Don Baylor Neighborhood Park Renaming And Historical Marker Unveiling

Please join us for a Renaming Ceremony and Historical Marker Unveiling for Don Baylor Neighborhood Park!

Last year, my team and I led the city council in adopting an ordinance renaming Westenfield Neighborhood Park after the late Don Baylor, a Clarksville native who overcame segregation to become a baseball legend. Join us for a ceremonial unveiling of the park’s new historical marker! A reception at Sweet Home Missionary Baptist Church will follow.

Don Baylor (1949–2017) grew up in Clarksville, a historic Texas Freedom Community near this park. Despite segregation preventing him from playing in the park as a child, Baylor broke barriers throughout his life. He was among the first Black students to integrate O. Henry Middle School and later attended Austin High School. Drafted by the Baltimore Orioles in 1967, Baylor became one of the first African American players signed directly out of high school in Texas. His Major League Baseball career spanned 19 seasons, earning him the American League’s Most Valuable Player award in 1979 and a World Series championship in 1987. Baylor later managed the Colorado Rockies and Chicago Cubs, earning Manager of the Year honors in 1995.

Beyond the field, Baylor was a tireless advocate for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and a lifelong member of Sweet Home Missionary Baptist Church. His induction into multiple sports halls of fame and burial at the Texas State Cemetery reflect his enduring impact on Texas and the nation.

Funding for the interpretive marker came from District 10, Austin Parks Foundation, and the Baylor family.