Michael Dean Martinez


Year Inducted: 1997
Nominated By: Joe Bonaquista (teacher/coach)
Sports Competed In: Baseball
Athlete, Coach or Contributor: Athlete

Michael D. MartinezMichael D. Martinez

Before High School:
Played baseball as a pitcher for the following leagues: Cub Scouts (1966-68), Old Timers (1968-72), Pueblo City (1970-72) and Babe Ruth (1973-75)...Played quarterback four seasons in Bantam Football League (1968-71) and at St. Leanders for two years (1972-73).

Achievements:
High School:
● Only basketball accomplishment was leading the Eagles to a Class AAA State Runner-up in 1976 (the team was ranked #1 going into tournament).
● On the Eagles junior varsity (JV) team, Martinez recorded a perfect 6-0 record and had a .540 batting average at the plate.
● Posted a shut-out of Air Academy (6-0) allowing four hits and striking out seven while batting .540 against the Cadets (1976).
● Led East to a 14-5 record during the 1977 season.
● Pitched 11 innings, recording 18 strikeouts in a game against Air Academy and posted a five-hit shut-out of Mitchell, striking out nine batters in a 2-0 win.
● Selected as the McDonald’s High School "Player-of-the-Year" and to the Colorado All-State High School team as a pitcher.
● Named the All South Central League "Player-of-the-Year" (senior year: 1978).
● Named to the All South Central League Team as a pitcher (Senior Year: 1978).
● He recorded a 9-3 record (0.88 ERA) for the Eagles during senior season.
● Senior season highlights included: A no-hitter (first in East High History) 11 Strike-outs, 2 walks, 2 East errors, (18-0), (83 pitches) game called in 5 innings against Harrison H.S.
● Recoded 16 strikeouts, 2 hits against Wasson H.S. and posted his third straight shut-out against Coronado H.S., allowing two hits and hit a home run in a 24-0 win at Wasson Park.
● Named to the North High School All-American Team as a pitcher.
● Career pitching record at East was 30-6.
● Recorded more than 300 strike-outs in three years and was recruited by more than 25 colleges and universities as well as nine professional baseball organizations.
● During the summer after his senior year at East, pitched a two-hit shut-out against Woodward, OK on 91 pitches for the Post 203 American Legion team (9-0 win).

Related Activities:
● Spent seven years playing basketball in the Pueblo City league as a forward (1970-77).
● Played on several professional baseball farm teams as a pitcher for three years and two months:
  - Helena Phillies (1978); Bend, OR Phillies (1979); Tampa Tarpons (1980) and the Indianapolis Indians (2 months from 1980-81).
● While on the Helena Phillies farm team, he threw the first-ever shut-out by a pitcher in team history on July 31, 1978.
● Returned to Pueblo and played as a catcher in softball, making the All-Tournament team at the KOA Invitational (1982).
● Also played behind the plate and named the "Most Valuable Player" at the Pueblo Handicapped Children’s softball tournament (1982).

Honors:
● Won the city Punt, Pass and Kick competition three consecutive years (1968-70).
● Named the 1975 "Athlete-of-the-Year" for the Babe Ruth League and led his team to the City Team Championship pitching a five-hitter in a 7-6 win (National Division vs. American Division).

 


GPSA "M" By The Numbers

LEGEND: p = awarded posthumously; ^= attended first meeting; * = deceased;+ = charter member (placed after year inducted)

1
Administrator/Contributor
Brian Macartney (1988*>)

Athlete/Contributor
James Samuel Mastrini (2019*)

Athlete/Administrator/Coach
Dr. Thomas J. "Tom" Muhic (1993*)

Athlete/Coach/Official
Carol Patrick "Pat" McGraw (2009)

Attended First Meeting
Brian Macartney (1988*>)

Attended H.S. Inside Colorado
Brian Macartney (1988*>)
Salida H.S., Salida, CO

Attended H.S. Outside Colorado
Donald "Don" McIntosh (1991*)
H.S. in Provo, Utah

Attended Pueblo Catholic H.S.
Luz V. Montelongo (1988)

Attended P. County/P. South H.S.
Timmie-Jo Miller Lisac (2017)

Attended Pueblo Roncalli H.S.
Mike J. Marcovecchio (2022)

Attended Pueblo South H.S.
Carol Patrick "Pat" McGraw (2009)

Auto Racing
Ronald Bruce McDowell (1988*)

Bowling
Floretta "Doty" McCutcheon (1974*p)

Coach/Contributor
Charles "Charlie" Manning (2015)

Charter Member
William L. "Bill" McClatchy (1973*+)

Rodeo
Marie Mass (2022*p)

Tennis
Donald "Don" McIntosh (1991*)

Track
Richard "Rick" Joe Macias (2018)

2 
Athlete/Coach/Contributor
Mike J. Marcovecchio (2022)
Donald E. "Corky" Madrid (2016)

Attended Pueblo East H.S.
Richard "Rick" Joe Macias (2018)
Michael Dean Martinez (1997)

Attended Pueblo County H.S.
Marie Mass (2022*p)
Art Martinez (1989)

Cross Country
Richard "Rick" Joe Macias (2018)
Gene A. Morenz (1995)

Official
Mike J. Marcovecchio (2022)
Dan Milusnic (1983*)

Softball
Timmie-Jo Miller-Lisac (2017)
Michael M. "Mike" Milner (1992)

Wrestling
Donald E. "Corky" Madrid (2016)
Robert J. "Hawk" Martinez (1988)

 

3 
Coach
Sonja Melton (2001*)
Gene A. Morenz (1995)
Donald "Don" McIntosh (1991*)

 

4 
Athlete/Coach
Timmie-Jo Miller Lisac (2017)
George Joseph Mastrini (2014*p)
Joseph L. "Joe" Massaro, Jr. (1995)
Robert J. "Hawk" Martinez (1988)

Basketball
Timmie-Jo Miller-Lisac (2017)
George Joseph Mastrini (2014*p)
Luz V. Montelongo (1988)
Dan Milusnic (1983*)

Contributor
Richard "Rick" Joe Macias (2018)
David John "Dave" Mihalick (2007)
Art Martinez (1989)
William L. "Bill" McClatchy(1973*+)

 

6 
Attended Pueblo Central H.S.
Charles "Charlie" Manning (2015)
David John "Dave" Mihalick (2007)
Joe Mohorcich (1993)
Michael M. "Mike" Milner (1992)
Dan Milusnic (1983*)
Robert E. "Bob" McGraw (1979*p)

Honorees Awarded Posthumously
Marie Mass (2022*p)
George J. Mastrini (2014*p)
Andrew "Chink" Mihalick (2012*p)
Ronney McDowell (1988*p)
Robert E. "Bob" McGraw (1979*p>)
Floretta "Doty" McCutcheon (1974*p)

8
Athlete
Marie Mass (2022*p)
Michael Dean Martinez (1997)
Joe Mohorcich (1993)
Michael M. "Mike" Milner (1992)
Ronald Bruce McDowell (1988*)
Luz V. Montelongo (1988)
Robert E. "Bob" McGraw (1979*p)
Floretta "Doty" McCutcheon (1974*p)

Football
Mike J. Marcovecchio (2022)
James Samuel Mastrini (2019*)
Donald E. "Corky" Madrid (2016)
Joseph L. "Joe" Massaro, Jr. (1995)
Joe Mohorcich (1993)
Robert J. "Hawk" Martinez (1988)
Luz V. Montelongo (1988)
Dan Milusnic (1983*)


Attended Pueblo Centennial H.S.
James Samuel Mastrini (2019*)
Donald E. "Corky" Madrid (2016)
George Joseph Mastrini (2014*p)
Joseph L. "Joe" Massaro, Jr. (1995)
Dr. Thomas J. "Tom" Muhic (1993*)
Robert J. "Hawk" Martinez (1988)
Ronald Bruce McDowell (1988*)
William L. "Bill" McClatchy (1973*+)

 

10
Baseball
Mike J. Marcovecchio (2022)
James Samuel Mastrini (2019)
Donald E. "Corky" Madrid (2016)
Charles "Charlie" Manning (2015)
George Joseph Mastrini (2014*p)
Michael Dean Martinez (1997)
Joseph L. "Joe" Massaro, Jr. (1995)
Dr. Thomas J. "Tom" Muhic (1993*)
Robert J. "Hawk" Martinez (1988)
Robert E. "Bob" McGraw (1979*p)

 

14 
Honorees Deceased
Marie Mass (2022*p)
Don McIntosh (2021*)
James Samuel Mastrini (2019*)
George J. Mastrini (2014*p)
Andrew "Chink" Mihalick (2012*p)
Sonja Melton (2001*)
Michael M. "Mike" Milner (1992*)
Brian Macartney (1988*>)
Ronney McDowell (1988*p)
Dan Milusnic (1983*)
Robert E. "Bob" McGraw (1979*p)
Floretta "Doty"McCutcheon (1974*p)
William L. "Bill" McClatchy (1973*+)
Dr. Thomas J. "Tom" Muhic (1993*)

 

28
Honorees in "M" Section

 

REMEMBERING OUR FALLEN GPSA INDUCTEES

The Greater Pueblo Sports Association (GPSA) has announced a list of honorees that have passed since the 2023 induction ceremony on Nov. 15.

 

 

Daniel RosalesDaniel
Rosales

12/13/2023
Class of 2002

Everett C. ThalhamerEverett C.
Thalhamer

12/23/2023
Class of 2014

Bob GrahamBobby Max
Graham

02/26/2024
Class of 1990

Joe BonaquistaJoe
Bonaquista

07/16/2024
Class of 1977