Baseball Shorts: The Day an MiLB Game Was Cut Short Due to Livestock

In this episode of “Baseball Shorts” we are dealing with a story of how a Texas League game was cut short because of livestock.

It all happened on Juy 28, 1888 in a Texas League (back then an independent league) in Austin where the Senators hosted the game.

All of a sudden, a wild bull entered Fairgrounds Park, the home field of the Senators, and charged the team’s outfielders. The players ran to all corners of the ballpark and the fans in the stands also made sure they got out of the way.

The ownership of the club and the umpire decided to call the game because of the imminent danger.

If this was an omen of what was about to come is not sure, but fact is that the Austin Senators did not make it financially and were moved to San Antonio before the season ended, not a strange thing in those days.

But despite the financial hardships in the 1888 season, the Senators returned to Austin for the 1889 season. The Texas League had its ups and downs as well and has been operating steadily since only 1902.