Remembering The Astrodome, Blockbuster, Ace Parker

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• published: 13 Nov 2013
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The Eighth Wonder Of the World INDOOR BASEBALL, RENTAL MOVIES, AND A DUKE ACE The Houston Astrodome was the world's first domed stadium, opened in 1965. A pioneer in multiuse facilities, the Astrodome pioneered skyboxes and plush seating. Because grass would not grow well indoors, the Astrodome was responsible for the development of Astroturf. Blockbuster was the country's foremost movie rental business for a generation but could not adapt their business model to new technologies. Ace Parker, a two-time All-American at Duke was the oldest living NFL Hall Of Famer and one of the century's great all-around athletes. Reliant Astrodome, also known as the Houston Astrodome or simply the Astrodome, is the world's first multi-purpose, domed sports stadium, located in Houston, Texas, USA. The stadium is part of the Reliant Park complex. It opened in 1965 as Harris County Domed Stadium and was nicknamed the "Eighth Wonder of the World".[4] In 2001, it hosted WWE (then known as WWF) WrestleMania X-Seven, which set an all-time record attendance for the Reliant Astrodome of 67,925. On Opening Day, April 9, 1965, a sold-out crowd of 47,879 watched an exhibition game between the Houston Astros and the New York Yankees. President Lyndon B. Johnson and his wife Lady Bird were in attendance, as well as Texas Governor John Connally and Houston Mayor Louie Welch. Governor Connally tossed out the first ball for the first game ever played indoors. Dick "Turk" Farrell of the Astros threw the first pitch. Mickey Mantle had both the first hit (a single) and the first home run in the Astrodome. The Astros beat the Yankees that night, 2-1. Clarence "Ace" Parker (May 17, 1912 -- November 6, 2013) was an NFL quarterback who played for the Brooklyn Dodgers (1937--1941), Boston Yanks (1945), and the New York Yankees of the AAFC. He was an All-American tailback at Duke University in 1936. Parker also played Major League Baseball during 1936 and 1937 with the Philadelphia Athletics. Parker was drafted by the Brooklyn Dodgers as the third pick of the second round in the 1937 NFL draft. Sammy Baugh was the only passer drafted ahead of Parker. Parker, who played for the Philadelphia Athletics of Major League Baseball beginning in 1937, originally had no intention of playing in the NFL. Baseball was the glamour pro sport at the time and the NFL had a rough, vulgar reputation. But perhaps because of his .117 batting average that year, he asked for and received permission from the A's to play football. Parker thus became a true two-sport phenomenon, playing both Major League Baseball and NFL football in both 1937 and 1938. Parker, playing various infield positions, batted .179 over two seasons with the A's, scoring 20 runs with 25 RBI over 94 games. Parker was the first of only seven Major League Baseball players to hit a home run as a pinch-hitter in their first at bat.