Demolition of Falcon Park Begins - Photograph © Steven L.J. Russo
Joining Donnie Wall in the rotation was future All-Star Astros’ 19 game winner Shane Reynolds who went 3-2 with a 2.31 ERA and future Detroit Tigers All-Star closer Todd Jones who was had not yet gone to the bullpen at this point and was not doing well as a starter posting a 2-3, 5.44 record. The 1990 Auburn Astros continued to flounder with a 31-46 (.403) record behind the hitting of future Kansas City Royals’ Chris Hatcher (10 2Bs, 9 HRs, .247) and future S.F. Giants’ Jeff Ball (18 2B, 5 HR, 20 SB, .289). Falcon Park would find its next speedster in 1991 as future Houston Astros’ James Mouton posted a very impressive 60 stolen bases while batting .264 with 15 doubles and 10 triples. Joining Mouton at the plate was Eric Martinez who was was the big hitter batting .320 with 20 2Bs and 9 HRs. Mark Loughlin providing some solid pitching going 8-2, 2.01 and he was joined by Heath Rose (7-4, 2.72) to help right the ship back to just one game under .500. It didn’t take long however for the righted ship to begin listing again as they were back to 9 games under .500 by 1992. Along with the poor performance on the field and a dwindling attendance came word that Falcon Park may be in its final days. The 65 year old ballpark was said to be in the latter stages of its lifecycle and Auburn was going to team with sister city Batavia (who also had an older wooden ballpark in Dwyer Stadium, 1939) to tear down both ballparks within a year of each other and build two brand new identical aluminum grandstands on their same respective sites.