Inducted in 1994
Began his baseball journey at age 8
Played for Ysleta High School and during his senior year, he hit .356 playing third base and earning All District honors while leading the Indians to the District Championship
Played at Texas Western for Coach Andy Cohen
starting at shortstop for two years
His senior year he had a .304 batting average
From 1961-1964, he played City and Forti’s League hitting form .345 to .420 and made the All Star team twice
Following college he played Winter Ball for the Los Angeles Angels prospects team and was the only free agent to sign during Spring Training
Assigned to Quad Cities Angels in 1965 before the National Guard called him to active duty
Returned to El Paso in 1967 to play and manage 777 Club to city crown
Gained multiple All Star honors and in the early 1970’s hit over .400 and was named Most Valuable Player
Served as Officer and President of the El Paso Baseball Hall of Fame
Inducted in 1994
Little League All Star Pitcher and third baseman in San Francisco
All Star for Pony League in Virginia
Four year letterman in high school in Wisconsin
Led his high school team and conference in hitting with .463, .545 and .568 averages
Played for Texas Western College in 1963
Played one year of college basketball under Moe Iba
Played baseball for Miners hitting .368, .348 and .386 during his collegiate career for Miners
Team leader in offensive categories
Played professionally for California Angels Class A team in Idaho Falls Idaho and was only team member selected to All Star Team
Returned to El Paso in 1968 where he played fast pitch softball
Coached Freshman baseball at MacArthur Junior High from 1975-1978
Succeeded Andy Cohen and coached UTEP baseball team in 1979 and 1980
Inducted in 1994
By age 14, he already had an outstanding baseball career
Started playing Semi-Professional baseball at age 16
In 1951, he played Shortstop and Pitcher and led Jefferson High School to a District Championship
Signed by Syd Cohen in 1953 as an infielder by Bisbee-Douglas of the Arizona-Texas League
Played shortstop and second base while enlisted and serving in the Marine Corps
In 1956, played for the Pittsburgh Pirates organization
Managed and played in the City League starting in 1956 winning several City and Lower Valley titles
Earned “Manager of the Year” honor in 1959
In 1969, he joined the El Paso Umpires Association and worked high school and UTEP games
Retired as a umpire to devote his time to coaching his Sons from Little League to Thoroughbred League
His Son Frank enjoyed All District and All City career at Eastwood High School and later signed with the Chicago Cubs
Inducted in 1994
Began playing Semi-Pro at age 15 in El Paso and Juarez
Played on championship teams from 1947 to 1954
From 1947 to 1949, he played for first place champions Fred Hervey baseball team and won the batting title averaging .398
Led championship teams again from 1965-1967 and 1972 to 1974
He played on one last championship team in 1977
During his 41 years playing baseball he had a .340 batting average
Recognized as a team player who feels that baseball promotes discipline and self confidence
Played for the love of the game and baseball will always live in his heart
Inducted in 1994
Affectionately known as “Mr. Southside”
A fixture in all youth sports including baseball since 1961
Created the Southeast T-Birds Association which has been a dominant force for over 50 years in youth sports
In 1964, organized with Gene Stogner a city program for 8 to 12 year old boys and girls to participate in sports
Gained grants from Wyler Foundation to assist south side youth with registration funds for participation in sports
Privately raised over a $100,000 to fund positive sports activities for boys and girls
Served as Park Director for Boys Baseball of El Paso
Served as Deputy Commissioner for AABC Baseball Sandy Koufax and Mickey Mantle programs
Inducted in 1994
Elected to Milliken University Hall of Fame in Decatur Illinois
Played Professional football for George Halas on the team that was the forerunner of the Chicago Bears
In the 1920’s, he pitched for Fort Bayard New Mexico in the Copper League
Moved to El Paso and umpired from the late 1930’s until his death in 1975
Served as President for over 25 years of the El Paso Umpires Association
Inducted into the El Paso Softball Hall of Fame in 1976
Thousands of El Paso athletes benefited from his leadership and wisdom
Inducted in 1995
In 1963, he led the Auburn Tigers to the Southeastern Conference Baseball Championship
He pitched the Tigers to the College World Series Regionals also in 1963
1963 was a banner year for him as the honors continued as he was Named “Most Valuable Player” and “All Southeastern Conference Pitcher”
Started his professional career in 1963 when he signed with the San Francisco Giants
In 1964, he pitched in “AA” with the Springfield Giants and led the Eastern League with a 1.72 Earned Run Average
He won 14 games pitching for the Tacoma Giants in 1965 in the Pacific Coast League
Retired in 1969 after winning 54 games in his professional career
Accepted a position as the El Paso Sun Kings pitching coach
From 1976 to 1984, he coached the Coronado High School Varsity Baseball team
Enjoyed his best season winning the District and Bi-District Championships with a 14-0 record in 1984
Voted “Coach of the Year” in 1984 his final season coaching high school
Inducted in 1995
Started playing at age 12
Averaged 10 strikeouts per game pitching for the Merced Aztecs in 1956
Chosen “Outstanding Pitcher” in the California Mexican League
In 1957, he pitched the Aztecs to second place in the United States Army Tournament
Starting in 1962, he won 7 “Outstanding Pitcher” and 6 “Most Valuable Player” awards over the next 28 years
Struck out 21 batters in one game
In 1969, he set the record in both the Dona Ana and the Lower Valley Leagues for consecutive “Outstanding Pitcher” and “Shut Out” awards
Played for the Semi-Pro La Union Farmers, La Mesa Blue Jays, Ysleta Merchants and the El Paso Sports Club
In 1981, he led the Austin Thoroughbred baseball team to the City Championship and the Regional Tournament in Arlington Texas
Also played fast pitch softball in the Industrial Softball League
Served as President of the El Paso Baseball Hall of Fame
Inducted in 1995
A broken ankle in college ended his athletic career in college but channeled his energies towards nurturing baseball with his creativity
In 1950, he organized a group of people to form the first Little League Baseball Program in El Paso
He convinced the city to build Roger Brown Park on the Houston School grounds
He ushered in the first Little League park in the country to play games under the lights
He started the program with only twelve teams as its Commissioner and grew the program to over 300 teams
In the early 1960’s, he organized investors to take over and save the failing El Paso Sun Kings professional baseball club
Under his management expertise and guidance not only was the club saved but won the Texas League championship in 1962
Honored for his work by many civic organizations in El Paso
Won the Humanitarian Award from the National Council of Christians and Jews
Inducted in 1995
Over 40 year career coaching and playing
As a high school freshman, he was the leading hitter for the Burges High School Junior Varsity District Championship team
Named All District his sophomore, junior and senior seasons
His senior year he had 10 Home Runs, 37 RBI’s and a .513 batting average
Earned baseball scholarship to Texas Christian University and led the Horn Frogs freshman team in hitting and runs batted in
Returned to El Paso and led UTEP in home runs and runs batted in for each of his three seasons with the Miners
As a senior in 1971 he hit .240 overall and .370 in the Western Athletic Conference
Began his coaching career in 1974 as the Junior Varsity Baseball Coach at Austin High School
In 1981, he became Head Coach for the Jefferson High School Silver Foxes
In his first ten years at Jefferson, he led the Foxes to District Championships 1989 and 1995 and the playoffs 4 times
Inducted in 1995
Great all-around athlete as a teenager and played on championship teams in football, basketball and baseball
Won the YMCA International Hexathlon Championship for boys 18 and under
Recognized as one of the University of Texas’ Greatest Athletes
Member of the Texas Longhorn Hall of Honor Council
Lettered in basketball and baseball at the University of Texas
Named All Southwest Conference as a Pitcher in 1924 pitching on a championship squad which went 29-1
His most memorable performance was against Ted Lyons who later became an all-time Chicago White Sox pitcher
He and Lyons who was pitching for Baylor University at the time matched up for twelve innings with Ponsford and the Horns prevailing 4-3
That season he won 12 games without a defeat
Declined the opportunity to turn pro but maintained a high profile in El Paso pitching Semi-Pro baseball and softball
Inducted in 1995
Native El Pasoan who started his baseball career in 1928 at the age of 15 playing in the Boyland League
Also played in the Mex-Tex, Big-Five, Commercial, International and City Leagues
Played 40 years and won 6 Gold Glove awards
Won 7 Stolen Base and 9 “Outstanding Player” awards
Recognized as being one of the best players in the Southwest during the 1930’s and 1940’s playing second base and leading his leagues in stolen bases
Played until 1958 and then began a career as a Umpire
His total baseball journey covered 54 years
Inducted in 1996
Played baseball for Austin High School 1946-1947
Played baseball for Ysleta High School 1948-1949
Played freshman football for Texas Western 1949
Played baseball for Coach August “Bibb” Falk and the University of Texas 1950-1952
1952-1955 played baseball while enlisted in United States Army
Assistant Coach at University of Texas for Coach Falk 1955-1957
Coached at Bel Air High School from 1958 to 1968
Coached fellow El Paso Baseball Hall of Famer Joe Hague
Teams won District and Bi-District titles
Named High School Coach of the Year 1961, 1962 and 1972
Coached Parkland High School from 1970 to 1972
District Championship team in 1972
Coached at Eastwood High School and continued to win District and Bi-District championships
Named High School Coach of the Year while coaching Eastwood
Past President of the El Paso Coaches Association
Scout for the San Francisco Giants and the Los Angeles Dodgers
Inducted in 1996
Played professional baseball for both the El Paso Texans and the Juarez Indios
Many consider him the “best catcher ever to come out of El Paso”
Signed by the New York Yankees in the mid-1930’s and assigned to the East Texas League
Since Mexicans were not welcomed in the league, his name was changed to “Tomiski” a nickname which was to stick for the rest of his life
Later played on all the top local Semi-Pro teams as well as the two professional border teams
Served in the Army during World War II and received a Purple Heart
Coached a number of youth teams and also coached at Cathedral High School
Inducted in 1996
Started playing in the Boyland League in 1940
Played in various El Paso and Juarez Semi-Professional leagues
Offered a contract in the Mexican League in 1950
As a pitcher he won 201 games and lost only 23
Selected for a National Tournament in Mexico in 1956
Managed softball teams
Played on 1961 and 1962 World Softball Champion Dautrich Realty teams
Played shortstop on 5 Mexican National tournaments and 10 USA World Tournaments
All District and All City player for Bowie High School
All American at Softball World Tournament in 1962
Named “Mr. Softball of El Paso” in 1973
Inducted in Bowie High School Hall of Fame
Inducted in El Paso Softball Hall of Fame
Inducted in 1996
Started playing little league baseball in 1948
Started playing Semi-Pro baseball in 1957
Played in the Old International and Lower Valley Leagues with San Elizario
Played in the Juarez League during the winter months for 5 years
During his Semi-Pro career he won 324 games as a pitcher and lost 134
Pitched in 24 All Star games
Named Most Valuable Player 9 times
Pitched several no-hitters and numerous one and two hitters
Lifetime batting average of .408
Coached youth baseball for 9 years
Inducted in 1996
Started playing baseball at 8
Outstanding player in Babe Ruth and American Legion baseball
Played on American Legion team for Coach Albert Harris and was the catcher for Raul Medrano who is a member of El Paso Baseball Hall of Fame
Fellow El Paso Baseball Hall of Fame members Frank Johnson, Joe Hague and Jack Harris were teammates on American Legion team
Led Bel Air High School to its first District Championship in 1961
Earned All Star Honors 5 times as a catcher for several Semi-Pro teams
Member of the El Paso and Texas Umpires Association
Inducted in 1996
A pioneer not only as an outstanding ballplayer but also as a Coach and Administrator
One of the first African Americans to play in the Junior League in McAllen Texas in the late 1940’s
Hit over .400 and was outstanding pitcher and first baseman
Had a 10-3 won lost pitching record with 78 strikeouts and 26 stolen bases in high school
Played Semi-Pro Negro League baseball at age 16
Scouted by the St. Louis Browns in 1953
First African American to participate in collegiate sports (baseball, cross country, track) in Texas for Pan American University in 1954
Hit .265 with 5 stolen bases for Pan American University
Selected “All Star Pitcher” for the Viejos twice
Led the league in strikeouts in 1979
Coached at Charlie Brown High School in West Columbia Texas
Head Coach at Fabens High School for 5 years
Won 3 District Championships and played in Regional Finals 3 years
Umpired all levels of baseball
Outstanding Player and Coach in Semi-Pro leagues for Fabens
Original Member of Board of Directors for El Paso Baseball Hall of Fame
Served as President of El Paso Baseball Hall of Fame
Member El Paso Baseball Hall of Fame Board of Directors
Comments
Add a comment