Geographist

Dizzy Dean Born: January 16, 1910 Sport: Baseball (4-time All-Star, MVP, World Series Champion, Hall of Fame) Before Houston became the home of a major league baseball team, the city played host to some interesting and talented players on their way to becoming stars.  The first record of America's pastime being played in Houston was in 1867, when a field was set up on the grounds of San Jacinto (where Texas fought their decisive battle for independence against the Mexican army) and the Houston Stonewalls defeated the Galveston Robert E. Lees 35-2.  By 1888 an entire league had been set up, based in Houston, and the most famous the various teams to call the city home was the Houston Buffaloes.  This week we'll take a minute to look at the brief time that a future Hall of Fame pitcher called our fair city home, as well as the rest of the story of Jay Hanna "Dizzy" Dean. Houston's Buffalo Stadium, near downtown Born in western Arkansas in 1910, young Jay supposedly o...

Roger Clemens Born: August 4, 1962 Sport: Baseball (2-time All-American, CWS Champion, 11-time All-Star, 7-time Cy Young, MVP, 2-time World Series Champion)  With numerous sporting events going on this weekend I thought we'd turn our focus to what's happening on the college scene.  Each year the top baseball teams from universities across the country converge on Omaha, NE, for the College World Series.  Lots of kids who have impacted the Houston sports landscape have competed in this tournament over the years.  One in particular left his mark in a major way, winning the title in college before leading the local nine to the biggest stage for the first time.  In addition, since today is Father's Day, I thought it would be fun to put the spotlight on someone who not only played for the Astros but also was the dad of a player who was drafted by the club and another who just found himself on the receiving end of a Houston sweep.  Let's find out more about The Ro...

Cat Osterman Born: April 16, 1983 Sport: Softball (136-25 college record, 95-24 pro record, 4-time Big 12 Player of the Year, 4-time All American, 6-time All-Star, 3-time Olympic medalist - Gold in 2004, Silver in 2008, Silver in 2020, Hall of Fame) This week marked the end of the NCAA Women's Softball season, and for the first time in their history the University of Texas was crowned National Champions after defeating Texas Tech.  I was actually surprised that this was their first title, as they've fielded some impressive teams over the years.  One of their school's greatest players, in fact, pitched several times against my own school while I was attending.  In recognition of her contribution to the Longhorns program and their new championship hardware, this week we will turn the spotlight to Houston's own Cat Osterman, one of the most storied pitchers in the history of women's softball. Cypress Springs High School, home of Cat Osterman from 1997-2001 Born Catheri...

Gordie Howe Born: March 31, 1928 Sport: Hockey (4-time Stanley Cup Champion, 23-time All-Star, 6-time MVP, 6-time top scorer, Hall of Fame) This week will see the start of a championship series for two different sports leagues - the NBA and NHL.  While Houston has a storied basketball history, which we've already discussed with several of our previous posts, our connection with hockey is a bit less-known.  But in what may come as a surprise to casual visitors to a city known better for its hot-and-humid summers than its prowess on ice, we can boast a strong connection to one of the greatest players to ever strap on skates.  Originally hailing from Canada, the man who became known as "Mister Hockey" came to Space City for a significant period of time and legitimized the sport to local fans, many of whom had relocated to Houston from northern cities and who were excited to see the game played at the very highest level.  Today, in advance of the Stanley Cup Finals dropp...

Yao Ming Born: September 12, 1980 Sport: Basketball (8-time NBA All-Star, 4-time FIBA Asia Cup Champion, Hall of Fame) Since my last post a few things have happened.  Each team in baseball has reached its 50th game, hockey and men's basketball have both progressed to their conference championships, women's basketball season has officially begun, and football has continued to be present in daily sports shows for reasons that continue to baffle me.  But not to be overlooked is the draft lottery held by the NBA, where the Dallas Mavericks won the right to have the first pick in the next draft despite only having a 1.8% chance of the ping pong ball numbers going their way.  This event reminded me of the last time Houston found themselves with the first overall pick, back in 2002.  Although the odds weren't quite as long that year, they still turned a 8.9% longshot chance into a player that took Rockets basketball literally around the world.  That year, they took Yao...

I've been traveling with my oldest daughter over the past weekend, so there won't be a new post until next Sunday.  Have a terrific week until we meet again! 

Cynthia Cooper-Dyke Born: April 14, 1963 Sport: Basketball (2-time MVP, 3-time All-Star, 4-time WNBA Champion, 2-time NCAA Champion, 2-time Olympic medalist - Gold in 1988 and Bronze in 1992, Hall of Fame) Happy Mother's Day!  This week I thought it would be nice to focus on a player who is not only a mother herself, but was significantly impacted by her own mother's journey.  As a kid playing competitive basketball throughout the 90s, I enjoyed watching my local NBA team win titles twice, as the Houston Rockets were victorious in 1994 and 1995.  After a one-year gap, the newly-formed WNBA was launched and I saw that my city's women's team was dominant, with the Houston Comets winning the league's first four championships from 1997-2000.  An integral part of that team, and now recognized as one of the greatest women to ever play the game, was Cynthia Cooper. The Summit, home to the Houston Comets upon Cooper's arrival in 1997 Although she was born in Chicago, Il...

Phil Garner Born: April 30, 1949 Sport: Baseball (All-American, 3-time All-Star, 985-1,054 managerial record, 2005 NL Pennant) I had a few options to go with this week, but eventually decided to go with the birthday boy, former Astros manager Phil Garner.  He had a big week even without blowing out his candles, as the most successful team for "Scrap Iron" to manage celebrated a milestone, and many of his former players made a point of showing up to participate and support him.  While not the most decorated player or coach in Houston history, he nevertheless made a big impact and has certainly earned his spot in this list of memorable figures in the athletic history of Space City. Minute Maid Park, home of Phil Garner's NL Champion Houston Astros in 2005 Born in eastern Tennessee, Phil Garner grew up in the greater Knoxville area as the son of a Baptist minister.  After he had made it through one year attending a high school that didn't include a robust athletic progra...

Warren Moon Born: November 18, 1956 Sport: Football (5 time Grey Cup winner, 9 time Pro Bowl, Canadian Football Hall of Fame, Pro Football Hall of Fame)  I know it's not football season, but this weekend was the NFL Draft and it seemed a good time to remember one of the greats that our city has supported.  The franchise that moved out of Houston when I was a kid made headlines by having the #1 pick, and a former Houston Oilers quarterback was gracious enough to present his retired jersey (sporting the number 1) to Cam Ward, the young man who was selected and will attempt to lead his team from the same position.  That man, Warren Moon, had one of the most unique and improbable career paths in football history, and was the first local QB that I rooted for.  The Astrodome area during Warren Moon's first season with the Oilers Warren Moon's childhood years were not easy, as he was the only boy in a family of seven children and his mother was forced to raise them alone af...

Rudy Tomjanovich Born: November 24, 1948 Sport: Basketball (All-American, 5-time NBA All-Star, Gold Medal, Hall of Fame) As of the time of this writing, the Houston professional sports scene is buzzing.  The Astros are nearly a month into their season as they try to return to the playoffs for their ninth consecutive season, and the Texans are preparing for their draft next week after back-to-back seasons with division titles and one playoff win each year.  But it's the Houston Rockets that have garnered top billing as they play their first postseason game in five years.  So with that in mind, I thought it might be a good idea to look at the story of Rudy Tomjanovich, one of the faces of the franchise that was not only there for the first Rockets playoff series win, but was at the helm when the team claimed their first two championships. The Summit, home of the Rockets during their championship seasons Born just outside of Detroit, MI, young Rudy's parents were both of Cro...