Gustavo M. “Tavo” Garcia
Inducted in 1998
Born in 1917, started playing baseball at the age of 12 and played in El Paso for 45 years
Played in Boyland, Commercial, International, Big Four, City and Old Pro leagues
Lifetime batting average was well over .300 and he won 6 Gold Glove Awards
Played in 17 All Star Games and was named “Most Valuable Player” in 1934, 1945 and 1952
Led the formation of the 40-60 Club for older players with his brother Nano, Ted Ibarra and Jesse Goytia
Inducted in El Paso Old Pros Hall of Fame in 1988
Forced to stop playing after suffering a heart attack while walking up to bat
South El Pasoans used a take off of “Tinkers to Evers to Chance” in referring to “Beto to Tavo to Nano” referring to the three Garcia brothers who played in the infield
Tavo played second base and his brothers Beto and Nano flanked him in the infield
