by Mike Vargas and Bronsbil Estacion
The Grande Theater on E Washington had a barber shop in the front of it that sponsored a local baseball team called the Grande Barbers. In 1956-57 season they won the Rio Grande Valley and state championships for fast-pitch softball. Guzman was named the team's top pitcher, Armendariz was named most valuable player after leading team in home runs and RBI's, and Zamudio was voted team manager of the year. (source info: Brownsville Herald) Thanks to Mike Vargas for sharing this small part of his family history
Team photo in front of the Grande Theater Entrance. Mariano Gonzalez is again at top left while Raul Vargas is top row, second from far right, next to barber Jesus "Chuy" Gonzalez
1950s postcard photo showing Grande sign and Teatro Mexico on corner of E Washington and 11th Sts.
Brothers Raul and Roberto on A&H team. Like his father, Macario (see newsclip below) Raul was also a long-time employee of Brownsville Independent School District (BISD) and Brownsville Public Utitilites Board (PUB) named a street after Roberto Vargas for his many years of service and dedication.
1948 ~ Here's a bit of recognition and appreciation for BISD janitor Macario Vargas who got his photo in the newspaper and could have probably told more about our local history than most so-called local historians of our generation ~ Of his eight children, Raul and Roberto were his sons and Mike Vargas is his great-grandson.
1948 0815 BHerald - Janitor Macario Vargas courtesy Mike Vargas
Macario Vargas (thanks Roberto Vargas)
Thank You so Much this Article was Great!
ReplyDeleteThank you again for sharing this. The response on Facebook was great. It's wonderful to see there are still people that are remembered in these old photos and some of their children and grandchildren got to see these team photos for the first time.
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