home in Houston and inviting me to be a part of this menagerie. Remind me to ask Santa to put a lump of coal in your stocking for that one! Seriously, although the seas have been rough at times, we can always count on you to be our anchor. Follow this link for a complete list of our Board members.

Debb Harris – I think Bob Slydell in Office Space said it best, “What would you say ya do here?” This is a tough question to answer because just when you think Debb is doing everything possible she jumps right in on another project. She is our Web Site and Graphics Designer, but that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Did I mention that she lives in England? Her dedication should be an example for all Texans who haven’t yet stepped up to the plate to be a part of the TBHOF.

Houston Astros – I have had the pleasure of meeting and working with so many good people in the Astros front office: Drayton McLane, Tal Smith, Pam Gardner, Jay Lucas, Marian Harper, John Sorrentino, Jennifer Randall, and Mike Acosta, just to name a few. We appreciate your continued support and generosity, and we look forward to working together as we build the museum that features our very own Lone Star Legends! Best of luck in the 2008 season!

Our friends at the Society for American Baseball Research (SABR) have been a great resource over the years. We look forward to their continued support with the biography project, our new veterans committee, and many other projects in the future.

Hank Garcia, Greg Lucas, Patti Smith, and all our friends at Fox Sports Net, thank you for the amazing job on the video tributes and all your support throughout the year. Greg, we really appreciate you serving as our Master of Ceremonies in 2007. We are truly blessed to have you on our team. Milo Hamilton, our prayers are with you for a speedy recovery. Thanks also to Dave, Brett, Bill, J. D., Alyson, Brian, David, and all our broadcasters and media friends who go the extra mile to ensure the baseball community knows about the TBHOF.

Thank you, Opie Otterstad, for once again honoring our inductees by generously sharing your artistic talent with all of us. Opie is the official artist of the TBHOF, and you can learn more about his work at opieart.com. Visit our online store to order prints from the Texas Baseball Hall of Fame Lone Star Legends™ collection. Each high-quality gicleé on canvas print is a limited edition, signed and numbered by the artist.

To all of our friends and family, we wish you a very Happy Thanksgiving! With your help, the next stage for the Texas Baseball Hall of Fame will be right around the corner.

George Scroggins
Executive Director
Texas Baseball Hall of Fame