1988 -1989 EPBBHOF

Album Cover for 1988-1989 EPBBHOF INductees

Area: Eastside / Eastwood

Source: El Paso Baseball Hall Of Fame 2

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ANDY COHEN

Inducted in Original Class of El Paso Baseball Hall of Fame in 1988 Designated as First Member to be inducted in El Paso Baseball Hall of Fame Andy played for El Paso High School and lettered in football, basketball and baseball Member of El Paso High School State Championship basketball team He played baseball, basketball and football at the University of Alabama After college he signed with Waco in the Texas League and the New York Giants bought his contract after playing against him in 1926 Signed in 1927 and played Major League baseball for the New York Giants for 3 years as a second baseman replacing Rogers Hornsby Played professional minor league baseball for 10 years Managed in the minor leagues Managed the Philadelphia Phillie for one day winning the season opener 5-4 in 10 innings Cohen coached Texas Western College and the University of Texas at El Paso for 17 years Instrumental in launching many young men to finish school and careers in baseball Cohen Stadium is named in tribute to his and brother Syd’s contribution to baseball in El Paso First man to be inducted into the El Paso Hall of Fame

Area: Eastside / Eastwood

Source: El Paso Baseball Hall Of Fame 2

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SYD COHEN

Inducted in Original Hall of Fame Class of 1988 Recognized as one of the Most Popular” players to ever play in El Paso Played at El Paso High School Played at the University of Alabama Signed a pro contract to play for San Francisco in the Pacific Coast League He played many years in Mexico Was a legend in the Mexican Leagues and played under the name of “Pablo Garcia” Played for the Washington Senators 1934-1937 He was the last man in the American League to strike out and give up a home run to Babe Ruth Managed teams for many years in the El Paso area and in Mexican Leagues Helped establish baseball program with his brother Andy at the University of Texas El Paso Member of the El Paso Athletic Hall of Fame Cohen Stadium is named in honor of Syd and Andy Cohen

Area: Eastside / Eastwood

Source: El Paso Baseball Hall Of Fame 2

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NEMO HERRERA

Inducted in Hall of Fame Original Class of 1988 Coached the Bowie Bears to El Paso’s first High School State Championship in 1949 Coached baseball and basketball in Texas for 43 years Coached Jim Ochoa and Nolan Richardson and many other players who went on to star in high school, college and professional baseball Became Coronado High School’s first baseball coach and won the District title the first 2 years the school was eligible to compete Recognized for being “strict but fair” and always “stressed discipline and respect for teammates and opponents” School named in his honor in El Paso Texas Named to Texas High School Coaches Hall of Honor Member of the Texas Athletic Hall of Fame Member of the El Paso Athletic Hall of Fame Recognized by players and opponents as a “hell of a man and a hell of a Coach”

Area: Eastside / Eastwood

Source: El Paso Baseball Hall Of Fame 2

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LEO FORTI

Inducted in Original Hall of Fame Class of 1988 Involved in baseball for over 60 years starting in the 1930’s Organized a neighborhood team for teenagers in 1930 at the age of 15 In 1932, he organized the Mex-Tex League for both El Paso and Juarez teams Highly successful coach whose teams beat the powerful Ft. Bliss Falcons and the Alpine Cowboys in the 1950’s Teams won 26 championships and 14 runner up finishes Teams won 1,893 games and only 678 losses Teams won 7 championships from 1943 to 1953 Played all positions even pitching especially on his birthday every year Organized and involved in baseball, softball, boxing, basketball and football leagues A true man of commitment who even bravely played a game on his wedding day Hacienda Park in Lower Valley renamed “Lionel E. Forti Park” in his honor Legacy is of a personable and honorable man who touched the lives of many in El Paso through the game of baseball

Area: Eastside / Eastwood

Source: El Paso Baseball Hall Of Fame 2

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BOB INGRAM

Inducted in Hall of Fame Original Class of 1988 Graduate of University of Oklahoma Served as Sports Editor of the Daily Oklahoman Instrumental in putting together the first Sports section for the El Paso Herald Post Served as Sports Editor for Herald Post from 1926 to 1981 (55 years) He was the only man in the Sports staff until 1950 when Ray Sanchez was hired Covered all El Paso professional baseball teams from the Texans, the Sun Kings, the Sun Dodgers to the Diablos Covered Texas Western, University of Texas El Paso college baseball, high school baseball and youth baseball Encouraged Little League, Optimists and other youth programs with his coverage of their activities Member of the El Paso Golf Hall of Fame Inducted into the El Paso Athletic Hall of Fame

Area: Eastside / Eastwood

Source: El Paso Baseball Hall Of Fame 2

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JOE HAGUE

Inducted in Hall of Fame Original Class of 1988 Enjoyed an extremely successful high school career at Bel Air High School All District in baseball in 1961 and 1962 All District in football on both the offensive and defensive teams his Senior year His Bel Air High School Coach, El Paso Baseball Hall of Famer Jim Pufal was quoted, “he has more natural attributes than any other player I’ve coached . . . one in a million – the kind of kid you dream about” Accepted an athletic scholarship offered by Coach Darrell Royal to play for the University of Texas Longhorns in 1962 Standout on Longhorn freshman football team Lettered three years playing for the Longhorns baseball team under legendary Coach Bibb Falk Won triple crown playing in Central Illinois Collegiate League in 1965 Signed with St. Louis Cardinals in 1968 Played for Tulsa in Pacific Coast League and earned a call to the Majors later in 1968 He played four years with the Cardinals Traded in 1972 to the Cincinnati Reds and played in the 1972 World Series El Paso Baseball Hall of Fame presents an annual honor in his tribute

Area: Eastside / Cielo Vista

Source: El Paso Baseball Hall Of Fame 2

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JIM PAUL

Inducted in Original Hall of Fame Class of 1988 Owner of El Paso Diablos Resurrected and brought Diablos organization to the forefront of Minor League Baseball Creative marketing ideas were emulated throughout all levels of baseball including the Major Leagues Featured in numerous sports publications including Sports Illustrated Innovative genius who helped re-energized minor league franchises and enhance their value throughout the United States Led Diablos organization to win National Administrative Baseball honors including the MacPhail Trophy in 1976, 1982 and 1993; President’s Trophy in 1986 and the Minor League Franchise of the Decade for the 1980’s

Area: Eastside / Eastwood

Source: El Paso Baseball Hall Of Fame 2

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JIM OCHOA

Inducted in Original Hall of Fame Class of 1988 First gained recognition as a Pitcher in the American Legion League when he pitched all 18 innings of the City Championship game which his team won 1-0 in 1946 Most Valuable Player of American Legion League in 1946 Only lost 1 game during his high school career as a Pitcher He was the first player in El Paso to sign a pro contract directly out of high school signing with the Boston Red Sox in 1949 Assigned by the Red Sox to the El Paso Texans and pitched for them until 1951 when he was called to the United States Army Played against Gus Triandos, Dick Kokos, Dr. Bobby Brown and Don Newcombe Returned in 1953 to the El Paso Texans and his contract was bought by the Pittsburgh Pirates who sent him to play for the AAA Mexico City Tigers In 1955 he pitched the Mexican League Championship game against future New York Yankee Jim Bunning He finished his pro career in 1958 playing in the Mexican League where he averaged 14 wins per season and led the league with the lowest earned run average on multiple occasions He later played Semi-Pro pitching for the El Paso Merchants and Fast Pitch Softball in the City League

Area: Eastside / Eastwood

Source: El Paso Baseball Hall Of Fame 2

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GONZALO GARCIA

Inducted in Original Hall of Fame Class of 1988 Played football, basketball, track and tennis at Anthony Valley High School now known as Gadsden High School and was voted the school’s top athlete three straight years Set school record scoring 55 points in a basketball game Led 1947 and 1948 teams to American Legion Championships Played for the Juarez Indios under Syd Cohen when they won the 1950 Arizona-Texas League championship Played for Yuma Arizona in the Sunset League in 1952 Batted .317 with 7 home runs in 1953 for the El Paso Texans In 1954, hit .337 with 17 home runs and made what many old timers remember as “the catch” while playing right field at Dudley Field against the Tucson Cowboys leaping and catching a ball that took him full force into the wall 1956-1958 played Semi-Pro for the Anthony Merchants a well known team in the El Paso area Recognized as the “Godfather of Canutillo” because of the key role he played in starting the Canutillo Independent School District Elementary School in Canutillo named in he and his wife’s honor Canutillo High School baseball field is named in his honor

Area: Eastside / Eastwood

Source: El Paso Baseball Hall Of Fame 2

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BETO MENDEZ

Inducted in Original Hall of Fame Class of 1988 Started playing in the Boyland League in 1925 Played Semi-Pro baseball from 1928 to 1937 as a Pitcher Pitched in the Commercial League and the International League In 1944, he pitched for Andy Cohen and the El Paso Texans in the Mexican League Struck out Major Leaguer Lou Stringer of the Chicago Cubs in a game in Arizona Struck out Joe Gordon in an exhibition game pitching for the El Paso Texans at Dudley Field against the New York Yankees in 1944 Upon completion of his playing days, he served as President of the International, Commercial, Lower Valley and Big Four leagues for over 10 years Managed in youth leagues for 3 years In 1955 he brought the Babe Ruth League to El Paso According to Ray Sanchez, “he brought a lot of joy and happiness to alot of young people who would not have found a place to play baseball”.

Area: Eastside / Eastwood

Source: El Paso Baseball Hall Of Fame 2

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RAY SANCHEZ

Inducted in 1989 Joined the El Paso Herald Post as a sports writer in 1949 First person hired by Hall of Famer Bob Ingram to staff El Paso area sports coverage Covered all aspects of baseball from youth, Optimists, PONY, Mickey Mantle, high school, college, Semi-Pro, Old Timers, Professional baseball and the World Series One of the founders of Little League in El Paso in 1950 Served as official scorekeeper for the El Paso professional baseball teams In the 1950’s and 1960’s, he served as the official scorekeeper of the El Paso Major Softball League Covered the World Series in 1985 Original Board Member of the El Paso Baseball Hall of Fame Wrote the book “Glory Road” on Texas Western Miners journey to NCAA National Basketball Championship which was later adapted into a movie Scored a on-camera role in the movie, “Glory Road” Served as President of the El Paso Baseball Hall of Fame Author of numerous articles for numerous publications as recently as November 2010 Recognized authority on the evolution of El Paso baseball and its players for over the past 60 years

Area: Eastside / Eastwood

Source: El Paso Baseball Hall Of Fame 2

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CHARLES SMITH

Inducted in Class of 1989 All District hitting .400 in 1947 for Austin High School Started pitching in 1948 and went 6-0 and again gained All District honors leading Austin to District Championship Played for first Texas Western baseball team in 1951 Posted a pitching record in Semi-Pro baseball of 111 – 26 in the 1950’s Pitched a no-hitter, three one hitters and had games in which he struck out 24, 20 (twice) and 19 batters Named to All Southwestern Semi-Pro Tournament team twice Offered Professional baseball contracts by three different organizations Outstanding softball player and was on several championship teams which went on to National Playoffs Member El Paso Baseball Hall of Fame Board of Directors

Area: Eastside / Eastwood

Source: El Paso Baseball Hall Of Fame 2

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JOHN PHELAN

Inducted in 1989 Active civic leader for many years Served as Commissioner for El Paso Little League in 1955 General Manager of the El Paso Texans in 1950 President of the El Paso Sports Association which revived professional baseball in 1962 Executive Vice President of EP Sports from 1962 to 1966 Helped get the El Paso Sun Kings admittance into the Texas League El Paso Sun Kings won Texas League Championship their first year of play Noted humanitarian and recognized sportscaster for Texas Western, the Sun Kings and many local sports Described as a “friend to one and all” by fellow Hall of Famer Ray Sanchez

Area: Eastside / Eastwood

Source: El Paso Baseball Hall Of Fame 2

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MICHAEL SIMON

Inducted in 1989 Batted .456 for the Tucson Cowboys in the old Arizona-Texas league Selected to Arizona-Texas League All Star team on several occasions Played in the Mexican National League in Veracruz and hit .471 Entered Army in 1942 and played for Ft. Knox and Camp Campbell where he was selected to All Star team Recognized as a “clutch” hitter In 1945, the Chicago Cubs offered him a contract but he chose to stay home with his family and played with several outstanding Semi-Pro teams

Area: Eastside / Eastwood

Source: El Paso Baseball Hall Of Fame 2

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LOLO CALDERA

Inducted in 1989 Started playing Semi-Pro baseball in El Paso in 1937 Served in the Armed Forces from 1942 – 1946 Resumed his baseball career in 1946 and won batting titles in the City League, International League and Old Pro League Won four Most Valuable Player and two Gold Gloves awards playing for Leo Forti’s team Won two home run titles Played into his 70’s despite undergoing heart surgery in 1980

Area: Eastside / Eastwood

Source: El Paso Baseball Hall Of Fame 2

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