Now, About the TRACK ARTICLE

*Now, 1st of all before the “meat of the article” begins, I must give credit to Duane Penny for all the information, which I have edited somewhat and submitted. He read my original article and offers this “continuing education” for Forney Folks!*

Don, you are absolutely right about the dirt track! (I like the sound of his beginning: “Don, You Are Right!”) I think it was 1st graded in the spring of 1963, my (Duane’s) Senior Year at FHS. As a “later” baseball-related follow-up, you might want to mention that since track and baseball seasons coincided, and the “track” was on the baseball outfield, the situation presented a unique obstacle for the outfielders.

I know this, because I remember playing left field and having to remember, and “feel for,” the “foothigh” ridge of the track, all the while looking up at the baseball. A “deep” fly ball meant that an outfielder had to step onto or over two ridges! (Can you imagine what opposing teams must have thought about the home field advantage for the Rabbits?)

Of course, in those days other high school baseball fields presented their own unique problems. (Themer’s note: I remember playing against Terrell on their “alternate” field one season when I was a junior or senior—1968 or 1969—and hitting a ball over the right fielder’s head and knowing I had a home-run. I was so happy, because my Grandpa Schroeder had followed Forney’s bus to the field from Forney to watch me play during his visit to our little town. Imagine my dismay when the umpire held up his hands and signaled a “ground-rule double,” because the ball had gone all the way into a lady’s front yard, which was past the mowed area of the field. Two signs at the edge of her yard stated that no trespassing was allowed in her yard, and the umpires new the ground rules! She kept all balls hit into her yard!)

Back to Duane: I remember a game at Buckner Orphan’s Home (the name then) and having to deal with the fact that long fly balls sometimes disappeared into the maize field, ringing the baseball outfield, and that was an even more difficult situation at night! I remember one time charging and disappearing into the maize to retrieve a particularly long fly ball and eventually emerging with the ball after the runner had “long ago” scored! But, importantly, I did return with the ball, which was good because we did not have an unlimited supply then!

I have to laugh at the “manicured” fields of today, as I recall rough, cracked, uneven, weed-clumped, seldom-mowed fields of the “olden days!”

Thanks to Duane Penny, who participated in football, baseball, and track his senior year—and also in quite a few incidents of fun and “horseplay,” as I have heard! Duane has been a faithful “go-to” contributor the past few years of my writing.