Robert "Bobby" Pechek (Posthumously)
Robert "Bobby" Pechek was one of fifteen children, born to Slovenian immigrants in 1923.
Pechek had to quit high school to help support his family. After receiving his GED, the next chapter in his life was to serve in the United States Marine Corp during World War II.
His softball career began in 1946 playing for the VFW Post 61 team. The following year he signed a professional baseball contract with the St. Louis Browns, where he played for Duncan, Oklahoma in the Sooner State League.
Returning to Pueblo in 1949, Bobby once again helped VFW Post 61 to a fourth-place finish in the ASA World Tournament in Austin, Texas earning All-American honors.
Playing with well known Pueblo players such as Tony Andenucio, Sam "Rabbit" Ferraro, Jim Ranson, Mickey Giarrantano, and John Corsi, the VFW Post 61 team won three consecutive National Championships in 1950, 1951, and 1952. Bobby earned All-American honors in 1950 and 1952.
Pechek played in the !SC World Tournament with the Pueblo Boosters in Rock Island, Illinois. He ended his softball career playing for PepsiCola in the !SC World Tournament in Fresno, California. Fellow Pueblo Softball Hall of Fame members, Joel Morenz and Alan Colglazier were teammates of Bobby on that Pepsi-Cola team.
Bobby Pechek was one of the greatest fast pitch sluggers ever to come out of Pueblo. He was inducted into the Greater Pueblo Sports Association Hall of Fame in 1989.
Tony "Nuch" Andenucio (Posthumously)
Tony Andenucio was not only honored for his outstanding baseball and softball abilities, but also for his contributions as a sponsor to Pueblo youth baseball.
"Nuch" has he was called, attended Pleasant View High School and in 1942 earned a professional baseball contract with the St. Louis Cardinals, playing second base. The U.S. Army drafted him in 1942. He served on the fields in Tunisia. Normandy France, and Belgium.
In 1944, Andenucio was the second baseman on a very talented VFW fast pitch softball team. When opposing teams first saw him, they had a tendency to underestimate him. Tony was quick, fast on the field and on the bases. He. along with teammate Bobby Pechek were considered to be the best power hitters ever to come out of Pueblo. He helped lead VFW Post 61 to three consecutive National Fast Pitch Championships in 1950, 1951, and 1952.
His fellow teammates included well known players such as Dick Simms, Jim Ranson, John Vidic, Otto "Tink" Snapp, Dan Milusnic, and Bob Pobst.
Tony became a very generous sponsor of youth baseball, the Old Timers Baseball Association, and many other youth sports organizations. "Nuch" was, indeed, old school. He prided himself as a family man who took care of his wife and three children. Andenucio passed away at an early age, but his legacy lives on through the hard work of his family in putting on the annual "Nuch" Baseball Tournament every June on Father's Day weekend.
This tournament started in 1978 and was named in his honor. One of the baseball fields at the Runyon Field Complex is named "Andenucio Field." His son Joe is the Tournament Director. Tony was inducted into the Greater Pueblo Sports Association Hall of Fame posthumously in 1990.
Pat McGraw
Pat McGraw graduated from Pueblo South High School in 1961 where he was a letterman on the Colts track team for three seasons specializing in distance events. McGraw went on to Southern Colorado State College here in Pueblo where he was recognized as an Empire Conference Champion in the two-mile event and was a runner-up in the mile event.
After college graduation and a successful intercollegiate track career, Pat entered the realm of fast pitch softball in 1966 and continued playing for thirty-years. As a fast pitch player, he could be found playing any position but excelled in the catching and pitching positions. During his playing days, McGraw was also a well respected teacher and coach for the Pueblo East High School Eagles.
Pat played for many notable fast pitch teams such as the Hi-Fi Club, El Sombrero, Canon City Merchants, First National Bank, and the Pueblo Aztecs. He participated in the El Rey League, the City Park League, and the Rocky Mountain Congress Travelling League and was named to numerous All-Tournament teams. While playing for the Pueblo Aztecs, he was the catcher for fellow Pueblo Softball Hall of Fame pitcher, Alan Colglazier.
From 1969 through 2002, McGraw was a football referee working both high school and college games. He spent twenty-two years working Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference football games and was selected to work in 10 Colorado High School State Championship games.
As a basketball official for 27 years, Pat refereed both high school and college games including twenty-two years with RMAC. He was Crew Chief for officials for twelve years in the RMAC and six each for the NCAA Division I Western Athletic and Big Sky Conferences. McGraw is also well known in Colorado as the starter for track and field meets held around the state.
Pat was inducted into the Greater Pueblo Sports Association Hall of Fame in 2009.
Ken Adair
Ken Adair grew up in New Hampshire and was an outstanding three sport letterman exceling in football. baseball, and ice hockey.
Adair found his way to Pueblo by way of the U.S. Army in 1957. After beginning work at the Colorado State Hospital in 1959, He took on the task of rebuilding the hospital's 17th Street softball field. When this three-year project ended, Ken directed his attention to adding another field on the hospital grounds.
During his early years he managed the Local 2102 CF&I team which was made up of young players in their early teens. Ken became associated with Slow-Pitch softball by organizing and hosting tournaments for over 20 years. During this time Adair also helped run the Pueblo Independent Softball League. Along with his work in the Independent League, he was also involved with running the popular El Rey League.
It was only a matter of time before Ken began to venture out into umpiring softball games. He worked with many of the most well-known umpires such as Pueblo Softball Hall of Fame members Marion Hernandez and Joe Santos as well as Frank Dagnello.
Ken also found time to squeeze in officiating duties in local basketball, football, and baseball contests. Adair's Slow-Pitch career consisted of playing for Coors Tavern and the Pueblo Merchants through the 1970s and 1980s.
The Pueblo economy always benefited from the numerous tournaments that Ken spear-headed. He would use the tournament entry fees to pay for local officials and purchase gigantic colorful trophies.
He took pride in any project that he was involved in and he always understood the importance of family who supported him faithfully throughout the years.
Ken passed away on Nov. 7, 2021. Click HERE to see Adair's Obituary.
Jerry Martinez (Posthumously)
Jerry graduated from Pueblo Central High School and continued his education at Southern Colorado State College here in Pueblo.
He worked as a Sales Executive at Pepsi-Cola in Pueblo until 1990, when he and his wife Nancy moved to Aurora, Colorado.
Martinez is best known as being the Player Manager on the renown Pepsi-Cola team. Through the decade of the 1970s his teams participated in many state and National tournaments. Jerry led Pepsi-Cola to the !SC World Tournament playing in Fresno, California in 1970; Kimberly, Wisconsin in 1972; Rock Island. Illinois in 1973; and Phoenix, Arizona in 1974.
Jerry joins fellow teammates Alan Colglazier, Rich Yivoda, "Chico" Aragon, Brent Ward, Jim Ranson, Jim Bond, and Joel Morenz who have all been inducted into this respected Hall of Fame.
During his time in Pueblo, Martinez was involved in many civic organizations where he received recognition for his unselfish and devoted community involvement.
Joel Morenz
Growing up on a farm in Iowa, Joel started playing baseball at the age of 8. This included Linle League. Babe Ruth, and High School baseball. He attended Pueblo Junior College on a baseball scholarship where he played third base.
Morenz began his fast pitch softball playing days in 1963 playing for, most notably, Martin Moore Insurance. Colorado City, Sam's Club, Gregory's Electric, CB Builders of Lamar, and Canon City Pepsi-Cola. But he is best known for his outstanding play with the Pepsi-Cola team from 1965 through 1973
Joel was known as a great left-handed hitter with remarkable quickness playing in the infield. Even though he batted left, he threw right.
Morenz was selected to twenty-three All-Tournament teams and received five MVP awards. He participated in four World ISC tournamen: beginning in 1970 in Fresno, California; Kimberly, Wisconsin in 1972; Rock Island, Illinois in 1973 and Phoenix, Arizona in 1974.
Most importantly, his summers not only revolved around softball but the enjoyment he received from playing with his teammates as well as the respect he had for his opponents.