𝗟𝗘𝗚𝗘𝗡𝗗𝗔𝗥𝗬 𝗕𝗥𝗢𝗪𝗡𝗦𝗩𝗜𝗟𝗟𝗘 𝗛𝗘𝗥𝗔𝗟𝗗 𝗣𝗔𝗣𝗘𝗥 𝗕𝗢𝗬𝗦 𝗕𝗔𝗦𝗞𝗘𝗧𝗕𝗔𝗟𝗟 𝗧𝗘𝗔𝗠 𝗢𝗙 𝟭𝟵𝟯𝟮-𝟯𝟯

Brownsville Herald Carriers of 1932-33

By Rene Torres

While the high school athletes of today have the no-pass, no-play rule, the Brownsville Herald carriers of the 1930s, who played for the daily basketball team, had eligibility rules as well; keeping their routes in excellent order and participating in all mandated Herald campaigns.

In 1933, there was much excitement when the Valley Amateur Basketball League was formed and while sometimes weather conditions slowed the league to a stop, that didn’t damper the enthusiasm on the court. 

Outdoor courts were the norm then and there was plenty of outdoor playing during this era. 

At Fort Brown, San Benito and Harlingen, though, they had indoor gyms. 

In Brownsville, the high school boys did not have their own gym until 1946 and Texas Southmost College built their facility in the 1950s. 

Prior to this period, the high school team played indoor games at the old Hinckley Hall Mortuary building and later, at the Opera House on Levee Street.

The Brownsville Herald carriers, although not part of the Valley league, participated as independents, and took all challengers and their ’32 season was marked with a record of high success.

In their 1933 campaign, the Herald squad was undoubtedly a more experienced group with all members of the team regular Herald carriers with the exception of Ruperto Loya, player/coach, a former carrier.

The season called not only to play city teams, but opponents from throughout the Valley although the team did not have a regular court and was handicapped by lack of time for practice.

The paper squad carried ten players on the team and depended on Fred Trdla and Clinton Sessoms for their offensive power. 

That was the case in their first encounter played at Fort Brown against the Brownsville Catolicos Jovenes Mexicanos. The Brownsville Herald cagers got ahead early with pinpoint shooting from Sessoms and Trdla and never looked back. When the final shot was taken the paperboys had rung up a 33-18 victory.

The Jovenes had three players, J. Gutierrez, D. Frias and A. Garza, that did most of the their scoring, but not enough to make a dent on the final tally.

As the Carriers continued to fight for recognition, they ran into a wall in their next game—as the Brownsville Mexican Presbyterians brought the Herald boys down to earth. The church quint played like a well-oiled machine defeating the paperboys 38-15.

With some bad weather in the making, the Herald team took a two week break, which amounted to no good. Upon returning to the court at Fort Brown they lost the first of three games in two days.

Their first defeat was a 35 to 17 to the Brownsville Ponies—that followed by another morning loss at the San Benito gym 43-28. By then, they were well tuckered out, and were embarrassed by the San Benito Skillet Heads 104-25.

Perhaps the complexities of playing on a wooden floor was a venue they could not adjust to. 

The Brownsville Herald cagers kept their day jobs— win or lose; the newspaper got delivered on time the next day.

In this bygone era and beyond, the Brownsville Herald, Valley Morning Star and McAllen Monitor, were actively engaged in sponsoring Valley-Wide Sports tournaments, connecting with their communities and region to help in curbing juvenile delinquency and making sure that “Being Out Was In.”

Brownsville Herald Carriers Roster of 1932-33 included: Walter Sanders, Harry Kowalski, Clinton Sessoms, Fred Trdla and Esteban Lopez Louis Kowalski, Lavern Bohlen, Woolsey Samuels, Henry Lindhorn and Ruperto Loya, player/coach.