NO LONGER DO YOU HEAR THE CRACK OF A BASEBALL BAT, NOR THE BUZZ OF THE BASEBALL
CROWD.  A CONCRETE PARKING LOT AND BRICK BUILDINGS NOW OCCUPY THE AREA WHERE THE
GRANDSTANDS ONCE STOOD -- THE HOME PLATE OCCUPYING THE AREA OUTSIDE THE SOUTH PARK
SUB POST-OFFICE.  AND THE ONCE EMERALD GREEN GRASS HAS BEEN COVERED WITH STEEL AND
CONCRETE.

    BUT ONCE ON THIS SITE WAS A CONCRETE AND STEEL GRANDSTAND, FILLED WITH CHEERING
BASEBALL FANS - ALL DRESSED IN THEIR FINEST. THE LADIES WITH PRETTY HATS ON THEIR HEADS,
AND THE GENTLEMEN SPORTING THEIR STRAW SKIMMERS.  AND THE ROAR OF THE CROWD COULD
BE HEARD ALL OVER THE SOUTH PARK AREA.

     A SIGN OUTSIDE TOLD THE WORLD THIS WAS "STUART STADIUM", HOME OF THE BEAUMONT
EXPORTERS.  IT WAS A TIME WHEN ENJOYING A BASEBALL GAME AT STUART STADIUM REPRESENTED
THE BEST THAT THIS AREA HAD TO OFFER.

    TODAY, IF YOU DRIVE TO THIS LOCATION, THE SIGN WILL READ - "STADIUM CENTER", AND ALL
THAT IS LEFT OF THE GRANDSTANDS AND HOME OF THE BEAUMONT EXPORTERS IS A PLAQUE
EMBEDDED IN THE CONCRETE WALK IN FRONT OF THE SOUTH PARK SUB-POST OFFICE WHICH
READS:  "HOME PLATE - ON THIS SPOT THE BEAUMONT EXPORTERS TOOK THEIR FINAL SWING.  RUBE
STUART'S CONTRIBUTION IS FONDLY REMEMBERED AND APPRECIATED."

    WHILE IT IS NOT CLEAR HOW THE EXPORTERS BASEBALL TEAM GOT THEIR START IN BEAUMONT
(THERE SEEMS TO BE SEVERAL DIFFERENT OPINIONS), IT APPEARS THAT THEY WERE ORIGINALLY
CALLED THE OILERS, AND WERE ACQUIRED BY A GROUP OF BEAUMONT BUSINESS MEN FROM A
OKLAHOMA CITY GROUP WITH ED STEADMAN SERVING AS PRESIDENT OF THE CLUB.  OTHER
RECORDS STATE THAT IT WAS THROUGH THE EFFORTS OF B. A. STEINHAGEN THAT THE CLUB WAS
OBTAINED, SO I LIST BOTH OPINIONS.  FROM 1912 UNTIL 1929 THE EXPORTERS PLAYED AT MAGNOLIA
BALLPARK, LOCATED ON MAGNOLIA AVENUE BETWEEN HAZEL AND LONG STREETS.

    RUBEN L. STUART WOULD COME TO BEAUMONT FROM CALDWELL, TEXAS, WHERE HE WORKED
FOR THE BURT REFINERY (LATER MAGNOLIA, SIGN OF THE FLYING RED HORSE - NOW MOBIL OIL)
FOR ABOUT 4 YEARS.  HE THEN STARTED DRIVING MULE TEAMS FOR HIS BROTHER, JESSE STUART,
HAULING PIPE WITHIN MAGNOLIA REFINERY, AND ALSO WORKING ON PIPELINES.  IN 1918 HE
BECAME A PARTNER WITH BROTHER JESSE IN THE TEAMSTERS BUSINESS.  RUBEN STUART WAS
KNOWN TO BE A HARD WORKER, EXHIBITING PRIDE IN BEAUMONT AND SOUTHEAST TEXAS.  HE
DIDN'T TALK MUCH, AND WAS STRICTLY BUSINESS, AND IT WAS EVIDENTLY THROUGH THE
TEAMSTERS BUSINESS HE OBTAINED HIS FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR HIS LIFELONG DREAM.

    ALTHOUGH RUBEN L. STUART WAS NEVER INTO ATHLETICS HIMSELF, HE WAS AN AVID BASEBALL
FAN, AND IN 1923 GOT INTO BASE-BALL AS A STOCKHOLDER IN A COMPANY FORMED BY THE
YOUNG MEN'S BUSINESS LEAGUE TO PURCHASE THE FRANCHISE FROM B. A.STEINHAGEN, BUT THIS
BUSINESS SUFFERED SOME VERY LEAN YEARS, FORCING THEM TO SELL SOME OF THEIR BEST
TALENT.

    IN 1925 RUBE STUART, ALONG WITH E.E. PLUMLY, PURCHASED THE BEAUMONT EXPORTERS
BASEBALL TEAM, WHICH WAS A MINOR LEAGUE PRO BASEBALL TEAM PLAYING IN THE SOUTHERN
LEAGUE, FOR $20,000.00, AND A YEAR LATER IN 1927, RUBE STUART BECAME THE SOLE OWNER OF
THE EXPORTERS.  THE TEAM WOULD LATER BECOME A TEXAS LEAGUE TEAM.  IT ALSO WAS THE
FARM TEAM FOR THE DETROIT TIGERS.

    RUBE STUART WAS A VERY COMMUNITY MINDED CITIZEN, AND SAW THE OPPORTUNITY TO
DEVELOP AND BUILD A FIRST CLASS BASE-BALL TEAM, BUILDING A CONTENDER FOR THE TEXAS
LEAGUE PENNANT, GIVING BEAUMONT A TEAM IT COULD BE PROUD OF.

    AFTER ACQUIRING SOLE OWNERSHIP OF THE TEAM, RUBE STUART WANTED NOT ONLY TO BUILD A
SUITABLE STADIUM FOR HIS EXPORTERS, HE WANTED TO ACQUIRE TALENTED PLAYERS, AND HE AND
HIS MANAGER, CLAUD ROBERTSON STARTED ASSESSING A TEAM - MAKING TRADES AND VISITING
CITIES IN TEXAS AND LOUISIANA, LOOKING FOR THE BEST FEATURES AND DESIGNS IN STADIUMS,
AND THEY ALSO ASSEMBLED SOME GREAT TALENT.

    THEY TRADED FUTURE HALL OF FAMER, CARL HUBBEL TO THE NEW YORK YANKEES  GIVING RUBE
A GOOD WORKING RELATIONSHIP WITH NEW YORK AND STRENGTHENED HIS FINANCIAL POSITION.
BUT "KING CARL" WOULD ALWAYS BE REMEMBERED AS ONE OF THE EXPORTERS BEST SOUTHPAWS
WITH HIS ALMOST UNHITABLE SCREWBALL.

    ALTHOUGH THE BASEBALL TEAM WAS NEVER A PROFITABLE VENTURE AND STRUGGLED TO KEEP
OPERATING CAPITAL, RUBE STUART WAS VERY DEDICATED TO PROMOTING THE EXPORTERS..AFTER
LOOKING AROUND BEAUMONT AT VARIOUS SITES, MR. STUART DECIDED TO BUILD HIS BASEBALL
COMPLEX IN RAPIDLY DEVELOPING SOUTH PARK, WHICH WOULD DRAW DIVERSE ELEMENTS OF
BOTH SOUTH PARK AND BEAUMONT TOGETHER.  HE ALSO WANTED A LOCATION NEAR THE
INTERURBAN STREET CAR INTERCHANGE THAT LINKED BEAUMONT WITH NEDERLAND, PORT
NECHES AND PORT ARTHUR, MAKING THE BASEBALL GAME ACCESSIBLE TO SOUTH JEFFERSON COUNTY FANS.

    AFTER CONSIDERING OTHER ALTERNATIVES, RUBE STUART PURCHASED 43 LOTS BELONGING TO
CHAUNCY SHEPHERD WHICH LAY ALONG AVENUE A, 2 BLOCKS SOUTH OF WASHINGTON
BOULEVARD, MR. STUART FEELING THAT AVENUE  A CONSTITUTED "A GATEWAY TO PORT ARTHUR."

    IN THE FALL OF 1928 AND WINTER OF 1929,  STEEL AND CONCRETE GRANDSTANDS WERE
CONSTRUCTED ON THE SITE, WITH TEAMS OF MULES DRAGGING SCRAPERS TO FORM THE DIAMOND
AND PREPARE THE CARPET OF GRASS. WITH THE HELP OF ENGINEER, JAMES HENSLEE, STUART
INCORPORATED THE BEST FEATURES AND DESIGNS FROM OTHER PARKS ACROSS TEXAS AND OTHER
STATES   WHILE THE OLD MAGNOLIA BALL PARK ONLY SEATED 4,000 FANS, THE SEMI-CIRCULAR
STEEL AND CONCRETE COVERED GRANDSTAND AT THE NEW PARK HAD A SEATING CAPACITY OF
6,000.00.  BLEACHERS WERE PLACED IN RIGHT AND LEFT FIELD FOUL LINES, SEATING. AN EXTRA 2,500.

    IN FRONT OF THE GRANDSTANDS WAS A 2 STORY OFFICE BUILDING AND TICKET BOOTH, WITH
CONCESSION STANDS BUILT BEHIND THE OFFICE.  THE PARKING AREA WAS LOCATED ON AVENUE B,
WITH THE GRANDSTANDS FACING IN A NORTHEAST DIRECTION, SHIELDING PATRONS FROM THE
AFTERNOON SUN.  THERE WERE 68 BOXES BETWEEN THIRD AND FIRST BASES - EACH CONSISTING OF
6 FIXED SEATS. AND THE SMALL SET OF BLEACHERS ON THE  FIRST BASE SIDE OF THE FIELD WERE
RESERVED ON SPECIAL DAYS FOR YOUNGSTERS KNOWN AS THE "KNOT HOLE GANG."  MANY A
YOUNGSTER WAS THE HOLDER OF A SPECIAL KNOT HOLE GANG CARD.

    THE RIGHT FIELD FOUL POLE WAS 330 FEET FROM HOME PLATE, WHILE LEFT FIELD WAS 338 FEET
AND STRAIGHT AWAY CENTER FIELD WAS 420 FEET.  A SHEET METAL FENCE ENCLOSED THE
STADIUM,  AND A VISIBLE BRAND NEW SCOREBOARD LOOMED ABOVE THE FENCE, JUST TO THE
RIGHT OF CENTER FIELD.  AND RUBE STUART DECIDED TO PAINT HIS BALL PARK A SOOTHING
SHADE OF GREEN.  WHEN THE PARK WAS FINISHED, RUBE STUART HAD INVESTED $120,000.00  IN HIS
BELOVED BASEBALL PARK.

    THE WEATHER HAD CAUSED MANY DELAYS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE PARK, AND DUE TO
THE HEAVY RAINS, THERE WAS AN OUTBREAK OF CRAWFISH MOUNDS IN THE OUTFIELD -- AND TO
HELP ALEVIATE THIS PROBLEM, RUBE STUART PUT 4 DUCKS ON THE PAYROLL TO GET RID OF THESE
PESTS.

    MANY PEOPLE CONSIDERED SOUTH PARK "OUT IN THE COUNTRY" - TOO REMOTE - BUT RUBE
STUART CONVINCED EASTERN TEXAS ELECTRIC COMPANY TO EXTEND STREETCARS 3 BLOCKS
FROM PARK STREET TO THE NEW STADIUM - THE STREETCAR RIDE COSTING AN ADULT .06 AND
CHILDREN .03  THE ELECTRIC TRAIN LINE FROM PORT ARTHUR AND MID COUNTY TO BEAUMONT
COST A FEE OF .35.  THE TROLLY LINE EXTENDED THEIR SERVICE WITHIN WALKING DISTANCE OF THE
BALL PARK.

    ALTHOUGH THE NAME WOULD REMAIN EXPORTERS, MANY PEOPLE THOUGHT THE NAME SHOULD
BE CHANGED TO REFINERS AS THE OIL INDUSTRY WAS OUR MAIN INDUSTRY. I UNDERSTAND IN 1950
THE NAME WAS CHANGED TO ROUGH NECKS - BUT ONLY FOR ONE SEASON..WHEN THE BALL PARK
WAS COMPLETED, THERE WERE MANY CONGRATULATIONS ON THE PARK, AND OPENING
WORKOUTS WERE HELD THE FIRST WEEK OF MARCH, 1929, WITH MANY CITIZENS SHOWING UP TO
WATCH THE WORKOUT, THERE BEING NO CHARGE.

    THE FIRST GAME WAS HELD MARCH 18, 1929 AGAINST THE NEW YORK GIANTS, AND ALTHOUGH
THE EXPORTERS LOST, THE PAPER ACKNOWLEDGED THAT "EXPORTERS LOOK GREAT AGAINST
GIANTS"  WITH THE NEWCOMERS SHINING IN A LOSING SCRAP.  THE REGULAR SEASON BEGAN APRIL
17TH WITH THE EXPORTERS PLAYING THE HOUSTON BUFFALOES BEFORE 8,500 EXCITED FANS,
TICKETS TO THE GAMES COST .75  MANY BUSINESSES AND  THE SCHOOLS CLOSED AT 2:00 S0 THAT
FANS COULD MAKE IT TO THE 3:30 GAME.

    GERALD "JERRY" MALLETT, (FATHER OF FORMER SOUTH PARK SUPERINTENDENT, JERRY MALLETT)
WAS AN ARKANSAS NATIVE WHO SIGNED A CONTRACT WITH THE EXPORTERS, AND ARRIVED IN
BEAUMONT IN TIME TO PITCH THE OPENING GAME WHEN THE NEW STUART STADIUM WAS
DEDICATED.  JERRY MALLETT WOULD MARRY A BEAUMONT GIRL AND RAISE HIS FAMILY IN
BEAUMONT.

    IN 1931 WITH 94 WINS AND 65 LOSSES, THE EXPORTERS WERE PLAYING THE HOUSTON BUFFS FOR
THE PENNANT IN A 5 GAME PLAY-OFF, BUT LOST TO THE BUFFS.  DEL BAKER WAS THE MANAGER OF
THE EXPORTERS AT THIS TIME, AND WITH DEL BAKER STILL AT THE HELM, IN 1932 THE EXPORTERS
CAPTURED THE PENNANT, BECOMING THE FIRST BEAUMONT TEAM TO BECOME TEXAS LEAGUE
CHAMPIONS.  THIS TEAM INCLUDED FUTURE STARS SUCH AS HANK GREENBERG AND "SCHOOLBOY"
ROWE.

    "DUTCH" LORBEER WOULD BECOME MANAGER OF THE TEAM FROM 1934 TO 1936, WITH PLAYERS
JERRY MALLETT AND AL VINCENT BEING A PART OF THE TEAM.

    NOT ONLY DID "DUTCH" LORBEER MANAGE THE EXPORTERS BASEBALL TEAM, HE WOULD
CONTINUE AS A PLAYER, BEING A  CATCHER. IN 1934 WHILE PLAYING FOR THE EXPORTERS, HE SET A
LEAGUE DEFENSIVE RECORD FOR BACKSTOPS WITH A FIELDING AVERAGE OF .995. HE ALSO CAUGHT
74 CONSECUTIVE GAMES THAT YEAR WITHOUT AN ERROR, AND THIS RECORD WAS NEVER EQUALLED.

    A YOUNG AL VINCENT HAD COME FROM BIRMINGTON, ALABAMA TO PLAY SECOND BASE FOR THE
EXPORTERS IN 1934.  DURING THE OFF SEASON HE WOULD ATTEND LAMAR JUNIOR COLLEGE, AND
ALSO HELP JOHN GRAY COACH THE LAMAR FOOTBALL TEAM.

    IT WAS WHILE HE WAS ATTENDING LAMAR IN THE ZOOLOGY CLASS THAT HE WOULD MEET ALICE
ROSE BAXTER, A YOUNG LADY THAT HAD GRADUATED FROM SOUTH PARK HIGH SCHOOL IN 1933,
RESIDING WITH HER FAMILY AT 590 IRBY, AND IT WAS THIS YOUNG LADY THAT ON SEPTEMBER 2,
1935 WOULD BECOME AL VINCENTS LIFE PARTNER, WITH LINDA, FRANCIS AND ALBERT, JR. BEING
BORN TO THEIR MARRIAGE.

    IN 1937 AL VINCENT WOULD TAKE OVER AS MANAGER OF THE EXPORTERS, ALSO PLAYING
SECOND BASE, AND WOULD REMAIN AS PLAYER / MANAGER THROUGH THE 1939 SEASON.

    IN 1938. THE EXPORTERS AGAIN BECAME TEXAS LEAGUE CHAMPIONS WITH DIXIE PARSONS,
LYNWOOD "SCHOOLBOY" ROWE, DUTCH DIETZ, LES FLEMING, "DIZZY" TROUT, FRANK SECORY (WHO
LATER BECAME AN UMPIRE), BARNEY MC COSKY AND MANY OTHER PLAYERS BEING A PART OF THE
TEAM.

    IN THE 1938 PLAYOFFS AGAINST SAN ANTONIO, SAN ANTONIO WAS LEADING THE SERIES 3-2
GAMES, AND WERE AHEAD OF THE EXPORTERS IN THE 4TH GAME, 3-1 WHEN THE EXPORTERS CAME
TO BAT IN THE LAST OF THE NINTH. WITH 2 MEN ON BASE AND 2 OUTS, "DINGLE" CROUCHER HIT A
HOME RUN OVER LEFT FIELD FENCE, GIVING THE EXPORTERS A  4-3 WIN.  THE FANS WENT WILD AND
ALMOST DID NOT LEAVE THE FIELD THE CELEBRATION WAS SO GREAT!

    THE NEXT DAY THE EXPORTERS WON THEIR PENNANT BY DEFEATING SAN ANTONIO 3-2, WITH AL
VINCENT BEING THE DECIDING FACTOR BY BREAKING UP A DOUBLE PLAY BY SLIDING INTO SECOND
BASE AND ALLOWING THE WINNING RUN TO CROSS HOME PLATE.

    ALTHOUGH AL VINCENT'S CAREER WOULD EVENTUALLY TAKE HE AND ALICE ROSE AND THEIR
FAMILY FROM BUFFALO, NEW YORK, DETROIT, DALLAS, TULSA, BIRMINGHAM, FORT WORTH AND
BALTIMORE, THEY WOULD ALWAYS RETURN TO THEIR HOME AT 260 MANOR IN BEAUMONT, WHERE
THEY STILL RESIDE.

    IN 1979 AL VINCENT WAS INDUCTED INTO THE TEXAS SPORTS HALL OF FAME. HE HAS BEEN VERY
ACTIVE WITH THE LAMAR UNIVERSITY BASEBALL TEAM,  HELPING COACH JIM GILLIGAN IN ANY
WAY HE CAN.

    RUBE STUART RETIRED IN 1939, AND "DUTCH" LORBEER BECAME THE OWNER OF THE EXPORTERS
THROUGH THE 1942 SEASON.  THE EXPORTERS HAD FINISHED THE LEAGUE FIRST IN 1942, BUT LOST
TO SHREVEPORT IN THE PLAYOFFS AFTER TAKING A 3-1 LEAD IN THE SERIES.

    WHEN WORLD WAR II WAS DECLARED, THE TEXAS LEAGUE SUSPENDED ACTIVE PLAY, AND
BEAUMONT'S BELOVED EXPORTERS AND STUART STADIUM WERE CLOSED.

    IN DECEMBER, 1945, GUY AIRY WOULD PURCHASE THE EXPORTERS FRANCHISE FROM "DUTCH"
LORBEER, AND RENT STUART STADIUM FROM RUBE STUART.  WHEN GUY AIRY BOUGHT THE
FRANCHISE, THERE WERE NO PLAYERS AND NO EQUIPMENT,

    GUY AIREY WAS A PRODUCT OF MOBILE, ALABAMA, HAVING GRADUATED IN 1914 FROM MC GILL
INSTITUTE AS VALEDICTORIAN OF HIS CLASS.  HIS EMPLOYMENT AFTER GRADUATION WOULD
EVENTUALLY TAKE HIM TO WICHITA FALLS, TEXAS WORKING AS CHIEF CLERK FOR GULF
PRODUCTION COMPANY.  IT WAS THERE HE WOULD MEET ALVIN GARDNER,WHO WAS PRESIDENT OF
THE TEXAS BASEBALL LEAGUE, AND IT WAS THIS FRIENDSHIP THAT WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR GUY
AIREY ENTERING INTO THE BASEBALL PROFESSION.

    AFTER MR. GARDNER PURCHASED THE WICHITA FALLS BASEBALL FRANCHISE, GUY AIREY WOULD
WORK AS SECRETARY OF THE TEAM, AND WOULD LATER TRANSFER TO SAN ANTONIO,WHERE HE
WOULD BECOME EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT.  HIS EMPLOYMENT WOULD LATER TAKE HIM TO
ROCHESTER, NEW YORK IN 1943 TO RUN THE CLUB FOR SAM BEARDEN.

    IN 1928 HE HAD MARRIED RUTH SIMPSON ELDRIDGE, OF WICHITA  FALLS, AND THEY HAD TWO
SONS, ALL OF WHOM WERE VERY ACTIVE IN BASEBALL IT WAS THROUGH ALL HIS YEARS OF
ACTIVITY WITH BASEBALL TEAMS, IN 1945 HE PURCHASED THE EXPQRTERS BASEBALL TEAM. MOVED
HIS FAMILY TO THEIR HOME AT 1814 PARK STREET WHERE THEY RESIDED UNTIL 1973. THIS HOME
QUITE MAJESTICALLY SUPPORTS TEXAS HISTORICAL MARKER, AND IS KNOWN THE HENCHEE HOME,
BUILT IN THE 1890'S.

    THERE BEING NO PLAYERS AND NO EQUIPMENT WHEN GUY AIREY PURCHASED THE EXPORTERS
FRANCHISE, HE WAS FACED WITH COMPLETE REORGANIZATION OF THE BALL TEAM. HE MADE A
WORKING AGREEMENT WITH THE NEW YORK YANKEES, AND THEY SENT HIM 40-45 PLAYERS TO
SELECT THE BEST 18.  JIM TURNER, FORMER PITCHER FOR THE NEW YORK YANKEES WOULD BECOME
MANAGER, AND MR. AIREY AND MR. TURNER WOULD CHOOSE THE BEST PLAYERS  FOR THE
EXPORTERS.  AND SO ANOTHER SEASON OF EXPORTERS BASEBALL WOULD COME TO BEAUMONT,
OPENING. DAY BEING APRIL 16, 1946.

    WITH THE HELP OF THE Y.M.B.L. AND A $15,000.00 NOTE, 53 GLOWING LIGHTS WERE  INSTALLED AT
STUART STADIUM, AND IN MAY, 1946 THE FIRST NIGHT BASEBALL GAME WAS PLAYED IN BEAUMONT,
AND ALL GAMES THERE- AFTER WERE PLAYED AT NIGHT WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE SATURDAY
AND SUNDAY GAMES.

    THE EXACT DATE IS NOT KNOWN, BUT IT IS SAID THAT MICKEY MANTLE PLAYED AN EXHIBITION
GAME AT STUART STADIUM, BUT WAS NOT SELECTED AS ONE OF THE PLAYERS.

    GUY AIREY BROUGHT SOME OUTSTANDING BASEBALL PLAYERS TO BEAUMONT.  CLINT
COURTNEY, DICK WAKEFIELD, RALPH HOUK, JOE COLLINS AND THE BIGGEST STAR OF ALL -GIL MC
DOUGALD.  IN 1950 GIL WAS VOTED THE MOST VALUABLE PLAYER IN THE LEAGUE, AND IN THE 152
GAMES HE PLAYED AT STUART STADIUM HE HANDLED MORE CHANCES, AND TOOK PART IN MORE
DOUBLE PLAYS THAN ANY OTHER SECOND BASEMAN IN THE LEAGUE.  HIS BATTING STANCE WAS
CONSIDERED UNORTHODOX, BUT MANAGER ROGERS HORNSBY (WHO HAD BEEN A  SUPER STAR IN
THE MAJOR LEAGUE) KNEW THAT GIL WAS GETTING RESULTS AND DID NOT TRY TO CHANGE HIS
BATTING STANCE.  IN 1951 GIL BECAME A NEW YORK YANKEE.

    ALTHOUGH THE EXPORTERS DID NOT FINISH IN FIRST PLACE VERY OFTEN, THEY WERE OFTEN THE
SECOND PLACE FINISHERS -- A FEAT WHICH  SPEAKS FOR THE TALENT TO PLAY FOR THE
EXPORTERS.

    MR. AIREY'S SON, GUY, JR. WAS BUSINESS MANAGER FOR HIS DAD, AND HIS SON, GUY AIREY III IS
A PHARMACIST IN BEAUMONT. IN MAY, 1946 GUY AIREY WAS SELECTED IN  BEAUMONT AS "MAN OF
THE MONTH."

     ON OCTOBER 14, 1952 ALLEN RUSSELL, WHO WAS PRESIDENT OF THE HOUSTON BUFFALOS,
WOULD PURCHASE THE EXPORTERS (THE TEAM HAVING BEEN RENAMED THE ROUGHNECKS) FOR
$150,000.00, HIRING NICK CULLOP AS MANAGER

    HIS FIRST ACTION WAS TO REMODEL THE STADIUM AND HAVE A CONTEST FOR A NEW NAME FOR
THE ROUGHNECKS.  CHESTER FERGUSON WAS THE WINNER, RENAMING THE CLUB "EXPORTERS" FOR
THE REASON -"TRADITION ALONE MAKES THIS NAME THE BEST.  THE NAME IS EVEN MORE
APPROPRIATE TODAY IN VIEW OF OUR INTER PORT ACTION AND OUR STANDING AS THE  #1
GULF PORT." IN 1954 LES FLEMING BECAME MANAGER OF THE EXPORTERS.

    IN 1955 ALLEN RUSSELL MOVED THE FRANCHISE TO AUSTIN, TEXAS DUE TO A DROP IN
ATTENDANCE AND THE EMERGENCE OF TV.  IT WAS WRITTEN IN A FORT WORTH NEWS-PAPER THAT
BASEBALL DIED IN BEAUMONT BECAUSE THE MOSQUITOS ATE THE FANS.

           THUS THE END OF A GREAT ERA IN BEAUMONT'S HISTORY, AS WELL AS SOUTH PARK.

    GUY AIREY DIED IN 1953 ALONE IN HIS HOME ON PARK STREET, AND RUBE STUART PASSED AWAY
IN JUNE, 1962.  I UNDER STAND THAT FRANCIS LORBEER, WIDOW OF "DUTCH" LORBEER RESIDES IN
BEAUMONT.

    ALLEN RUSSELL HAD OFFERED TO SELL THE STADIUM TO THE CITY OF BEAUMONT, BUT THE
VOTERS REJECTED THE OFFER. THE PROPERTY WAS PURCHASED BY A LOCAL INVESTMENT GROUP
AND DISMANTLED IN THE LATE '50's AND THE STADIUM SHOPPING CENTER CONSTRUCTED.  A PLAQUE
WAS EMBEDDED IN THE CONCRETE OF THE SHOPPING CENTER WHERE HOME PLATE WAS ONCE
LOCATED, AND "DIZZY" DEAN DEDICATED THE NEW SHOPPING CENTER.

    THERE ARE MANY WONDERFUL MEMORIES OF STUART STADIUM AND THE EXPORTERS, AND IN THE
FIRST YEARS THE GAME WAS ALWAYS SOLD OUT. THERE WERE PEAR TREES PLANTED AROUND THE
STADIUM (BEING LOCATED ON THE EDGE OF THE AREA KNOWN AS PEAR ORCHARD) AND MANY
YOUNGSTERS WOULD CLIMB INTO THE PEAR TREES TO WATCH THE GAME.

    AT THE MAGNOLIA BALL PARK WAS A GROUP OF YOUNGSTERS KNOWN AS THE "KNOTHOLE
GANG." THESE KIDS WOULD TAKE THEIR DAD'S HAMMER AND KNOCK OUT HOLES IN THE FENCE TO
WATCH THE GAME THROUGH -- BUT SINCE THE FENCE AT STUART STADIUM WAS METAL, THEY HAD
TO DEVISE WAYS TO CUT A HOLE -- AND ALL TYPES OF HOLES BEGAN APPEARING IN THE
FENCE.

    KIDS 12 AND UNDER GOT INTO THE BALLGAME FREE IF ACCOMPANIED BY THEIR DAD, AND BUDDY
HEBERT MANAGED TO ACQUIRE MANY, MANY DADS DURING THESE DAYS.  AND SOMETIMES, HE
SAID, THEY WOULD EVEN BUY HIM A COKE. THE KIDS FOUND WAYS TO CLIMB THE FENCE AND SIT
ON TOP TO WATCH THE GAME, AND BUDDY RECALLS WHEN "SCHOOLBOY" ROWE AND "DIZZY" DEAN
PLAYED AGAINST EACH OTHER THE GAME WAS SOLD OUT AND THE GATES LOCKED, AND HE
MANAGED TO HELP KIDS TO THE TOP OF THE FENCE FOR A CHARGE OF .25 EACH.  SOME EVEN
BROUGHT LADDERS TO HELP CLIMB THE FENCE.

    BUDDY RECALLS THE DAY HE AND A FRIEND DECIDED TO WATCH THE GAME FROM THE SCORE
BOARD, AND GETTING UNDER THE BOX LAID ON THEIR BACK AND KICKED OUT SOME BOARDS. TO
THEIR DISMAY THEY DISCOVERED A YOUNG MAN INSIDE, "GUNSHOT" GIBBS, BUT HE AGREED TO LET
THEM STAY AND WATCH AS LONG AS THEY COULD NOT BE SEEN.  THIS WAS THEIR SPECIAL WAY TO
WATCH THE BALL GAMES FOR ABOUT 3 YEARS, AND BUDDY AND JENNINGS "GUNSHOT" GIBBS HAVE
BEEN GOOD FRIENDS OVER ALL THESE YEARS.  GIBBS WAS A 1938 GRADUATE OF SOUTH PARK..

    THERE WERE MANY KIDS OUTSIDE THE STADIUM WAITING TO CHASE A FOUL BALL OR A
HOMERUN, AND BUDDY RECALLS TWO EMPLOYEES OF THE STADIUM, "CRACKER" AND LAWRENCE
WHO WERE HIRED TO GET THE BALLS THAT WENT OVER THE FENCE.  BUDDY WAS EVEN CHASED
HOME BY "CRACKERS" ONE DAY, TRYING TO GET THE BALL.

    DAN EBERHARD (FATHER OF DEAN EBERHARD) WAS A WHEAT FARMER IN KANSAS, AND
ENCOURAGED BY HIS BROTHER TO TRY OUT FOR THE EXPORTERS. DAN SIGNED A CONTRACT  WITH
THE EXPORTERS AND FOR TWO YEARS WOULD CATCH A TRAIN TO BEAUMONT TO PLAY, LEAVING
HIS FAMILY BEHIND, AND WOULD RETURN HOME DURING THE OFF SEASON.  BUT THE THIRD SEASON
HE BROUGHT HIS FAMILY WITH HIM, AND DURING THE OFF SEASON WOULD WORK FOR MAGNOLIA
REFINERY, AND HE REMAINED IN BEAUMONT RAISING HIS FAMILY HERE.

    DEAN ALSO RECALLS THAT HE AND HIS BEST FRIEND, GRADY HATTON (WHO WOULD BECOME A
MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL PLAYER, AND ALSO MARRIED A SOUTH PARK GIRL, DORIS BRANNAN)
LIVED NEAR THE RAILROAD TRACKS BETWEEN BEAUMONT HIGH AND GULF STATES  AND THEY
WOULD RUN DOWN THESE TRACKS UNTIL THEY REACHED THE WASHINGTON BOULEVARD AREA TO
GO TO THE BASEBALL GAME.  (THAT'S A LONG RUN!)

     I WAS NOT ABLE TO FIND OUT MUCH ABOUT THE RUBE STUART FAMILY, BUT IT IS KNOWN THAT
RUBE STUART'S SON, JESSE WEED STUART WAS AN EXPERT AT RIDING A UNICYCLE AND GRADUATED
FROM SOUTH PARK HIGH SCHOOL IN THE LATE 1920's.

    MOST OF THE EMPLOYEES OF STUART STADIUM WERE MEMBERS OF THE SOUTH PARK
COMMUNITY, AND DURING THE OFF SEASON, THE MAGNOLIA REFINERY WOULD EMPLOY THE BALL
PLAYERS.

    LABOR DAY WAS ALWAYS SPECIAL AT THE PARK, WHEN AT THE END OF THE GAME MEN WOULD
SAIL THEIR SKIMMERS ONTO FIELD SIGNALING THE END OF SUMMER.

   THERE WERE 4TH OF JULY FIREWORKS AT THE PARK, AND MANY PEOPLE IN SOUTH PARK WOULD
CLIMB ON TOP OF THEIR HOUSES AND GARAGES TO WATCH THE FIREWORKS.

    THERE WERE FUN GO CONTESTS, AND THROWING CONTESTS.  A BARRELL WAS PLACED ON
SECOND BASE, WITH THE CONTESTANTS THROWING FROM HOME PLATE TO THE BARRELL ON
SECOND BASE.  I UNDERSTAND THAT AL VINCENT WON THIS CONTEST MANY TIMES.

    THE BEAUMONT EXPORTERS AND STUART STADIUM BROUGHT SOME THRILLING AND EXCITING
TIMES TO SOUTH PARK AND BEAUMONT, AND WHEN I THINK OF THEIR DEMISE IT IS WITH REGRET.
BUT I SHALL ALWAYS HOLD SOME WONDERFUL MEMORIES IN MY MIND - AS WILL SO MANY WHO
GREW UP WITH  THE EXPORTERS AT STUART STADIUM.  THANKS,  UNCLE RUBE WHAT GREAT DAYS
THOSE WERE!!

    THIS ARTICLE COULD GO ON AND ON WITH ALL THE MEMORIES I HAVE SHARED WITH THOSE WHO
WERE A PART OF THE ADVENTURES AT STUART STADIUM, BUT IT HAS RUN LONGER THAN I HAD
PLANNED -- SO FORGIVE ME FOR THAT!

    THERE WERE MANY EXPORTER BASEBALL PLAYERS THAT WOULD GO ON TO THE MAJOR LEAGUE
AND WOULD PLAY IN THE WORLD SERIES, ON ALL STAR TEAMS AND BE INDUCTED INTO THE HALL
OF FAME.  GIL MC DOUGLE, "DIZZY" DEAN, "SCHOOLBOY" ROWE, HANK GREENBURG PAUL DEAN,
CARL HUBBELL, "DIZZY" TROUT, FRANK SECORY, BARNEY MCCOSCY, HAL NEWHUSER, AND MANY
OTHERS.

    THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO WAS SO VERY HELPFUL WITH THE INFORMATION ABOUT STUART
STADIUM.  JONATHAN AND DAVID AT TYRRELL HISTORICAL LIBRARY, AL VINCENT AND HIS LOVELY
WIFE (I WISH YOU COULD SEE HER SCRAPBOOKS), DEAN EBERHARD, BUDDY HEBERT, PAT GILBERT
AND GUY AIREY III FOR THE INFORMATION ON THE AIREY FAMILY.

    I APPRECIATE THE INFORMATION I WAS ABLE TO OBTAIN FROM KEN POSTEN'S "STUART STADIUM -
A TRIBUTE TO COMMITMENT" - FROM BEN WOODHEAD'S "BEAUMONT AT LARGE" AND JOHN
WALKER'S "BEAUMONT'S PICTORIAL HISTORY" - AND THANKS TO JONATHAN AND DAVID AND PAT
FOR POINTING ME IN THAT DIRECTION.

    AND I ALSO WANT TO MENTION THAT BEAUMONTER "DUTCH" BERNSEN (GRANDFATHER OF DAVID
BERNSEN) WAS AN UMPIRE IN THE TEXAS LEAGUE, AND STEVE BASIL, GRAND-FATHER OF LT. STEVE
BASIL OF THE BEAUMOT POLICE WAS ALSO A TEXAS LEAGUE UMPIRE AND IN 1936 WENT TO THE
MAJOR LEAGUES AS AN UMPIRE, AND TOOK PART IN THE WORLD SERIES AS AN UMPIRE.

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