Fort Concho to Devote Weekend to America’s Pastime

Fort Concho on April 15-16 will host a weekend of baseball history, with a lineup that includes presentations on religion and America’s pastime, baseball literature, famed ballparks and the story behind a staple of the seventh-inning stretch.

The activities will be in Officers’ Quarters 8 at 215 E. Avenue D on Friday evening, April 15, and Saturday, April 16.

Co-sponsored by the fort, its vintage baseball program and the Texas Vintage Baseball organization, the program seeks to promote the West Texas Chapter of the Society for American Baseball Research.

The activities begin at 6:30 p.m. Friday, April 15, with presentations, including “Religion and Baseball” and “The Game That Was Never Played.”

Saturday's program begins at 8:30 a.m. with a presentation and a clinic on vintage baseball skills and a mock vintage game, followed by talks on the history of vintage baseball, the story behind the song “Take Me Out to the Ballgame,” the history of baseball literature, the history of umpiring and the evolution of ballparks. The latter topic will be presented by Fort Concho Manager and baseball lover Bob Bluthardt.

A book display, silent auction, raffles and book sales will take place throughout the event. Coffee, soft drinks and deserts will be available Friday night, and on Saturday a light breakfast will be available for all registered attendees. The cost is $15 for adults, $10 for students and $5 for children ages 7-14.

“We certainly hope that if we host it, they will come,” Bluthardt said of the event. “To crib another line from that movie, the reason why is the one constant through all the years has been baseball.”

For more information, contact Warren Simpson at warren.simpson@angelo.edu or Bluthardt at 325-234-0316 or robert.bluthardt@cosatx.us.