It took a long time for Paul Strelzin to be inducted into the El Paso Athletic Hall 
of Fame because he asked not to be considered.
He finally consented and was inducted in 2009.
Now this year, he’s being inducted into the El Paso Baseball Hall of Fame.
The induction banquet will be held August 29 at the Centennial Banquet Conference Center in Fort Bliss.
STRELZIN, WHO passed away in 2013, was loud, brash and controversial, just like a current presidential candidate, but with a difference. Strelzin loved everyone, including Mexicans. He married one.
There’s no doubt that Strelzin was at least partially responsible for the great success of the El Paso Diablos under Jim Paul and the UTEP Miners basketball team under Don Haskins in the 1980s. He was the public address announcer for both teams and his loud and unorthodox style drove officials crazy but the fans loved it, and loved him.
RESUMES of other El Paso Baseball Hall of Fame inductees this year:
Leo Caraveo — Member of the Ysleta High School team that won the district title in 1965, an outstanding player while in the U.S. Army, played semi-pro baseball in El Paso, first head baseball coach at Sierra Blanca High, served as a board member for El Paso Baseball Hall of Fame.
Taylor Paul – Franklin High catcher 1997-1998, four years at Southwestern University, led SCAC Conference in hitting, selected NCAA All-West Regional, All-Conference, NCAA Academic first team All-American 2001, inducted into Southwestern University’s Wall of Honor.
Jerry Valdez – Socorro High three year varsity standout 1991-1993, All-Conference team catcher at Cochise College, inducted into Fort Hays State University Athletic Hall of Fame in 2011, drafted 25th round by Philadelphia Phillies 1997, played catcher for five minor league seasons, reached Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre 2001.
Juan Zaragoza – Three year letterman at Bowie High, pitcher at Ranger Junior College, played in 7 regionals, one championship, five state tournaments in Juarez Baseball League, pitching record 9-1 for winning El Paso Tejanos team as MSLB 60 plus World Series champions, El Paso International Baseball 50 League member.
TRIVIA QUESTION: Can you name the Cincinnati Reds player who pitched two consecutive no-hitters? Answer at end of column.
EL PASO HAS lost another sports icon. Bobby Lesley passed away at the age of 74 this month.
Bobby Lesley was different. He was a loner, often cantankerous and shunned the
spotlight with a passion. But what a talent. He coached Eastwood High School to the state basketball championship in 1976, thus making Eastwood the only El Paso public high school besides El Paso High to win a state title in that sport.
Lesley was different even as a youth. But Don Haskins, who was coaching at Hedley High in his early years, recognized Lesley’s ability from the start. The only way he could get Lesley to play for him at Hedley was if Haskins became his guardian. He did, and Lesley led Hedley to the semi-finals of the state tournament.
In his autobiography, “Haskins: The Bear Facts,” Haskins remembered Lesley at that time as “a barefooted, freckle-faced kid, hard as a rock – and cocky.” Haskins brought him to Texas Western College, too, and as usual, Lesley showed up barefooted. Ben Collins, the Miners’ athletic director at the time, pulled Haskins aside and said, “Uh, Don, you may not win many games if you bring in a bunch of guys from Hedley.” Haskins signed Lesley anyway and it wasn’t long before Collins was singing Lesley’s praises, too.
LESLEY SPENT the late years of his life enjoying his favorite hobby – horse racing. For the last few years he was a regular at Sunland Park Racetrack and Casino, sitting at his own table, usually alone, smoking and studying the Daily Racing Form.
Some may think his death was a tragic one. He was found dead in his apartment, all alone.
Somehow, I think that’s the way he preferred it.
Those who knew Bobby Lesley best, including his players and coach Haskins, loved him. That, no doubt, was enough for him.
ANSWER to trivia question: Johnny Vander Meer.
