Houston Buffaloes: Difference between revisions

| caplogouniformlogo = Houston Buffs cap logo.svg

| past class level = {{plainlist|

| league = {{plainlist|
*[[American Association (20th Century1902–1997)|American Association]] (1959–1961)

| pastnames nickname= {{plainlist|

*Houston Buffaloes (1896–19031896–1899,1903), (1905–19581908–1942,1946-1958)

*Houston Mud Cats (1889–18921889–1890,1892)

| pastparks ballpark= {{plainlist|

The '''Houston Buffaloes''', '''Houston Buffalos''', or '''Buffs''' were an American [[minor league baseball]] team, and were the first minor league team to be affiliated with a [[Major League Baseball|Major League]] franchise, which was the [[St. Louis Cardinals]]. The club was founded in 1888, and played in the [[Texas League]] at various levels throughout the majority of its existence. FromMost recently, from 1959 through 1961, the team played in the [[American AssociationTriple-A (20th centurybaseball)|American AssociationTriple-A]] at the [[Triple-AAmerican Association (baseball1902–1997)|Triple-AAmerican Association]] level as anthe top affiliate of the [[Chicago Cubs]]. The Buffaloes derived their nickname from [[Buffalo Bayou]], the principal waterway through Houston. to the [[Houston Ship Channel]], outlet to the [[Gulf of Mexico]]. The team's last home was [[Buffalo Stadium]], built in 1928. Before that, they played at [[West End Park (Houston)|West End Park]] from 1905–1928, and at [[Herald Park]] prior to that.

The Houston Buffaloes were purchased by the Houston Sports Association in 1961 to obtain the Houston metropolitan-area territorial rights for the new expansion team in Major League baseball and the [[National League (baseball)|National League]], [[Houston Colt .45s]] (known since 1965 as the [[Houston Astros]] named after their futuristic enclosed indoor domed stadium, the [[Astrodome]] - the first of its kind in America). Several of those associated with the Buffaloes continued with the Colt .45s major league team including manager [[Harry Craft]]. The Buffaloes organization then ended their relationship with the Cubs, and became a Triple-A affiliate of the Colt. 45s. For the following 1962 season, they were reorganized and later moved north to become the [[Oklahoma City 89ers]], which are known today as the [[Oklahoma City Dodgers]]. The 1931 and 1941 Buffaloes teams were recognized as being among the [[The National Baseball Association's top 100 minor league teams|100 greatest minor league teams of all time]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.milb.com/milb/history/top100.jsp |title=Top 100 Teams |publisher=MiLB.com |date=2001 |access-date=May 9, 2017}}</ref>

On April 11, 1861, a baseball team in Houston was organized at a meeting held in the Palmer Building above J.H. Evans' dry goods store.<ref name="houstonguide">{{cite book |url=https://archive.org/stream/houstonahistory00writmiss#page/215/mode/1up |title=Houston: A History and Guide |publisher=The Anson Jones Press |year=1942 |series=American Guide Series |author=Writers' Program of the Work Projects Administration on the State of Texas |page=215 |lccn=87890145 |ol=2507140M}}</ref> The team was simply known as the "Houston Base Ball Club".<ref>{{cite news |title=Base Ball Club |url=http://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth236140/m1/1/zoom/?q=%22base%20ball%22&zoom=6&lat=2565.42725&lon=2008.57349&layers=BF |newspaper=The Weekly Telegraph |date=April 16, 1861 |accessdateaccess-date=2012-12-10}}</ref>

In 1884, a league of primarily amateur teams was organized by Samuel L. Haine known as the "Texas League".<ref>{{cite book |last=O'Neal |first=Bill |authorlinkauthor-link=Bill O'Neal |title=The Texas League: 1888–1987 A Century of Baseball |year=1987 |publisher=Eakin Press |location=Austin, Texas |isbn=0890156093 |page=2}}</ref> The Houston Nationals represented the city along with Galveston, Dallas, Fort Worth, San Antonio, and Waco. Although 2–3 players per team were paid, most of the league players were strictly amateur.

The Houston Buffaloes began their first season in 1888 under the name "Houston Babies". The unusual name stemmed from the fact that they were the last to join the new [[Texas League]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.houstonpress.com/2012-05-17/news/vintage-baseball-houston-babies/3 |date=May 16, 2012 |author=Lomax, John Nova |work=[[Houston Press]] |title=Houston's Babies Play Vintage Baseball |accessdateaccess-date=2012-12-10}}</ref> Uniform colors were described as "maroon and light blue" in a news article.<ref>{{cite news |title=Base Ball |work=[[The Daily News (Texas)|Galveston Daily News]] |date=March 4, 1888 |page=3}}</ref> The Houston Babies played their first game ever against the [[Cincinnati Red Stockings (AA)|Cincinnati Red Stockings]] at [[Herald Park|Houston Base Ball Park]] on March 6, 1888 in exhibition play, where they lost by a score of 8–2.<ref>{{cite news |title=Were Not Shut Out |newspaper=[[Houston Chronicle]] |date=March 7, 1888 |edition=2nd |page=5}}</ref> The first game of the Texas League was played between Houston and the [[Galveston Buccaneers|Galveston Giants]] in Houston on April 1, 1888, in which the Babies proved to be victorious in a 4–1 score.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth89570/m1/8/zoom/?q=%22texas%20league%22&zoom=4&lat=2785.07367&lon=1464.25073&layers=BF |title=Houston Downs Galveston |publisher=''Fort Worth Daily Gazette'' |date=April 2, 1888 |accessdateaccess-date=2012-12-11}}</ref> This first season was financially difficult for the Texas League, and although the season was scheduled to last from April through mid-October 1888, Houston, along with every other team by this point, was forced to bow-out by early September.".<ref>{{cite book |last=O'Neal |first=Bill |authorlinkauthor-link=Bill O'Neal |title=The Texas League: 1888–1987 A Century of Baseball |year=1987 |publisher=Eakin Press |location=Austin, Texas |isbn=0890156093 |page=4}}</ref> On July 23, 1888, during mid-season, the team was completely reorganized at an evening meeting of stockholders at [[Houston City Hall]]. Robert Adair, who had served as financial secretary and Texas League president until this point,<ref name="organization" /> purchased the majority stake in the club for $1,000 USD which was effective the next day.<ref name="1888 reorg">{{cite news |title=Directors and Stockholders of the Houston Association |work=[[The Daily News (Texas)|Galveston Daily News]] |date=July 24, 1888 |page=3}}</ref> Samuel Haine was then replaced as general manager by Pat Farrell.<ref>{{cite news |title=Base Ball In Texas |work=[[Galveston Daily News]] |date=July 25, 1888 |page=2}}</ref>

The 1889 season was a productive seasonone for Houston. Coming from San Antonio to the [[Nicknames of Houston#Magnolia City|Magnolia City]] as manager of the team was [[John McCloskey (baseball manager)|John McCloskey]]. McCloskey had been the chief founder of the Texas League the year prior,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.milb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20060315&content_id=47700&vkey=news_milb&fext=.jsp |title=Big names, big scores, big crowds |author=Justic, Eric |publisher=[[Minor League Baseball]] |date=March 15, 2006 |accessdateaccess-date=2012-12-17}}</ref> and helped the club attain their first finish as champions of the league.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.houstonpress.com/2012-05-17/news/vintage-baseball-houston-babies/3 |title=Houston's Babies Play Vintage Baseball |author=Lomax, John Nova |work=[[Houston Press]] |date=May 16, 2012 |accessdateaccess-date=2012-12-17}}</ref> Renamed as the "Mud Cats", Houston was still not without financial difficulty. Despite winning the Texas League in play, the Mud Cats were withheld the pennant until they paid their overdue membership fees for the season.

McCloskey remained with Houston for the next season, but in 1891, the Texas League did not play due to an inability to get financial backing.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/xot01 |title=Texas League |author=[[Bill O'Neal, Bill |author-link=Bill O'Neal, Bill]] |work=[[Handbook of Texas Online]] |accessdateaccess-date=2012-12-17}}</ref><ref name="minors">{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Ownns0kzDdAC&lpg=PA150&ots=6h0dS0xFzB&dqq=1891%20texas%20league&pg=PA150#v=onepage&q&f=false |title=The Minors |last=Sullivan |first=Neil |publisher=[[Macmillan Publishers]] |year=1990 |location=New York |isbn=0-312-05470-X |page=150}}</ref> Without a league to play, Houston did not field a team. Despite McCloskey's return to Houston, a second title for the team, and a successful reorganization of the Texas League for 1892, the league remained unstable. The next two seasons it ceased to exist, and the club followed suit.

The 1895 sawseasonsaw the return of the Houston ball club. With McCloskey moving to manage his hometown [[Louisville Colonels]] of the [[National League (baseball)|National League]], Houston promoted player [[Ollie Pickering]] to manage the team. Pickering was known for having hit the most [[Single (baseball)|singles]] in a single game in 1892, and originated the "Texas Leaguer" term.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.milb.com/history/page.jsp?ymd=20100316&content_id=8811502&vkey=history_l109&fext=.jsp&sid=l109 |title=Texas League Individual Records |publisher=[[Texas League]] |accessdateaccess-date=2012-12-18}}</ref> A pattern of continuously changing names persisted, and the 1895 Houston team named themselves the "Magnolias" after the nickname of the city.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth110146/m1/2/zoom/?q=Magnolias&zoom=5&lat=1780.49951&lon=2236.00061&layers=BF |title=Notes of the Diamond |publisher=''Fort Worth Gazette'' |date=March 18, 1895 |accessdateaccess-date=2012-12-18}}</ref> Following the season, a group of Houston businessmen consisting of President [[John Henry Kirby]], Vice-President Si Packard, and Secretary/Treasurer Sam Taub, created the Houston Baseball Association, and took ownership of the team. With a history of financial instability in Houston's previous years, the Houston Baseball Association's purpose was to support and maintain the club.

The next season heralded more change for the team, as Pickering was called up to the big league by former manager McCloskey to play for the Louisville Colonels. The 1896 season was the first in which the club would be known by the name of the "Houston Buffaloes".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth85713/m1/3/zoom/?q=Buffaloes&zoom=5&lat=4478.39261&lon=2068.21521&layers=BF |title=Preparing for Galveston Game |work=[[Houston Daily Post]] |date=April 18, 1896 |accessdateaccess-date=2012-12-18}}</ref> First baseman Charlie "Jugger" Shaffer took over as manager, and the Buffaloes claimed their third league title.

From 1900 through 1902 Houston did not field a team, as the Texas League was again plagued by instability. However, in November 1902, new owner Claude Rielly revived the club when another league was formed for the next season.<ref name="Rielly">{{cite web |url=http://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth83524/m1/1/zoom/?q=%22Claude%20Reilly%22&zoom=5&lat=6303.30121&lon=414.99359&layers=BF |title=South Texas League A Go |work=[[Houston Daily Post]] |date=November 14, 1902 |accessdateaccess-date=2012-12-19}}</ref> The club decided to continue as a member of the new rival to the [[Texas League]] known as the [[South Texas League]] along with Galveston, Beaumont, and [[San Antonio Bronchos|San Antonio]].

Finishing with a 3rd-place league record for the 1903 season, Houston hired [[Wade Moore]] during the 1904 season, who had led San Antonio to the league title as a manager prior. For this season, the club continued as the "Lambs".<ref>{{cite news |title=Come Home On Thursday |newspaper=''[[Houston Chronicle]]'' |date=June 22, 1904 |page=12}}</ref> Although performing well for the beginning, the team discovered that their home stadium, the Houston Base Ball Park would be demolished in the middle of their season.<ref name="wanderers">{{cite web |url=http://www.houstonpress.com/2012-05-17/news/vintage-baseball-houston-1904 |title=Vintage Baseball: The Wanderers |author=Lomax, John Nova |work=[[Houston Press]] |date=May 16, 2012 |accessdateaccess-date=February 12, 2013}}</ref> Evicted by June 1904, the team was forced to move to an old horseracing track near Harrisburg Boulevard known as [[Houston Driving Park (1902)|Harrisburg Park]].<ref>{{cite news |title=At Home For A Change |newspaper=''[[Houston Chronicle]]'' |date=July 29, 1904 |page=10}}</ref> At the time, the city's streetcars did not reach to this part of Houston, and fans were forced to ride the rest of the way in horse-drawn carts. With such a hassle for fans, attendance dropped dramatically, and the club was quickly losing money with rent to the racetrack.<ref name="wanderers" /> Instead of maintaining a home field in Houston, the team eventually opted to finish the rest of its season on the road, but Houston was ordered by league president Bliss Gorham to continue playing at home. Rielly complied, but by this time, the team became popularly known as the "Wanderers" in the local newspapers.<ref name="wanderers" />

The 1905 season marked a point of stabilization for the franchise as reflected by the team's name, which remained as the "Houston Buffaloes" until their demise. A stark contrast from the previous season, the Buffaloes began playing in a brand new ballpark known as "[[West End Park (Houston)|West End Park]]". Under Wade Moore, the team took the 1905 South Texas League championship, which was their first since 1896.

On October 27, 1908, Claude Rielly officially sold the Houston Buffaloes to Otto Sens and J. Doak Roberts.<ref name="sens">{{cite news |url=http://gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc162704/m1/4/zoom/?q=otto&zoom=4&lat=2276&lon=2986&layers=BF |title=Austin Man Chosen |work=[[The Shawnee News]] |date=October 28, 1908 |page=4 |accessdateaccess-date=August 27, 2013}}</ref> With new ownership, veteran big leaguer [[Hunter Hill]], who had played with the [[St. Louis Browns]] and [[Washington Senators (1901–60)|Washington Senators]], was hired as a first-year manager.<ref>{{cite news |title=Houston Owners Gleeful Over Yesterday's Score |work=[[Galveston Daily News]] |date=March 22, 1909 |page=4}}</ref> The 1909 season started with an exhibition series between the Buffaloes and Hill's former team, the St. Louis Browns. Hill then led the team to two consecutive Texas League pennants for the 1909 and 1910 seasons. It was the first time that Houston claimed back-to-back championships in its history.

In 1919, the [[St. Louis Cardinals]] purchased an eighteen percent stake in the Houston Buffaloes,<ref>{{cite news |url=httphttps://www.nytimes.com/learning/general/onthisday/bday/1220.html |title=Branch Rickey, 83, Dies in Missouri |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |date=December 10, 1965}}</ref> and in 1921 purchased a majority stake in the club. This made Houston the first affiliated minor league baseball club. From 1921–58, the Buffaloes were an important [[farm team]] of the Cardinals at the Class A, A1 and AA levels. During that period, star players such as brothers [[Dizzy Dean]] and [[Paul Dean (baseball)|Paul Dean]], [[Solly Hemus]], [[Vinegar Bend Mizell]], [[Hal Epps]], [[Don Gutteridge]], [[Al Papai]], [[Joe Medwick]], [[Frank O. Mancuso]], [[Harry Brecheen]] and [[Howie Pollet]] prepped in Houston on their way to the major leagues.

The 1928 campaign was another landmark season for the ball club. With stars like on the roster like [[Red Worthington]], [[Carey Selph]], [[George Watkins (baseball)|George Watkins]], [[Ray Powell (baseball)|Ray Powell]], [[Bubber Jonnard]], [[Heinie Schuble]], [[Tex Carleton]], and [[Frank Snyder (baseball)|Frank Snyder]], the Houston Buffaloes took the Texas League championship that year. Pitcher [[Bill Hallahan]] led the league in strikeouts that season with a 2.25 ERA. They then progressed to their first ever interleague [[Dixie Series]] against the [[Southern Association]] champions, the [[Birmingham Barons]], where they won that series as well.<ref name=1928Dixie>{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/57125670/houston-takes-title-by-4th-straight-win/|via=Newspapers.com|title=Houston Takes Title by 4th Straight Win|work=The Selma Times-Journal|location=Selma|date=October 4, 1928|page=8}}</ref>

The Buffaloes and Buffalo Stadium were depicted in the 1952 film ''[[The Pride of St. Louis]]'' detailing Hall of Fame pitcher [[Dizzy Dean]]'s minor league career with the Houston team. In the 1931 season, led by former Cardinals outfielder [[Joe Schultz, Sr.]], the Buffaloes' had 108 regular-season victories (in 159 games) and won the Texas League championship.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.milb.com/milb/history/top100.jsp?idx=42 |title=Top 100 Teams: 42. 1931 Houston Buffaloes |author1=Weiss, Bill |author2=Wright, Marshall |publisher=[[Minor League Baseball]] |accessdateaccess-date=June 12, 2012}}</ref> The Buffaloes' most notable period came between 1939–41, when, as a Cardinal farm managed by [[Eddie Dyer]] and laden with talent, they won three straight Texas League pennants, winning 97, 105 and 103 regular-season games in the process.

In addition to the Texas League championship pennants, the Buffaloes also won the [[Dixie Series]] against the [[Southern Association]] champions in 1928 (4–2 over the [[Birmingham Barons]]),<ref name=1928Dixie/> 1947 (4–2 over the [[Mobile Bears]]),<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/57191381/houston-wins-dixie-series-from-mobile/|via=Newspapers.com|title=Houston Wins Dixie Series From Mobile|work=Victoria Advocate|location=Victoria|date=October 5, 1947|page=6}}</ref> 1956 (4–2 over the [[Atlanta Crackers]]),<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/57192008/houston-clips-atlanta-wins-dixie-series/|via=Newspapers.com|title=Houston Clips Atlanta, Wins Dixie Series|work=Abilene Reporter-News|location=Abilene|date=October 7, 1956|page=37}}</ref> and 1957 (4–2 over the [[Atlanta Crackers]]).<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/57192693/buffs-repeat-in-dixie-play/|via=Newspapers.com|title=Buffs Repeat in Dixie Play|work=Fort Worth Star-Telegram|location=Fort Worth|date=October 7, 1957|page=24}}</ref>

In 1959, the Buffs severed ties with the Cardinals to move up to the [[Triple-A (baseball)|Triple-A]] level, and then began an affiliation with the [[Chicago Cubs]]. At the same time, the City of Houston, through a group of local business leaders known as the "Houston Sports Association", was selected as one of the eight members of a planned "third major league", the [[Continental League]], but plans eventually fell through after team owner [[Marty Marion]] could not come to an agreement to sell the team.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=sAleAAAAIBAJ&sjid=wF8NAAAAIBAJ&pg=6835,871827 |title=Russell Drops Plans to Buy Buff Franchise |publisher=''Bonham Daily Favorite'' |date=January 24, 1960 |accessdateaccess-date=2012-12-06}}</ref> The Continental League as a whole folded in August 1960, and Marion sold the team to a group led by William Hopkins on August 16, 1960.<ref name="Hopkins">{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=UWBSAAAAIBAJ&sjid=DnkDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6369%2C3000491 |title=Buffs President Marion Sells Stock, Bows Out |newspaper=[[St. Petersburg Times]] |date=August 17, 1960 |page=3-C}}</ref> However, on October 17, 1960, the [[National League (baseball)|National League]] granted an expansion franchise to the Houston Sports Association in which their team could begin play in the 1962 season. According to the [[Major League Baseball Constitution]], the Houston Sports Association was required to obtain territorial rights from the Houston Buffaloes in order to play in the Houston area, and again negotiations began to purchase the team.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Tm8zAAAAIBAJ&sjid=fe4HAAAAIBAJ&pg=6954%2C1301938 |title=New York-Houston Get National Franchises |newspaper=[[Lodi News-Sentinel]] |date=October 11, 1960}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=wuhHAAAAIBAJ&sjid=LoAMAAAAIBAJ&pg=1022,1164625 |title=Houston Baseball Muddled for '61 |work=[[The Victoria Advocate]] |date=1960-10-21 |accessdateaccess-date=2013-03-25}}</ref> Eventually, the Houston Sports Association purchased the Houston Buffaloes from William Hopkins on January 17, 1961.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ewAsAAAAIBAJ&sjid=1MYEAAAAIBAJ&pg=740%2C1777414 |title=Association Franchise to Houston |work=[[TimesDaily]] |date=January 18, 1961 |at=Pg. 2, Sec. 7 |accessdateaccess-date=August 29, 2013}}</ref><ref name="HSA">{{cite web |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=RlhfAAAAIBAJ&sjid=7VkNAAAAIBAJ&pg=1218,1577109 |title=Houston Will Get Emphasis, Paul Declares |work=[[Observer–Reporter]] |date=1961-01-19 |accessdateaccess-date=2013-03-25}}</ref> The purchase price for the team was $393,000 USD.<ref name="bigtime">{{cite news |title=Going Bigtime Proves Costly |author=Considine, Bob |work=[[Lubbock Avalanche-Journal]] |date=November 22, 1961 |page=4}}</ref> Additionally, the HSA was forced to pay US$200,000 USD to the [[American Association (20th century)|American Association]] because of their removal from the league.<ref name="bigtime" /> The Buffs played one last minor league season as the top farm team of the Chicago Cubs in 1961 before being succeeded by the city's NL club, the Colt .45s (known since 1965 as the [[Houston Astros]]).

After being purchased by Houston's major league club, the Buffaloes organization served as their [[Triple-A (baseball)|Triple-A]] affiliate, but were reorganized and moved to become the Oklahoma City 89ers,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://newsok.com/looking-back-on-oklahomaaug.-13/article/2402981 |title=Looking Back on Oklahoma |author=Toth, Susan |work=[[The Oklahoman]] |date=August 13, 1992 |accessdateaccess-date=September 4, 2013}}</ref> which have been known since 2014 as the [[Oklahoma City Dodgers]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Buffs' AAA Franchise Goes to Oklahoma City |work=[[Baytown Sun]] |date=July 16, 1961 |page=9}}</ref> Eventually, the Astros sold the team to Tulsa businessman, P. C. Dixon, in November 1970.<ref>{{cite news |url=httphttps://newspaperarchive.com/mexia-daily-news/1970-11-12/page-11 |title=Houston Astros Sell Ball Team |work=[[Mexia Daily News]] |date=November 12, 1970 |page=11 |accessdateaccess-date=September 4, 2013}}</ref> However, Oklahoma City remained affiliated with the Astros through the 1972 season.<ref name="affiliates">{{cite news |url=httphttps://sportswww.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=5597189 |title=Astros, Rangers swap Triple-A affiliates |publisher=[[ESPN]] |date=September 20, 2010 |accessdateaccess-date=September 4, 2013}}</ref> Beginning in the 2011 season, the Oklahoma City club again became the Astros' Triple-A affiliate, but that affiliation ended three years later.

The Houston Buffaloes had many associated with them who were inducted into or honored by the [[National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum|National Baseball Hall of Fame]] including [[Dizzy Dean]] who played for the team from 1930–1931, "Ducky" [[Joe Medwick]] who played from 1931–1932, [[Chick Hafey]] who played for 1924, [[Jim Bottomley]] who played for 1921, and [[Tris Speaker]] who played for 1907. Commentator [[Gene Elston]], who worked with the Buffaloes in 1961, was awarded the [[Ford C. Frick Award]] in 2006.

| [[National League (baseball)|National League]]

| [[National League (baseball)|National League]]

| [[Enid Buffaloes]]<ref>{{cite book |title=Baseball Team Names: A Worldwide Dictionary, 1869-2011 |author=Worth, Richard |date=February 26, 2013 |publisher=McFarland & Company |location=Jefferson, North Carolina |ISBNisbn=9780786468447 |page=101}}</ref>

*Otto Sens and J. Doak Roberts, 1908–1920<ref name="sens" /><ref>{{cite news |url=http://library.la84.org/SportsLibrary/SportingLife/1908/VOL_52_NO_10/SL5210009.pdf |title=The Texas League |work=[[Sporting Life (American newspaper)|Sporting Life]] |date=November 14, 1908 |page=9 |accessdateaccess-date=August 27, 2013}}</ref>

*John H. Crooker, 1920–1922<ref>{{cite interview |url=http://digital.houstonlibrary.org/oral-history/fred-ankerman_OH002.php |interviewer=Louis Marchiafava |title=Fred Ankenman |last=Ankenman |first=Fred |date=July 22, 1976 |location=Houston|publisher=[[Houston Public Library]] |programwork=Houston Oral History Project |accessdateaccess-date=August 28, 2013}}</ref>

*H.L. "Robby" Robertson, 1922–1925<ref>{{cite news |url=httphttps://newspaperarchive.com/galveston-daily-news/1922-08-24/page-7 |title=Thomas Now in Charge Will Not Manage Team Next Year |work=[[Galveston Daily News]] |date=August 24, 1922 |page=7 |accessdateaccess-date=August 28, 2013}}</ref>

*[[Sam Breadon]], 1925–1947<ref>{{cite news |url=http://manitobia.ca/content/en/newspapers/WPT/1943/02/08/articles/196.xml/iarchives |title=Houston Ball Club President Resigns |work=[[Winnipeg Evening Tribune]] |date=February 8, 1943 |page=13 |accessdateaccess-date=August 28, 2013}}</ref>

*[[Marty Marion]], 1959–1960<ref>{{cite web |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=qwIqAAAAIBAJ&sjid=piYEAAAAIBAJ&pg=2573,615571 |title=Marion Gets Lumps as Front Office Man |work=[[Milwaukee Journal Sentinel]] |date=1960-03-22 |accessdateaccess-date=2013-03-25 }}{{Dead link|date=August 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

{{reflistReflist|2}}

[[Category:Defunct American Association (20th century1902–1997) teams]]

[[Category:SportsBaseball teams in Houston|Buffaloes]]