Tulsa's Lamson gets Texas Hall nod
Summaries on Lamson and Patterson and the other new members are below.
Harry Ables, Pitcher, Executive
Though he never won 20 games in any one of his five full seasons in the Texas League, Harry Ables still accomplished feats that more than 100 years later, have never been equaled in league play. While completing a 74-53 record with Dallas and San Antonio from 1905 through 1910, Ables pitched a number of legendary games, led by his 10 consecutive strikeouts that opened a 4-2 win over Dallas in 1910. Among his other accomplishments in 1910: a 14-inning, 19-strikeout win in which he did not allow a hit until the10th inning and a seven-inning, 1-0 no-hitter over Waco on September 4. During his rookie season, Ables pitched a pair of double headers with results that test credulity. On July 4, 1905, pitching for Dallas, he split a doubleheader versus Waco, winning the opener 3-0 and losing a one-hitter, 1-0 in the second contest, allowing just five total hits in the two games. On July 30, Ables swept a double header from Fort Worth, winning both, 6-0 and 8-0, tossing a one-hitter in the opener and a four hitter in the second game, again, allowing just five hits over 18 shutout innings. Following his playing career, Ables returned to the San Antonio club as their president from 1925 to 1928. As a promotional stunt in both 1925 and 1926, Ables took the mound for his club, losing in '25, but pitching five innings, while winning the next year, allowing just one hit in four innings at the age of 42.
Grant Dunlap, Outfield, First Base
A dependable hitter and a good fielding outfielder, Grant Dunlap helped lead Shreveport to the Texas League championship in 1952 when he led the league with a .333 batting average. Dunlap had missed winning the batting title the previous year by a tiny .0004 percent. For his career, Dunlap is tied for tenth all-time in the Texas League with a .309 batting average, while he also has the fourth best league career on-base percentage with a .400 mark in over 800 league contests. In his five full seasons in the league between 1948 and 1952, Dunlap increased his average each season from .302 in 1948 to .333 in 1952. He also led the league in on-base percentage in 1952 with a .434 mark, while leading all right fielders in fielding percentage in 1948.
Chuck Lamson, Pitcher, Executive
Chuck Lamson went from a promising pitching prospect, who in 1980, would miss pitching a no-hitter for the Drillers by one out, to an injured player hoping to stay in the game by becoming the grounds keeper, caring for the field on which he once played. A sales representative for the Drillers during the off seasons of 1980 and 1981, Lamson joined the Drillers full time in 1982, rising quickly in the organization to become an assistant general manager in 1984. Named Executive Vice President/General Manager in 1995, Lamson helped lead the Drillers to levels of success never before seen by a professional club in Tulsa. In 2006, Chuck bought controlling interest in the club from Went Hubbard. Over the next few years, he worked tirelessly to try to replace Drillers Stadium with a modern playing facility, which he accomplished with the opening of ONEOK Field in 2010. Lamson and the Drillers received numerous awards during his tenure. In 1998 and 2010, Chuck was named the Texas League Executive of the Year. In 1992, 1996 and 2004, the Drillers were named the Texas League Organization of the Year. In 1999, the Drillers received the John H. Johnson award from Minor League Baseball, an award that recognized long term stability and contribution to the community. Finally, in 1992 and 2005, the club was recognized by Baseball America with the Bob Freitas Award which recognizes long term stability and success in Minor League Baseball. Following the 2010 season, Lamson sold his interest in the Drillers to Dale and Jeff Hubbard, ending his 32 year association with the club.
Joe Patterson, Outfield
Joe Patterson, a popular speedy outfielder nicknamed "Speedo Joe," played six seasons for Tulsa from 1962-67, with the first four of those in the TL before the Oilers moved to the Pacific Coast League. Patterson led the TL in stolen bases in three consecutive seasons from 1962-64 with totals rising from 31 to 54 to 67 -- the most in the TL since 1915. He also led the TL in runs with 116 in '64.
In his four TL years with Tulsa, he helped lead the Oilers to two pennants and two other appearances in the championship series. Patterson was a TL postseason all-star in 1962 and '64. His best batting average years were .325 in '62 and .304 in '65.
Cap Peterson, Shortstop
The 1962 Texas League Player of the Year, El Paso's Cap Peterson had one of the finest seasons ever produced by a Texas League shortstop. Though he finished third in the race for the batting title, Peterson hit .335, with 29 home runs and a league leading 130 RBI. He also led the league with 70 extra-base hits, in total bases with 315 and in slugging percentage with a .599 mark. His terrific season helped the Sun Kings finish in first place in the league with an 80-60 record.
Billy Jo Robidoux, First Base
Another of a long line of El Paso sluggers, Billy Joe Robidoux was named the 1985 Texas League Player of the Year after leading the league in eight different statistical categories, including runs, hits, doubles, RBI and batting average. In 1985, Robidoux was part of a terrific El Paso squad that won both half seasons and finished with a record of 86-50, in no small measure due to his hitting accomplishments. His 132 RBI in 1985 set the El Paso franchise all time record, passing the mark set by Cap Peterson in 1962 when he drove in 130 runs.
Ron Santo, Third Base
Playing in his first season as a professional, 19-year-old Ron Santo proved that he belonged in the Texas League after playing in all 136 of San Antonio's games in 1959, hitting .327 and leading the league in doubles and put outs at third base. It would take the slick fielding Santo just one more half season to get to Chicago where he became a mainstay with the Cubs for more than a decade. Santo was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2011.