El Paso Baseball Hall of Fame: a 501(c)(3) “Non-Profit Tax Exempt Public Charity”
Bufe C. Morrison championed the idea of the El Paso Baseball Hall of Fame in 1988. The stated purpose of the organization is “to honor individuals for outstanding performance over a substantial period of time in the sport of baseball in the El Paso Area. A reward for dedication, service or playing ability.”
The mission of the organization is found in its commitment to honoring and fostering a love for the game of baseball and the people who make it great in El Paso.
Bufe C. Morrison served as the first President with Victor Fayant serving as Vice President and Leo Forti as Secretary. Inaugural Board Members Mike Barrueta and Bufe C. Morrison continue their service to our organization.
Andy Cohen is designated as the first person to be inducted. The “Original Class” of inductees also included Syd Cohen, Joe C. Hague, William C. “Nemo” Herrera, Jim Paul, Leo Forti, Gonzalo “Chalo” Garcia, Alberto “Beto” Mendez, Jim Ochoa and Bob Ingram.
Bufe Morrison – President (1988)
Victor Fayant – President (1989)
Leo Forti – President (1990)
Ray Sanchez – President (1991)
Jackie Harris – President (1992)
Ruben Torres – President (1993)
D. Joe Williams – President (1994, 2000 and 2001)
Bob Arnold – President (1995 and 1996)
Margarito Banales – President (1997, 1998, 1999, 2004 and 2005)
Marvin Nicchio – President (2002 and 2003)
Steve Enders – President (2006 and 2007)
Mike Barrueta – President (2008 and 2009)
Robert “Bob” Osborne – President (2010 and 2011)
Larry Hernandez – President (2012 and 2013)
Fernado Grado – President (2014)
Tommy Carrillo – President (2015 and 2016)
Leo Caraveo – President (2017, 2018 and 2019)
Bob Aguirre – President (2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023)
WE REMAIN #EL PASO STRONG – OUR EPBHOF FAMILY PRAYS AND WISHES YOU AND YOUR FAMILY ABUNDANT BLESSINGS AND GREAT HEALTH – Happy Birthday To EPBHOF Silver Anniversary Class of 2012 Honoree Rocky Coppinger on Sunday March 19 . . . Happy Birthday to EPBHOF Class of 2005 Honoree Mark Miller on Thursday March 16 . . . EPBHOF Elects Class of 2023: Alonzo Ruelas, Carlos Lazcano, Jesus Lujan III, Robert McNicol & Ryan Medrano – Class Celebrates Sep. 8 – 10 . . . EP TIMES & EP Sports Network Intros EPBHOF Class of 2023 – Links Below . . . EPBHOF 2022 Celebration Pictures On Our Website – Hit “Pictures” Tab On Top of Home Page . . . EPBHOF Celebrates Year 36 . . . Trivia Answer Below . . . EPBHOF Showcase Room Set Up @ D-Bat West . . . EPBHOF Web Site Celebrates 12 Years & The Late Great Harry Caray would say “Holy Cow” our site has over 2.464 Million Views
“From a Silver Past to a Golden Future – – We honor Excellence”
A special “thank you” to El Paso Baseball Hall of Fame Past President and Class of 1990 Honoree Coach Bob Osborne for our slogan. Posted May 7, 2012
The Late Ray Sanchez recognized the El Paso Baseball Hall of Fame in his article for El Paso INC by stating the following: “One of the most popular and well-planned Halls of Fame in El Paso is the one for baseball. I mean, the El Paso Baseball Hall of Fame is so well organized it plans ahead, has a spectacular website and offers plenty of press releases”. Posted June 23, 2019
Our El Paso Baseball Hall of Fame welcomes our newly elected Class of 2023: Alonzo Ruelas, Carlos Lazcano, Jesus Lujan III, Robert McNicol and Ryan Medrano and we will celebrate starting Friday September 8 with our Hall of Heroes Dinner and First Pitch Game Saturday September 9 and Induction Banquet Sunday September 10, 2023. Elected February 8, 2023 Posted February 12, 2023
El Paso Times writer Felix F. Chavez wrote an introductory online article on our El Paso Baseball Hall of Fame Class of 2023 in the Sunday February 26, 2023 edition. Please copy and paste the link to read: https://www.elpasotimes.com/story/sports/baseball/2023/02/26/five-earn-entry-into-el-paso-baseball-hall-of-fame/69937942007/
Andres Acosta and the El Paso Sports Network introduced the El Paso Baseball Hall of Fame Class of 2023 in their online edition Sunday February 26, 2023. Please copy and paste the link to read: https://epsportsnetwork.com/2023/02/26/the-2023-el-paso-baseball-hall-of-fame-class-is-set/
Happy Birthday to El Paso Baseball Hall of Fame Silver Anniversary Class of 2012 Honoree Rocky Coppinger on Sunday March 19. Posted March 17, 2023
Happy Birthday to El Paso Baseball Hall of Fame Class of 2005 Honoree Mark Miller on Thursday March 16. Posted March 16, 2023
We wish you a Blessed, Happy, Safe, Great and Healthy Wednesday March 22, 2023 as we continue our El Paso Baseball Hall of Fame Roll Call: Class of 2022 Honoree Rick Solis earned All District honors as a Shortstop in 1997 and 1998 at Ysleta High School, earned First Team All-Conference Shortstop honors playing for El Paso Community College in 1999 and 2000, El Paso Community College Team MVP in 1999 and 2000, selected to play in the Texas-NM Junior College All Star game in 1999, Pre-Season Collegiate Baseball All American in 2000, selected by the El Paso Baseball Hall of Fame as the College Player of the Year in 1999 and 2000, earned All-Conference honors in 2001 and 2002 at Northwestern State University helping lead the school to back to back Conference Championships, selected to play in the prestigious Cape Cod Summer Collegiate League with the Harwich Mariners in 2001, signed as a Free Agent with the Los Angeles Dodgers and played on the Pioneer League Champion Great Falls team, started coaching in 2006, hired as the Head Baseball Coach for Riverside High School in 2017, has led the Rangers to 3 playoff appearances, 2 District Championships and an appearance in the Texas High School Baseball Sweet 16 Round of Playoff in 2021, earned High School Coach of the Year honors from both the El Paso Times and the El Paso Baseball Hall of Fame in 2021 and 2022
Trivia Answer Wednesday March 22, 2023: Class of 2001 Honoree Frank “Conkin” Campos who played Semi-Pro baseball for over 50 years, always batted over .300 and he was a 19X Semi-Pro All Star selection
Happy Birthday to El Paso Baseball Hall of Fame Past President and Class of 1999 Honoree Larry Hernandez who turned 68 on Monday March 6. Posted March 4, 2023
Our El Paso Baseball Hall of Fame will hold our fourth 2023 Board of Directors Meeting at 5:30 PM Wednesday April 12, 2023 in the Boardroom of the Fred Loya Insurance Corporate Headquarters (intersection of Trawood & Lee Trevino). Please assist President and Class of 2005 Honoree Bob Aguirre in planning adequate resources and handouts by notifying him of your intent to attend at suebob5846@gmail.com Posted March 15, 2023 Updated March 22, 2023
Click on the Fred Loya Insurance logo to go directly to their website and find out about discounts and plans they offer. Please click on the Pictures tab to view photos of our 2022 El Paso Baseball Hall of Fame celebration. Thank you to Adora Martinez and her team including her photographer Chris for creating a photo memory of our sold out events and celebrations. Thank you to Josh Rodgers for cropping, editing and uploading the pictures. Pictures are from the Meet and Greet, First Pitch and Banquet events. Posted November 30, 2022
The El Paso Baseball Hall of Fame Showcase Room is now set up and available for view at the D-Bat West facility. Thank you to our President Bob Aguirre and Sue Aguirre, Vice President Raul Real Y Vasquez, Board Member Mike Barrueta, Mrs. Naomi Leyva on behalf of Mr. Frank Leyva and his family, Cary Hamilton, Coach Andy Powers, Mr. Bill Powers and the Staff at D-Bat West.
Click on the D-Bat logo to go directly to their website and find out about all the opportunities provided for baseball training. D-Bat of West El Paso became the Home for the El Paso Baseball Hall of Fame when it donated a dedicated area to celebrate our organization and history. Thank you to Andy Powers and his Dad. The D-Bat sign has an El Paso Baseball Hall of Fame tag attached. Please click here to read the story written by Maria Cortes Gonzalez in the El Paso Times.
Psalm 4:8 tells us that the Lord alone makes us live in safety. Pray for protection over our world, country, state and city from the Coronavirus and its variants. Pray for a cure. Pray for first responders and medical professionals during this time. The El Paso Baseball Hall of Fame encourages everyone to practice safe hygiene habits and help us remove the threat of the current virus. Be vigilant in the care for yourself and your families and friends. We wish you and your family great health. Stay Safe.
Our El Paso Baseball Hall of Fame website was launched in August of 2010. On Monday April 19, 2021 our site recorded view #2 Million. On Monday July 8, 2019 we had view # 1,500,000. We reached view # 1,000,000 on Sunday August 27, 2017. Our web site reached 500,000 views on Saturday February 27, 2016. “Thank You” to our WebMaster Josh Rodgers for uploading our latest pictures and all photos onto our website on a continuous basis since the inception in August 2010 of its launch. Updated March 22, 2023
Our El Paso Baseball Hall of Fame has completed the Induction of our Class of 2022: Kyle Anson, Efrain Lara, Alex Peña, Lou Romano and Rick Solis
Thank you to El Paso Baseball Hall of Fame Class of 2008 Honoree Tom “Joe Fan” Ciaburri for securing our 1st Pitch event videos and to our WebMaster Josh Rodgers for uploading them to our website in a timely manner. Posted September 6, 2022
El Paso Times Sportswriter Felix F. Chavez published a February 24, 2022 article on our Class of 2022, please click here to read.
Thank you to El Paso Baseball Hall of Fame Class of 2008 Honoree Tom “Joe Fan” Ciaburri for submitting the following story on Class of 2015 Honoree Paul Strelzin. Please copy and paste to read the story written by Trish Long in the El Paso Times digital edition September 15, 2022 https://www.elpasotimes.com/story/news/history/2022/09/14/paul-strelzin-first-announcer-ejected-from-professional-baseball-game/69492448007/
El Paso Baseball Hall of Fame Class of 2018 Honoree Larry Vucan has been named High School National Coach of the Year by The American Baseball Coaches Association and ATEC. Copy and paste the link below courtesy of KTSM Channel 9 Sports and Sportscaster Colin Deaver. https://www.ktsm.com/sports/high-school-sports/el-paso-native-larry-vucan-named-high-school-baseball-national-coach-of-the-year/ Posted June 29, 2022
El Paso Baseball Hall of Fame Class of 2018 Honoree Larry Vucan took his Southlake Carroll Dragons to their 4th Class 6A Texas High School State Tournament appearance in 5 completed seasons of play. This is Vucan’s 6th season as Head Coach of the Dragons. The Dragons won the State Championship defeating San Antonio Reagan 8-5. Southlake Carroll is the first baseball team in UIL history to win a State Title at the largest classification 3 times in a 4 year span. Updated June 11, 2022
Brian K. Patterson wrote a story May 16, 2020 accompanied by a video on a milestone set by El Paso Baseball Hall of Fame Class of 2010 Honoree Floyd “Butch” Henry. Please click here to read the story and see the video. Thank you to EPBHOF Class of 2010 Honoree Shawn Lehigh for sharing this story. Posted May 17, 2020
El Paso Baseball Hall of Fame Board of Director and Class of 1999 Honoree Chris Forbes is the subject of an El Paso Times story written by Mark Lambie on May 14, 2020. Forbes reflects on the building of the current Chris Forbes Field which will be upgraded along with the rest of Socorro High School. The memories building the old field and the championships won including the 2009 Class 5A State Championship will be cherished on the new turf field. The new field will retain the name Chris Forbes Field and the current site. Please click here to read the story. Posted May 14, 2020
El Paso Baseball Hall of Fame Son/Father Duo Member and Class of 2013 Honoree Frank Castillo received approval for a park to be named in his honor by the El Paso City Council at their meeting on Tuesday January 21, 2020. Nate Ryan with KVIA Channel 7 Sports did a story that aired Tuesday January 21, 2020. Click here to go to the KVIA site and view the story by Nate Ryan Channel 7 Sports. Posted January 21, 2020
Effective Dec. 2, 2013, The El Paso Baseball Hall of Fame has been granted exempt status from the Texas franchise tax and the sales and use tax as 501(c)(3) organization. The exemption does not extend to the hotel occupancy tax. Posted July 2, 2014
The El Paso Baseball Hall of Fame received notice from the Internal Revenue Service that our application has been reviewed and accepted and is now registered as a 501(c)(3) “Non-Profit Tax Exempt Public Charity” in accordance with its Tax Code. All donations to our organization are tax deductible as designated by the IRS tax laws. A special “thank you” to our legal counsel Alan Gluth and our CPA Kirk Patterson for their guidance in our application and its process. Posted June 10, 2014
The El Paso Baseball Hall of Fame led by President and Class of 1999 Honoree Larry Hernandez was selected to partner with Warner Brothers for a preview screening of the movie “42” about the legendary Jackie Robinson on Wednesday April 10. The City of El Paso declared Wednesday April 10 as “Jackie Robinson 42 Day”. El Paso City and County dignitaries joined a completely sold out screening event. Posted April 10, 2013
The El Paso Baseball Hall of Fame wants to continue to include You in our communication. We ask that all of our Hall of Fame inductees send us your name, phone number and email address so that we may update our records. Thank you in advance. Any verifiable additions to “Inductee” bios are also welcome.
MEMBER UPDATE: (Send us your events, your birthdays, anniversaries, your honors, your updates so we can share with our Hall of Famers) through the Contact page.
