A Brief History of the Founding of Baytown Area Senior Softball
(as remembered by Carl Collins - March, 2012)
In 1981 a group of men who had played fast pitch softball in the 1950’s started holding slo-pitch softball practices at Roseland Park. The city of Baytown provided a dozen balls, and typically about 12 guys showed up. Houston and Pasadena/Deer Park were in the process of forming teams and provided the competition for several games in 1981.
In 1982 we officially organized, elected a president (Carl Collins), Vice President (Houston Schweitzer), and secretary (E.J. Chamblee), and named the league Baytown Area Senior Softball (BASS). After a lot of advertising we had about 45 players age 60 and over. A tournament team was also formed and was managed by Carl Collins for 15 years.
In 1984 Houston Schweitzer and Carl Collins met with county commissioner Jim Fonteno to solicit the county’s help in securing enough land for two softball fields and support facilities. The construction cost of the facility was estimated at $140,000, an amount that BASS proposed to repay the county in annual installments of $10,000. Schweitzer and Collins met with the engineers to plan the construction of the parks on Hemlock Street and they were completed in time for the opening of the 1985 season.
BASS solicited and received funds from Exxon, Mobay, Chevron, H L & P, Sears and others. The organization also held large yard sales and conducted raffles at the park. BASS was able to make the scheduled payments to the county in 1985, 1986, and 1987. However, in 1988 Collins and Schweitzer met with Commissioner Fonteno to let him know that BASS was having trouble meeting its financial obligation to the county. The commissioner absolved the organization from any further payments to the county.
In 1982 we officially organized, elected a president (Carl Collins), Vice President (Houston Schweitzer), and secretary (E.J. Chamblee), and named the league Baytown Area Senior Softball (BASS). After a lot of advertising we had about 45 players age 60 and over. A tournament team was also formed and was managed by Carl Collins for 15 years.
In 1984 Houston Schweitzer and Carl Collins met with county commissioner Jim Fonteno to solicit the county’s help in securing enough land for two softball fields and support facilities. The construction cost of the facility was estimated at $140,000, an amount that BASS proposed to repay the county in annual installments of $10,000. Schweitzer and Collins met with the engineers to plan the construction of the parks on Hemlock Street and they were completed in time for the opening of the 1985 season.
BASS solicited and received funds from Exxon, Mobay, Chevron, H L & P, Sears and others. The organization also held large yard sales and conducted raffles at the park. BASS was able to make the scheduled payments to the county in 1985, 1986, and 1987. However, in 1988 Collins and Schweitzer met with Commissioner Fonteno to let him know that BASS was having trouble meeting its financial obligation to the county. The commissioner absolved the organization from any further payments to the county.
Leonard Morgan Honored by Harris County
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After 31 years of involvement in Baytown Area Senior Softball, Leonard Morgan was recognized by Harris County Commissioner Adrian Garcia by naming the B.A.S.S. senior field in his honor.
