By ANDREW CRUM, Staff Writer
Two pitchers from the city of Brownsville were honored for their accomplishments more than half a century ago.
Tony Barbosa and Charlie Vaughan, left-handed pitchers on the 1965 Brownsville High state finalist baseball team, were honored by the West Brownsville Little League during a special ceremony Saturday at the WBL park. It was in this league where their talents blossomed in the years prior to the high school run.
With help from Barbosa and Vaughan, the league handed out its season-ending awards during its closing ceremonies. The former players handed out medals, trophies and received several handshakes and high-fives along the way.
“What I enjoyed about today was remembering when we were 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, those were special years,” Vaughan said. “It really set the foundation for us. To get into organized ball, (the older players) set the standard for us. We were always looking up to those guys to play at their level.”
The southpaws played together from 1957 through 1960 in Little League, winning a league title each year, as well as two city championships during that time.
Vaughan eventually was drafted out of high school by the Milwaukee Braves and played in the major leagues for six years. Barbosa earned a scholarship to play at UTPA and was drafted by the California Angels after college, reaching the Triple-A level. He became a baseball coach, with stops at Pace, Porter and most recently Brownsville Veterans Memorial among others, after his playing career ended.
The RGV Sports Hall of Fame will honor the 1965 Brownsville High baseball team, along with the nine new Hall of Fame inductees, June 27.
Barbosa remembered the competition level and the difference it made at the time.
“We were playing against some of these kids that were two years older. It makes a big difference,” he said. “To compete with those guys, you get inspiration. If you’re able to (compete) or at least hang with them, you’re the one that’s going to reap the benefits.”
Vaughan said Little League was where he became the player he turned out to be.
“You’re always trying to work yourself up to that level,” he said. “If I hadn’t been a part of the success we had in Little League, I might have quit.”
Teams from Brownsville frequently played teams from Mexico , some of them in the same age range and others that we much older. Those games help Barbosa determine his path in his formative years.
“Fortunately, I dedicated myself and it paid off in the long run,” he said. “The competition helps you to determine, are you going to (succeed) or not? It’s comparable to the way soccer is now.”
The pair played against several talented players during that time, but one name kept coming up, Mike Speer.
Speer was a talented pitcher from Los Fresnos, and a pitching duel in between Vaughan and Speer proved quite memorable. Vaughan threw a no-hitter, and Speer gave up a single hit.
“I don’t remember anything about myself,” Barbosa said. “But I do remember that (pitching) matchup.”
Vaughan hit his first home run off of Speer during another game, and the ball struck a green post behind the outfield wall. Someone brought him the post after the game, and it is still in Vaughan’s collection of memorabilia to this day.
Both players also spoke about the importance of the coaches they had and their influence over the years.
“We were blessed with great coaches that kept us going, they loved us,” Vaughan said. “I really think if I hadn’t had the fun I had in Little League, I probably would have fizzled out. The coach makes a huge difference in keeping the kids around in the program.
“I think those things helped unite us as a team, and the support from the parents and coaches. I wouldn’t trade that for anything.”
Andrew Crum covers sports for The Brownsville Herald. You can reach him at (956) 982-6629 or via email at [email protected]. On Twitter he’s @andrewmcrum.