Redland Ballfield BBQ

C. L. McClesky

a year ago

★★★★★

Redland Ballfield BBQ: The Tale of Delicious Brisket It started as just another Saturday down at Redland Ballfield—the kind of place where the bleachers are faded, the dust never really settles, and folks show up more for the company than the competition. But that all changed the day Big Ray rolled in with a rust-red smoker hitched to the back of his pickup and the smell of mesquite and magic trailing behind him. Big Ray didn’t say much. He never did. Just nodded to the league commissioner, dropped the smoker legs, and got to work. The first whiff of that brisket hit somewhere around the second inning of the Peewee Panthers’ game, and by the fifth, folks were abandoning their folding chairs and drifting toward the outfield like moths to a flame. They say Ray’s brisket was smoked low and slow for 16 hours, crusted in a peppery bark that crunched just right when your teeth sank in. Juicy, tender, and somehow both bold and mellow at the same time, like it had a story to tell but wasn’t in a rush. Rumor had it he used a secret rub passed down from his granddad, who used to cook for cattle drives in West Texas. Others swore it was the wood—he only used Redland post oak, seasoned three months to the day. But no one really knew—and Ray wasn’t telling. All anyone knew was that after you tasted that brisket, the ballgame became background noise. Kids started striking out because they could smell the meat from the dugout. Coaches were caught sneaking sandwiches between innings. One ump nearly passed out from meat sweats in the seventh. And by the end of the day, Redland Ballfield wasn’t known for baseball anymore. It was Brisket Field now. And every Saturday since, win or lose, folks came for the meat and stayed for the memories. Because legends aren’t always made in the big leagues. Sometimes, they’re smoked in a trailer behind third base.

Bernice T

a year ago

★★★★★

My husband and I have passed this BBQ place many times going and coming from Tyler (about 7 years). Today we finally stopped and I am glad that we did. The service was friendly, the food was delicious and the price was fair. We both ordered brisket sandwiches and they were piled high with meat. They even put 2 slices of pound cake in with our order. 😊

Bruce Danvers

Edited 7 months ago

★★★★★

We always enjoy the excellent BBQ and friendly service. We take the food home, but they have experienced and nece sitting area outside. They also ha e a inside area, but we have never been in there.