Frank “Pancho” Maldonado†
Inducted 2000
Hometown: Berclair
College: Brownsville Junior College
Best Known for: Athlete – Baseball
July 1, 1924-May 2, 2018
Maldonado was long-time multi-sport contributor knew a thing or two about competing at the highest levels. He was an all-district performer in two sports at Brownsville High in the late 1930s and later played professional baseball before settling in as a winning coach and organizer of local leagues.
Maldonado made All-District in basketball and football for the Eagles from 1939 to 1941 and played both sports at Brownsville Junior College after graduation. In 1946 he earned a tryout with the New York Giants, was a semi-pro star in the late 1940s and went back to college as a baseball player for Colorado University in 1949-50.
He organized the Rio Grande Valley Semi-Pro Baseball League in 1956 and in 1959 coached McAllen High to its first district title in baseball in 10 years. Maldonado then joined the playoff-bound Brownsville High School football team as a varsity assistant in 1962.