GABRIEL (GABE) HERNANDEZ JR

Inducted in 2005 Played Semi-Pro baseball for over 50 years starting in 1929 at the age of 16 His first 4 years were with the Legaspi Barbers and they won the first league championship in 1930 During these first four years he rarely struck out and was the top hitter in the league He moved to California in 1933 and played Semi-Pro for teams in San Jose, Sacramento and Oakland as a center fielder Returned from California to El Paso in 1945 and acquired Gabe’s Poultry Market With the business he formed several boy’s leagues including coaching teams with players who would later win the Texas State Championship for Bowie High School in 1949 Following that season he took the players from the Bowie championship team and entered them in the El Paso City league and they beat everyone including teams from Chihuahua, Delicias, Saucillo and Juarez From 1967 to 1968, he served as President of the Alta Vista Optimist Club which organized and sponsored 12 teams In 1969, he served as President of the El Paso Commercial Baseball Association On March 18, 1999, he was honored with a “Gabe Hernandez Day” by the city of El Paso for his great contributions and dedication to youth baseball in El Paso