By TRINA “INDI” JOHNSON
Special to the NEWS
HARLINGEN, TX—In 1956, Rene Torres, a wide-eyed bat boy, stood on the Rio Grande Valley’s sun-scorched fields, captivated by the sharp cracks of bats and the crowd’s electric roar.
That passion still fuels Torres’s voice when he discusses baseball, inspiring the “Batter Up” exhibit at the Harlingen Arts & Heritage Museum, opening August 15, 2025.
Packed with weathered gloves, bold jerseys, and faded photographs, the display thunders with the Valley’s deep love for the game. An opening reception on Thursday, August 28, from 6 to 8 p.m., invites the public to absorb this vibrant history.
“I’ve not only played the game, I’ve researched the game, I’ve written about the game,” Torres, a frequent contributor of history columns and stories published in the NEWS, said, his voice thick with memory. “That exhibit is looking at it through the eyes of a bat boy.”
From bat boy to scholarship athlete at what is now UTRGV’s Edinburg campus, where he earned a 2022 Hall of Fame induction, Torres has devoted decades to preserving the Valley’s baseball legacy.
The collection is full of relics: snapshots of local teams from the 1920s, 1930s, and 1940s, along with jerseys that show signs of past games. “There are many local photos of teams that played here in the Valley in the 1930s, 40s, and even the 1920s,” Torres explained. “You’ll see vintage jerseys from those teams that played here locally.”
Standout pieces include a uniform from the Pan American College Broncs’ 1971 College World Series run, a shining moment for the Valley. Another gem is a 1960 Rio Grande Valley Giants jersey that bears Hall of Famer Gaylord Perry’s signature. “When he signed this photo at a show in Houston, he also wrote his name, aside from writing Harlingen, Texas, which is unique to that jersey,” Torres said, his excitement clear.
The exhibit lifts trailblazers like Adolfo Arguijo, a San Benito native, who was invited to the New York Yankees’ training camp in 1923. “Arguijo was born in San Benito, Texas, but lived most of his life in Brownsville,” Torres noted. Leo Najo, drafted by the Chicago White Sox, also pushed past the era’s racial barriers. “The fact that the Yankees invited Arguijo to the training camp and the White Sox invited Najo means a lot,” Torres said, his tone heavy with respect.
A photograph of the 1939 Al Stein All-Stars, a Brownsville amateur team sponsored by local businessman and sports enthusiast Al Stein, holds special significance. It features Ruben M. Torres Sr., Torres’s brother, whose legacy as a player, educator, and state legislator is remembered in Brownsville’s Ruben M. Torres Sr. Blvd, formerly FM 511. “There’s a photo there of him with an Al Stein team,” Torres said quietly, noting its place near the museum’s entrance.
A four-foot statue of a young boy, shipped from Europe and delivered to Torres’s home by an 18-wheeler, adds a playful touch. “It’s something very, very unique that nobody’s ever seen down here,” he said, encouraging visitors to observe it. The exhibit also highlights the Valley’s fast-pitch softball teams—women who stole the spotlight during World War II when male players served overseas.
While the All-American Girls’ Professional Baseball League gained national fame, these local women made their mark. “They took over the entertainment from 1940 to 1947,” Torres said. “They had large crowds at the ballpark, and you’ll see photographs of the girls and a few uniform samples from the 1940s.”
Torres’ roots run deep. “The idea has always been on my mind because I’ve done exhibits before throughout the Valley,” he said, recalling shows in McAllen, Edinburg, San Benito, and Brownsville.
“This is something that I’ve done before, and I hadn’t had an exhibit in Harlingen, so that’s why I picked Harlingen,” he said.
He was a shortstop for Brownsville High’s 1965 state finalist team, earned a scholarship to Pan American College, and completed a master’s in education, cementing his role as a sports chronicler.
Museum curators shaped Torres’ collection with precision, crafting a display that resonates. “I think people will be pleasantly surprised with what they’re going to see there,” Torres said.
For those eager to hear the Valley’s baseball story thundering through the decades, “Batter Up” offers a bold, soul-stirring journey, seen through the eyes of a bat boy who still feels the game’s pulse.
Harlingen Arts & Heritage Museum is located at 2425 Boxwood St, Harlingen, TX. For more information, call, (956) 216-4900.
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