KLTV 7 News Tyler, Longview, Jacksonville |Bringing baseball back to an East Texas town

Bringing baseball back to an East Texas town

By Morgan Chesky - bio | email
Posted by Ellen Krafve - email

COMO, TX (KLTV) - They say if you build it, they will come, and in this case, it just might be true. An abandoned East Texas baseball field could get a second chance, and you are the ones deciding its fate.

For more than half a century this was more than a baseball field.

"It was kind of a meeting place for people to come and have a good time," said Richard Teer.

In Como, Texas the dugouts are empty and there's no one on base. Listen closely though, and you can hear the music of games past.

"Oh yeah, I remember playing several games out here," said Chad Bult, who wore an Indian uniform on the Como City Field 25 years ago. "It was a hot spot there were lots of tournaments here. People would drive in from the metroplex and play softball tournaments here."

It's been ten years since the crack of a bat broke the silence. Bult jumped at the chance to return Como Field to its former glory.

"I was watching the Superbowl and noticed an advertisement by Frosted Flakes," said Bult.

The advertisement was for Kellogg's Plant a Seed contest. A competition offers $15,000 to renovate playing fields, money this field could desperately use.

"The lights pretty weak definitely gonna need some attention," said Bult. "We've got some weeds growin up through the fence line and we don't even have a home plate to use anymore."

Bult submitted the Como field to the contest. Now, the historic diamond is a finalist, one step away from more tournaments and memories under the lights.

"Playin over there at short stop and turning double plays and havin the fans in the stands high-five ya, it was pretty cool," said Bult.

"Just good 'ole American apple pie type thing ya know," said Teer.

You can help bring baseball back to Como. Just go to our home page and click on the Big Red Box. Then click the link East Texas Field of Dreams. The whole process takes less than 30 seconds and could put bats and gloves back in the hands of little leaguers.

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