The Prospect Hill Yellow Jackets Athletic Club: Origin
During the 1930’s, the Mexican-American lower middle class began formally to sponsor events such as dances, banquets, and fiestas. While many of these events were primarily social, they helped provide a sense of identity and unity for the emerging middle class while differentiating itself from the neighborhood’s working class. In turn, members of this emerging middle-class established organizations and clubs that eventually sponsored athletic leagues and sport activities in the West Side of San Antonio (R. A. Garcia 92).
One such organization was The Prospect Hill Yellow Jackets (PHY) Athletic Club, which was established on January 20th, 1932. On this day, Fernando “Nando” Arellano Sr. called a meeting with three of his friends to discuss how they could start a sports club. Previously, there were no opportunities or facilities provided for the community to participate in recreational sports. After the meeting and eventually gaining a strong following, the end result was the Prospect Hill Yellow Jackets athletic club, which grew to be one of the most successful athletic programs in the city of San Antonio. In 1936, Fernando Arellano founded the PHY Little League and served as its president for three years. The name “yellow jackets” was selected because a church had donated yellow jerseys for the team (Salazar, Veronica. San Antonio Express-News, 3 April. 1977, pp. 2-J).
Due to World War II however, youth sports activities halted for four years. After the war, veterans who used the GI Bill to pursue college educations and secure federal jobs such as at Kelly Air Force Base, were too old to continue playing. Therefore, these members rallied together to build the PHY athletic club. As a result, an administration group formed, which included a president, two vice presidents, a secretary, and a treasurer, to serve as leaders (“Yellow Jackets Plan Big Year for No. 30.” San Antonio Light, 29 Dec. 1963, pp. 4-C). This group’s time, effort, loyalty, and passion helped the PHY athletic club grow and achieve its goals through its motto “youth development through sports.”
The PHY Little League occupied a baseball field at what is now called Rosedale Park, located 1.5 miles southeast from the campus of St. Mary’s University. Rosedale Park was named in 1892 when a surrounding real estate development by the same name was established. At that time, the park covered only 1.7 acres in the middle of the 60-acre planned Rosedale subdivision. A new owner bought the land in 1911, but redevelopment did not begin until the 1960’s (“Rosedale Park.” The City of San Antonio - Official City Website, https://www.sanantonio.gov/ParksAndRec/Parks-Facilities/All-Parks-Facilities/Parks-Facilities-Details/ArtMID/14820/ArticleID/2511/Rosedale-Park?Park=209&Facility=. Accessed 16 Aug. 2020). There was only one field at this time. Undeveloped vacant lots with tall weeds surrounded the baseball diamond and brick two-story concession stand. The now cement-paved drainage canal behind the field, was a muddy, brush-overgrown creek. (Nerio, Mark. Interview. By Adam Nerio. 18 July 2020)
The little league and baseball fields are still in use today. They are now marked as “Fernando Arellano Sr.” Little League Field, “Baldemar Torres & Manuel V. Betancourt” Baseball Field, and “Jesse Vallejo & Juan R. Zepeda” Baseball Field. In addition to the little league and baseball fields, Rosedale Park currently has a soccer and softball field, walking/biking trails, swimming pool, a tennis, basketball, and volleyball court, and two spacious pavilions open to the public.