Year Inducted: 2008
Nominated By: Max Salas (father)
Sports Competed In: Baseball
Athlete, Coach or Contributor: Athlete, Contributor
High School
Attended Pueblo South H.S., graduating in 1967...Salas was a fixture at shortstop on the Colts baseball team for four seasons (1963-67).
College:
Went to the University of Southern Colorado, where he graduated in 1972... John was a four year letterman (1968-72) on the baseball team for the Indians, patrolling shortstop.
After College:
Salas participated for two seasons (1969-71) with the Pueblo Diablos, manning shortstop.
Coaching:
John coached Little League baseball for one year in Pueblo from 1969-70.
Achievements:
● As a journalist for The Pueblo Chieftain, Salas came up with the idea of “The Spring Runoff”. He initiated and helped organize the first race which is now an annual event and celebrated its 29th year in March of 2007 (1978).
● Tournament Coordinator for the Babe Ruth Bambino World Series. Broke records for attendance and the tournament was considered one of the most successful and exciting events in Pueblo baseball (1991).
● Instrumental in bringing baseball back to USC. He was a member of the “Search and Screen Committee” designed to find a baseball coach for the newly revived baseball program. Baseball was discontinued in 1985 and was re-established in the 1993-94 school year (1993).
● Initiated the "Rendezvous" an alumni reunion. This became an annual fund raising opportunity for USC/CSU-Pueblo baseball. The event celebrated its 14th year in October 2007 (1993).
● Helped initiate the idea of a winter baseball facility. USC/CSU and the State Fair joined forces to open a baseball academy with the idea of leveling the playing field for Pueblo youth with those from warm weathered states (1993).
● Named General Manager of the Chieftain semi-pro baseball team. This is the first year semi-pro baseball returned to Pueblo (1997).
● Named to the USC/CSU “Diamond of Fame”. He still holds the record for sacrifice bunts in a season (2004).
Professional Affiliations:
● Board Member of the Latino Chamber of Commerce (1991).
● Appointed to a four year term on the Board of Planning and Zoning Commission (1998).
● Project Chairman for the first city-wide, Common Chords multi-faith choral concert, now an annual event (2003).
Related Activities:
● Actively a Runyon Field board member.
● CSU Baseball Alumni supporter, actively as well as financially.
● On occasion, still throws batting practice at the CSU winter facility and at CSU practices.
● On-going financial supporter of Pueblo youth sports, hockey, baseball, softball - girls, basketball, football, 4-H.
Occupation:
John worked as a journalist for 19 years at The Pueblo Chieftain.
Personal:
Lives in Pueblo.
