By Bill McCurdy

If “a good time was had by all” still flies as an appropriate descriptor in 2006, the “45” exhibit’s Grand Opening on Saturday, August 5th lived up to the spirit of that comfortable old expression for an enjoyable house party. That’s how seamlessly the 6:00 p.m. program on Houston Colt .45 history played out last night.

This joint venture of the Texas Baseball Hall of Fame and the Cranks Rooters & Fans museum turned out to be everything that had been advertised to the general public. A happy, laid back stream of over 200 baseball fans came pouring through the doors of Paul Bohannon’s Cranks museum yesterday in testament to this fun day of baseball history celebration that awaited them inside.

The “45” exhibit officially opened on July 20th and will continue through September 10th. “45” focuses on the history of the Houston Colt .45s, the club that brought Major League baseball to Texas in 1962. The exhibit also features valuable one-of-a-kind artifacts from the earlier era of the minor league Houston Buffs, plus items from the Astros and the early years of the Astrodome.

Saturday’s reception simply added the key ingredients of people and hospitality as icing on the cake of celebration. In addition to scores of fans, some high caliber names in Houston baseball history also attended, stirring the pot of discussion and baseball camaraderie. Former Colt .45s/Astros players Jimmy Wynn, Larry Dierker, Bob Aspromonte, and Norm Miller all showed up, and all of them spent generous time reminiscing about the golden days of Houston’s early baseball history. Also in attendance, and hot on the heels of receiving the Ford C. Frick Award for broadcasting excellence last Sunday in Cooperstown, Gene Elston, the original Voice of the Houston Astros, came early and stayed late to talk baseball with the fans.

It was a great night for meeting other people who were knee-deep in the joy of baseball history and memorabilia collecting. One fan showed up with his own collection of Houston Buff game programs that dated all the way back to 1928, the year that Buff Stadium opened for its first season of service to Houston baseball. Wow! You won’t run into people like that wonderful gentlemen everyday, but you could have at Cranks yesterday.

Topping off the evening, the crowd enjoyed the best of baseball cuisine, free of charge. Hot dogs, Cracker Jack, popcorn, and soft drinks provided the final touch on an evening that could best be described as a baseball state of mind. My only regret is that some of those eastern writers who fail to understand our baseball roots in Texas could not have been with us to grab a glimpse of the truth.

Special appreciation is due two people who made the “45” exhibit the labor of love it turned out to be, and those two true-blue baseball guys are none other than Paul Bohannon, the owner of Cranks Rooters & Fans, and our own Texas Baseball Hall of Fame Director of Operations, George Scroggins. Thanks for the memories, Paul and George. Your efforts made it an unforgettable night for scores of baseball people and we all thank both of you for the efforts and results you put forth in this worthy cause.

Friends, if you missed the Grand Opening, please don’t miss the “45” exhibit itself. Until September 10th, the finest collection of Colt .45 history ever assembled in Houston awaits your visit.

"45" Exhibit Schedule
Host: Cranks Rooters & Fans 26710 I-45 North
          (281) 419-3363
Dates: July 20–September 10, 2006
Times: Thursday–Friday: 5 pm–8 pm, Saturday: 10 am–8 pm,
            Sunday: 1 pm–8 pm.
The exhibit is open for viewing at other times by appointment.
 

Presented by the Texas Baseball Hall Of Fame.
“Preserving History... Celebrating Excellence... Baseball Forever.”

The Texas Baseball Hall of Fame would like to offer a very special thanks to our exhibit host and sponsor Cranks Rooters & Fans! Cranks is a sports entertainment and business center that provides a unique environment for groups of up to 100 people. Founded by life-long collector Paul Bohannon, the center houses a very nice collection of autographs and memorabilia from various sports, with a special focus on baseball. For directions and further information about our host facility, please visit the Cranks Rooters & Fans site or call (281) 419-3363.

For all other questions, please contact our Director of Operations, George Scroggins.