Remembering old Dish Field.

When I was in school, back in the dark ages, Dish Field, I think I have that right, was right across the street from Memorial Stadium's north end zone.

Center field had a cliff in left or center field and the top of the cliff was an area that was inside the fence and was in play and called "Billy Goat Hill". We had a center fielder, or left fielder, Jay Arnett that could run around and up that hill and get the ball back into the infield and hold the runner to a double. He was also a guard on the hoops team if my aging brain remembers correctly.

I used to get to the game in time for the warm ups and drills Bibb Faulk's drills compared to the opponents warn up was like watching a pro team compared to a college team. Those drills were precise and very impressive. The opponent had to be intimidated.

If I have any facts wrong, it doesn't hurt if you correct me.

 

It was called Clark Field then.

Clark_Field_(1928)

 

Thanks NB, like I said, my facts may not be 100% correct. You gotta admit, Clark Field had character. Wish you could have seen Jay Arnett climb the hill.

 

I was two years too late, as my first year at Texas was in 1977. Clark field was very unique with "Billy Goat Hill."

The Yankees coming to play there and the legendary homer by Lou Gehrig.

 

I watched many a game at Clark, including the perfect game by James Street. I did, however, miss the game against the Yankees.

 

In 1969 or 1970, Jack Miller played center field for the Horns. Unlike our opponents who would "run around and up that hill", Jack did a modern day sprint "rock climb" to get to the top. The image indelibly imprinted in my mind, is that of an opponent sending a pitch to dead center. Without hesitation, Miller went up the rock cliff, shagged the ball and relayed it to the shortstop who was standing in shallow center. The relay home to Tommy Harmon was on time for the out. For a few moments, Jack Miller stood at the crest of Billy Goat Hill surveying the scene. To me it would have been an award winning photo: The outfielder who has tossed out a runner at the plate, relishing the moment from a point 15 feet or so above the field level, the frenzied crowd cheering his victory!

 

I didn't see it, but heard about it. So did all 35000 of us UT students.