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Austin, Texas / History

Downs Field

Stand where legends played at Downs Field, a historic East Austin landmark. Once home to the Negro League's Austin Black Senators, this legendary ballpark hosted icons like Willie Mays and Satchel Paige.

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Downs Field
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What is the historical significance of Downs Field?

Downs Field has long served as a pillar of the African American sports community in Austin and was the home of the Austin Black Senators, the city's first Negro League baseball team. In 2015, the Texas Historical Commission named it a Texas Historic Landmark, making it reportedly the first baseball field in the state to receive this recognition.

Which famous baseball players have played at the field?

The historic site hosted legendary players such as Willie Mays, Satchel Paige, Willie Wells, Smokey Joe Williams, and Buck O’Neil.

Who is Downs Field named after?

The field was named in honor of Rev. Karl Downs, who was an influential president of Samuel Huston College.

How is the field used today?

Downs Field serves as an athletic facility and remains the home field for the Huston-Tillotson University Rams baseball team.

What should I check before going?

Use Gyde for context, then check official sources for current hours, tickets, construction, and closures.

What to know

Downs Field is a historic athletic facility of Huston-Tillotson University located at 2816 East 12th Street in Austin, Texas. Situated adjacent to Boggy Creek, the site has served as a vital pillar of the African American sports and cultural community in Austin for over a century. Today, it continues to serve as the active home field for the Huston-Tillotson University Rams baseball team. The field's history is deeply intertwined with the Negro Leagues. In the early 1910s, and later throughout the 1920s and 1930s, the ballpark was home to the Austin Black Senators, the city's first Negro League baseball team. During this era, the field hosted legendary baseball icons such as Willie Mays, Satchel Paige, Willie Wells, Smokey Joe Williams, and Buck O'Neil. The original grandstand bleachers at the site were built to seat 600 patrons. Beyond baseball, the park was a multi-sport hub. In the 1940s and 1950s, L.C. Anderson High School, which was then the only high school for Black students in Austin, played its football games here. Over the years, the field was also utilized by other local teams, including the Austin Black Pioneers, the Greyhounds, and the Indians. Originally constructed as an enclosed, lighted field for African Americans, the park was named in honor of the Reverend Karl Downs, an influential president of Samuel Huston College. The physical field has also undergone changes. In 1949, the city built Downs Field at a different site a mile and a half away. Five years later, the city and the Austin school district completed a land swap, and the field was rededicated at its current East 12th Street location. In 2015, the Texas Historical Commission designated Downs Field as a Texas Historic Landmark, making it reportedly the first baseball field in the state to receive this honor.

Visitor tips

  • Look for the Texas Historical Commission marker designating Downs Field as a Texas Historic Landmark.
  • Find the field at 2816 East 12th Street, situated right next to Boggy Creek.
  • Check the Huston-Tillotson University Rams athletic schedule to catch a live baseball game at their home field.

Nearby context

Situated in East Austin, Downs Field lies adjacent to Boggy Creek. This neighborhood has long been a center for African American community life, closely linked to nearby institutions like Huston-Tillotson University. Walking through this historic area offers a glimpse into the local heritage that shaped Austin's sports and cultural history.

Sources

Evidence and links