Before the Skeeters and Space Cowboys, the Pirates and Imperials Played in Sugar Land

As February comes to a close, the Space Cowboys honor the history and contributions of black baseball players to Sugar Land and the greater Houston area. Special thanks to the Sugar Land Heritage Foundation and Kevin Glenn for their fantastic assistance and contributions to tell the story of the history of the Imperial Tigers and Pirates.

Constellation Field, the current home of the Triple-A Sugar Land Space Cowboys, sits nestled into a bow of Oyster Creek, a vital waterway through Sugar Land that winds its way past the old Imperial Sugar Factory before flowing down to the Brazos River. While Constellation Field sits on the north sides of the banks, it is just a stones throw away from the great tradition of baseball in Sugar Land, on the opposite side of the creek.

Before Stadium Drive existed and stretched over Oyster Creek, situated slightly west of the Imperial Sugar Factory was the West End Ballpark. It's location shifted down Old Imperial Boulevard when part of the land was sold to Nalco, settling into it's place beyond what is currently the right field wall at Constellation Field. During its time of operation, the West End Ballpark was home to several teams, including the Imperials, the Imperial Tigers and the Imperial Pirates. As we conclude Black History Month, we recognize the players of the predominantly black teams of the Imperial Tigers and Imperial Pirates that wowed and entertained fans long before there was affiliated baseball in Sugar Land.

Starting in the 1950's, Sugar Land had two baseball teams that were both sponsored by Imperial; the Imperials and the Imperial Tigers. The Imperials were primarily made up of hispanic players, while the Imperial Tigers were primarily a Negro League team that was considered to be City League / Sandlot baseball.

The Tigers and the Pirates would play at the West End Ballpark on Sundays, sometimes playing doubleheaders. During the regular season, they would play teams throughout Texas and the surrounding area, along with playing teams that would come up from Mexico. Regular season opponents included teams located in San Antonio, Austin, Seguin, Columbus, Sealy, Glen Flora, Eagle Lake, Texas City, Hitchcock, Spring and even into Louisiana in Alexandria and Vinton.

Players from the 1950's and 60's era of the Imperial Tigers/Pirates included Frank Johnson, Leon Blackburn, Earnest Johnson, Robert Kiser, Frank Turner, Charlie Freeman, Willie Jackson, Norris Smallwood Jr., Leon Weems, Gloss Martin, Walter Lawson, Rudolph Kiser Sr., Audrey Beal, Billie Jackson, Charlie Gussett, Buster Wharton, Ruth Matthews, Lucius Coleman, Oris Rainer, Jessie Gant, Forrest Johnson, Ollie Woodfork, Charles Thomas and Frank Thomas.

Several managers led the team in this era, including Curley Thomas, Bill Thompson, Tommie Green and Frank Johnson Jr.

The team continued to play as the Tigers and Imperials into the 1970's. Players from this era included Glenn Holloway, Roy Smallwood, Reginald Ford, David Hoke, Billie "Skipper" Jackson Jr., Ronnie Perry, Timothy "Wayne" Whitehead, John "Skill" Foster, Bernice Haywood, Eddie Lindsey, Kenneth McLemore.

While West End Ballpark no longer exists, the Space Cowboys are honored to carry on the legacy of baseball in Sugar Land and Fort Bend County and will continue to keep alive the history of the pioneers of baseball in the area.