Jack Sanders & The Texas Playboys

“If sandlot is to baseball what punk is to rock n roll, then Jack Sanders is our Joey Ramone.” -Beto O’Rourke

Austin-based architectural designer Jack Sanders is not your typical creative. Visit his studio, Design Build Adventure in Southeast Austin, and you’ll find yourself on a sandlot baseball field surrounded by DIY vendor stands, a makeshift stage, and metal sponsor signs. This field, now called The Long Time, is home to the Texas Playboys, a sandlot baseball team consisting of diverse creatives and lead by Jack himself. Together, alongside dozens of other sandlot teams from around the country, they make up the “Sandlot Revolution,” aiming to play baseball in its purest form alongside entertainment and refreshments.

As a sponsor of the Texas Playboys, we were happy to sit down with Jack on a recent trip to Austin and ask him a few questions about the past, present, and future of sandlot baseball.

OTHER THAN BASEBALL, WHAT ELSE HAPPENS AT THE LONG TIME?

Anything you can dream of, as long as we are listed as “additionally insured”, and everybody signs the “Player Waiver”. For real, The Long TIme is a place that encourages and fosters creative expression and experimentation - art and dance exhibitions, creative workshops, experimental building projects, fun weddings and birthday parties. We also host an annual music festival called the Wizard Rodeo.

WHAT’S BEEN YOUR FAVORITE MOMENT AT THE LONG TIME?

It is hard to choose just one as we continuously try to push the bar a little further every year. We have had wild Rube Goldberg inspired bonfire starters, family and friends getting married, legendary live music performances, and game winning home runs. But last May I did give up (as a pitcher) a towering moonshot home run to the one and only, Jack White.

HOW HAS PLAYBOYS BASEBALL EVOLVED SINCE YOU FIRST STARTED THE TEAM, AND WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE IN ITS FUTURE?

I think it’s pretty simple - we want to continue to do this for as long as we possibly can.

WHO ARE THE TEXAS PLAYBOYS?

IF YOU COULD SHARE A MEZCAL WITH ANYONE LIVING OR DEAD, WHO WOULD IT BE AND WHY?

The American artist / musician Terry Allen. The Texas Playboys consider him a living legend and spirit animal of our baseball team. He works across mediums, includes his family, and demonstrates that one’s work can be both serious and fun and the same time. Cheers!

Check out our latest Madre Radio playlist, Funk Fabrique, curated by Texas Playboys team member Topaz McGarrigle and lead man of Golden Dawn Arkestra.

Photos by Shannon Southerland

The Texas Playboys Baseball Club is a sandlot baseball team in Austin, Texas that is heavily influenced by the traditions of old school service organizations, mutual aid societies, and social and pleasure clubs. We play 15-20 baseball games a year, each with a different local non-profit organization designated as a beneficiary. Our goal this season is to raise $100,000 over the course of the season, and have a great time doing it.

WHAT IS THE SANDLOT REVOLUTION?

The Sandlot Revolution is a loose organization of like minded baseball clubs across and the country (and globe) that identify as “sandlot”. These teams share a love of baseball in its purest form , not far from just playing catch in an empty field, with shaded seats and refreshments close by.

WHAT WERE YOU HOPING FOR WHEN YOU BUILT THE LONG TIME?

The municipal fields that we were renting and playing on had large signs that said “No Alcohol” and “No Amplified Music”, and the amenities on the spectator side of the backstop, restrooms and playgrounds mainly, were not up to par. I wanted to create a place where entire families, all ages, could enjoy themselves and have memorable experiences. Like hitting your first home run, or collecting your first foul ball and getting it autographed.