Stories about baseball fans are just as important as those about players and ballparks. I want readers to know about a special group of fans, brothers, and give tribute to one of them in writing this.
First, a little background: When I began sulphurdell.com, our dad, Virgil Nipper, encouraged me to get a booth at Nashville’s Oktoberfest centered around 8th Avenue and Monroe Street in Germantown (it’s changed a lot since then), as Dad told me many who grew up or had family in the area would love to stop by and speak about their memories of the old ballpark.
He encouraged me to have Sulphur Dell t-shirts printed, with the proceeds to go to paying the website fees. I loved the idea but had no idea what the response would be. In a word, it was “Fantastic!”
The date was October 11, 2003, and I enjoyed it, as Dad did, to greet many who took the time to tell their stories and experiences of Nashville Vols games and other events at Sulphur Dell. Some even went home and brought photographs for me to publish.
Besides two people who I met, Linda Center and Debie Oeser Cox, who worked at Metro Archives, which was located in Green Hills next to the mall back then, without their encouragement, my research would not have become what it is was a tall, willowy fellow who stood around and talked to me, my dad, and others who made their way over to my booth.
His name? Pete Mason.
I learned a lot from Pete that day, especially about his love for antique treasures, visiting flea markets and estate sales, and just about anywhere else he could seek out things from days gone by.
You see, Pete was a picker before picking was cool.
He related a story to me that he has repeatedly told over the years about a Nashville Vols game at Sulphur Dell on April 10, 1961, as the Vols hosted the Chattanooga Lookouts on a cool night. The daytime high temperature had been 51 on the way to an overnight low of 36, so the game time temperature was pretty cold at 41 degrees, not unusual for springtime in Nashville, and an estimated crowd of 400 were all that showed up to see the Vols win the game by a score of 8-6. It was only the second game of the season, which would turn out to be the last year of the Southern Association, which had been around since 1901.
Five kids showed up for the game, Pete, his brothers Scotty and Mike, and the two Collier brothers, Mickey and Frank Collier III. Here’s how Pete explained it in his own words:
“(We) were at a night game at Sulphur Dell. It was a freezing cold night game, and we had an old army blanket pulled around us to stay warm. A photographer for the Nashville Banner came by and took our picture that evening. The next night when the Banner came out we were blown away to learn we had made the majors! We had a great write-up with our picture and names. It read: “Here are five of the 400 brave fans who braved the cold last night at Sulphur Dell.”
He closed it by saying, “What a thrill!!!”
It’s a great, thrilling story, especially for Pete and his brothers. But as often happens, I waited too late to tell this story, as Pete passed away a few weeks ago on March 16 at the age of 79.
But there is more to his story. He enjoyed writing poetry and shared poems about his love for Nashville’s Sulphur Dell twice. I cannot begin to tell them as Pete would have, but I would like for you to read them here:
Sulphur Dell Reminiscing They tore the park down in 1969 but it still stands vividly in the old timers mind we can still see in our dream exactly where we sat feeling all the excitement with the crack of the bat It may be gone and no longer a park the lights have been dimmed and all has gone dark the fans have all left and gone separate ways but we have memories to last the rest of our days “Sulphur Dell Reminiscing” © by Pete Mason Old Sulphur Dell I knew it had this most distinctive smell Of livestock and cinder cigarette smoke Hamburgers and hotdogs fizz from the cokes It always seemed to be a magical place The excitement was evident on everyone's face People came from far and near to support the Vols year after year The trip to Nashville was quiet an event but each mile driven was worth every cent But in 1969 it came to a sad and teary end for Nashville had certainly lost a very dear friend! “Old Sulphur Dell” © by Pete Mason
Do you hear his passion for something he truly loved? His obituary states, “he loved telling stories of his childhood and growing up with his siblings.” His family can certainly attest to that, and so can I. Rest in Peace, Pete.
Note: Pete’s obituary is here. This story was told in one of my recent podcast episodes; if you would like to listen, it is here.
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