Houston has been a sports-crazy town since its founding in 1836 when the biggest pastime was watching the horse races held south of what was then the capitol of Texas. By 1900, spectators and athletes alike enjoyed the team sports played at every school in the city and suburbs. Companies competed with one another in baseball, basketball, and track. Boxing gyms dotted the wards, and downtown boasted billiard halls, bowling alleys, and indoor shooting galleries. There was also hunting and fishing, auto racing, swimming, and hockey at the Polar Wave, a mid-century indoor ice rink. This book presents a history of how Houstonians competed, where their recreation took them, and how they enjoyed a potential 12 months of outdoor weather. The 20th century was a fun and vibrant time for both fans and participants in the sporting and outdoor life of Houston, and many of todays fans of sports and local history look back on Houstons sporting past with a sense of nostalgia.

Native Houstonian Mike Vance is the founder of Houston Arts and Media, a nonprofit organization dedicated to producing educational media about history. He was also host and producer of the award-winning television series Postcards from Texas. Photographs in this volume came from several archives and private collections around Southeast Texas.