Alonso “Knot” Garcia †
Inducted 2015
Hometown: Encino, Texas
High School: Edinburg High School
College: Pan American College
Professional: Pittsburgh Pirates organization, Monterrey Sultans
Best Known for: Athlete – Baseball
Garcia enjoyed a career that included playing collegiate and professional baseball.
After graduating from Edinburg High School in 1962, he started his two-year career as a shortstop for the Pan American University team that started a 26-year run of winning seasons for the Broncs in the NAIA and NCAA. He played a big role in leading the Broncs to the NAIA District 8 championship in 1964, making the team’s first postseason appearance in baseball.
He was then signed with the Pittsburgh Pirates organization, and immediately went to the Salem Rebels in the Rookie League, where he batted .241 with two homers in 71 games. He played briefly for the Monterrey Sultanes in the Mexican League before the Pirates recalled him to play at Class A Batavia. He returned to the Mexican League and started the 1966 with Monterrey when he was drafted into the U.S. Army that year.
Garcia spent 18 months in Vietnam and earned the National Defense Medal, the Sharpshooter (Rifle M-14) Medal, and the Vietnam Service Medal.
He returned home in 1968 and played eight seasons at the AAA level. After his baseball career ended in 1975, he coached American Legion Baseball in Edinburg.