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 Member Mike Barrueta continues his 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)
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)
Larry Hernandez – President (2012, 2013 and 2024)
WE REMAIN #EL PASO STRONG – OUR EPBHOF FAMILY WISHES YOU AND YOUR FAMILY ABUNDANT BLESSINGS AND GREAT HEALTH . . . EPBHOF offers Prayers and Condolences for the Family of Class of 1996 Honoree Juan “Johnny” Huerta – Details Below . . . Nominations for EPBHOF Class of 2025 Now Available – Hit Red Banner Tab on “Now Accepting Nominations for Class of 2025” to Download . . . EPBHOF Class of 2024 is Official, THANK YOU – Our Lord Graces Us with a Sensational 2024 Celebration featuring Charles “Chuck” Heist, Fernando Rodriguez, Hector R. Bernal Jr. and Omar Quintanilla as Inductees – Hit the First Link for Induction Banquet Interview Recap and Watch our First Pitch Video and Read Our Media Links Below . . . EPBHOF Celebrates Year 37 . . . 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 2.853 Million Views
*** 2024 El Paso Baseball Hall of Fame Induction Banquet Recap ***
(El Paso Sports Network) Thank you to Andres “Ace” Acosta. Please hit the link to view speeches and special moments. Posted August 19, 2024
Thank you to El Paso Baseball Hall of Fame Media Director and 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 an expedient manner. Posted August 19, 2024
El Paso Baseball Hall of Fame is open for submissions for Nominations for our Class of 2025. Hit the red banner tab in the baseball picture that says “Now Accepting Nominations for 2025” to download requirements and nomination form. Only nominations that comply with all requirements and submitted on time will be considered. For questions or further information regarding how to deliver the required number of completed nomination packets please contact El Paso Baseball Hall of Fame President and Class of 1999 Honoree Larry Hernandez at 915.494.7710. Deadline for Nomination Submissions to be received is before 4:07 PM MST Wednesday January 15, 2025. First Posted September 2, 2024
“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
Happy Birthday to El Paso Baseball Hall of Fame Class of 1990 Honoree Raul “Ruly” Medrano who turns 83 on Friday December 20. Posted December 3, 2024
Happy Birthday to El Paso Baseball Hall of Fame Nominations Co-Chairman and Class of 1999 Honoree Chris Forbes who turns 68 Sunday December 29. Posted December 3, 2024
The Late Great 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
El Paso Baseball Hall of Fame Class of 2024: All four were high school standouts (Charles “Chuck” Heist – Eastwood, Fernando Rodriguez – Franklin, Hector R. Bernal Jr. – Hanks, Omar Quintanilla – Socorro), three played collegiately in El Paso the other at the University of Texas, all four played professional baseball and two played in the Major Leagues.
Andres “Ace” Acosta with El Paso Sports recognizes our Class of 2024 in his online edition. Please copy and paste the link to read: https://epsportsnetwork.com/2024/03/06/quintanilla-rodriguez-heist-and-bernal-jr-el-paso-baseball-hall-of-fame-class-of-2024/ Posted March 6, 2024
Felix F. Chavez with the El Paso Times posted recognition for our Class of 2024 in his March 6, 2024 online edition. Please copy and paste the link to read: https://www.elpasotimes.com/story/sports/baseball/2024/03/06/omar-quintanilla-among-four-heading-into-into-el-paso-baseball-hall-of-fame/72871712007/ Posted March 6, 2024
Thank you to El Paso Baseball Hall of Fame Past President and Class of 2005 Honoree Bob Aguirre and Class of 1999 Honoree Chris Forbes for arranging additional media coverage for our 2024 Celebration. Please touch the link provided by Felix Chavez with the El Paso Times online edition to view. El Paso Baseball, softball Hall of Fames honor coaches, athletes (elpasotimes.com) Posted June 7, 2024
We wish you a Blessed, Happy, Safe, Great and Healthy Saturday December 14, 2024 as we continue our El Paso Baseball Hall of Fame Roll Call: El Paso Baseball Hall of Fame Silver Anniversary Class of 2012 Honoree Armando Almanza the All District and All City Pitcher at Bel Air High School, All Conference at New Mexico Junior College where he pitched the first “no-hitter” in school history, drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals, earned a ring with the 2003 World Champion Florida Marlins and he had a 7-year Major League Career with the Marlins, Atlanta Braves and Arizona Diamondbacks
El Paso Baseball Hall of Fame Trivia Answer for Saturday December 14, 2024: Class of 1997 Honoree Juan F. Sandoval the 2X All District player and District Batting Champion for Jefferson High School, 2X Western Athletic All Conference selection at UTEP, he was the first native El Pasoan to receive All-WAC honors in baseball hitting over .300 his entire college career and he later coached Bowie High School to the 1975 2-5A District Championship
The El Paso Baseball Hall of Fame will hold our first 2025 Board of Directors Meeting Wednesday January 22, 2025 at a time and site to be determined. January 22 will host 2 meetings: (1) a business meeting and (2) meeting for presentation of Nominations for the Class of 2025. Please be prepared to discuss. Attendees please remember to review and bring your Hall of Fame packets and previous materials to the meeting. Please assist President and Class of 1999 Honoree Larry Hernandez in planning personalized handouts and adequate resources by notifying him of your intent to attend at: PapaBandit7@AOL.com or 915.494.7710. Updated for December 14, 2024
El Paso Baseball Hall of Fame Past President and Class of 2005 Honoree Bob Aguirre reminds us that now is the time for “Lavoro di squadra.” Posted March 22, 2024
Click on the Fred Loya Insurance logo to go directly to their website and find out about discounts and plans they offer. Please hit the “Pictures” tab on our Home Page to view photos of our 2023 El Paso Baseball Hall of Fame celebration. Thank you to Fred Loya Insurance Group, Adora Martinez and her team including her photographer for creating a photo memory of our sold out events and celebrations. Pictures are from our Hall of Heroes private dinner, First Pitch and Banquet events. Thank you to our Web Master Josh Rodgers for uploading the pictures to enhance the nostalgia of our organization. Posted December 8, 2023
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. 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 Bob and Sue Aguirre, Raul Real Y Vasquez, 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. 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.
El Paso Community College Tejanos have named their Baseball Field Eisenga Field. This is in honor and recognition of El Paso Baseball Hall of Fame Silver Anniversary Class of 2012 Honoree and Board Officer Dana Eisenga. The field sign was posted Saturday February 10, 2024. Posted February 11, 2024
Memorial Park Field has been renamed in honor of El Paso Baseball Hall of Fame Class of 1992 Honoree Armando “Sam” Sambrano. To view the story written by Trish Long in the online edition of the El Paso Times on Saturday October 21, 2023 copy and paste the following: https://www.elpasotimes.com/story/news/history/2023/10/21/softball-field-renaming-honors-war-hero-umpire-armando-sambrano/71240155007/
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
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
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 Friday May 19, 2023 our site recorded view #2.5 Million. On Monday April 19, 2021 our site recorded view #2 Million. On Monday July 8, 2019 we had view # 1.5 Million. 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 for December 14, 2024
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 and determined 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 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.
