Leopoldo “Polo” Moncada Baseball Stadium Naming Ceremony held February 27th

By: Ricardo E. Calderon, Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc., Copyright 2016

On a beautiful sunny and cool February morning perfect for playing baseball, the Eagle Pass Independent School District celebrated the Leopoldo “Polo” Moncada Baseball Stadium Naming Ceremony on Saturday, February 27, 2016 at 11 A.M. at the Eagle Pass Independent School District Student Activity Center amidst over 100 people in attendance for the historic ceremony.

Master of Ceremonies was EPISD Public Information Officer Melissa Gratkowski.  Gratkowski presented the C. C. Winn High School 92nd Air Force Junior ROTC Color Guard for presentation of the United States and Texas Flags.  Gratkowski performed the Pledge of Allegiance to the United States and Texas flags.  Eagle Pass Junior High School student Amanda Martin sang in acapella a beautiful rendition of the National Anthem.

Gratkowski presented members of the EPISD School Board of Trustees, Administration, and Honored guests.

EPISD Superintendent Gilberto Gonzalez introduced the Guest of Honor, retired Eagle Pass High School Eagles Head Baseball Coach, EPISD Principal, and EPISD School Board of Trustee Leopoldo “Polo” Moncada.  Moncada worked for 42 years with the EPISD as a teacher, coach, and administrator (1959-2001).  He also served as an EPISD Board of Trustee after his retirement.

Leopoldo “Polo” Moncada thanked God for giving him the ability to play baseball, his parents for teaching him to work hard, his wife, Maria Sanchez Moncada, and the EPISD Board of Trustees, particularly Rudy Bowles, for honoring him with the naming of the EPISD Student Activity Center’s Baseball Stadium in his honor.  Moncada noted that in 1953 while a sophomore at Eagle Pass High School, he led the Eagles Baseball team to a perfect  -0 record and a Regional Championship, batting .545 for the season, the highest in Eagles baseball history.  He graduated in 1955 from Eagle Pass High School and was drafted by the Baltimore Orioles as a catcher.

Moncada noted that while in Spring Training during 1956 with the Baltimore Orioles in Scottsdale, Arizona before a spring training game, the Baltimore Orioles were introduced to Marilyn Monroe, whom signed and autographed a photograph of herself to each player.  Moncada, however, regretted having misplaced Marilyn Monroe’s autographed photograph over the years.  “I wished I still had it today.  Just imagine how much money Marilyn Monroe’s signed autograph photograph would be worth today,” said Moncada as the audience chuckled.

Moncada noted that he had the honor to play during Spring Training with the likes of Frank Robinson, Mickey Mantle, and other great major league legends.

Moncada returned to college and graduated in 1959 from St. Mary’s University in San Antonio, Texas with a Bachelor’s degree.  In 1959, Moncada returned to Eagle Pass to become the Head Baseball Coach of the Eagle Pass High School Eagles program.  Moncada was the first Mexican-American Coach of any sport hired by the Eagle Pass independent School District.  He was the Head Baseball Coach for the Eagle Pass Eagles for 23 years from 1959 to 1982, amassing an impressive 379 wins and 152 losses.

During his 23 years as the Eagle Pass Eagles Baseball Head Baseball Coach, Moncada’s teams won six consecutive District Championships from 1970-1975, four Bi-District Championships, and two State Semi-Final Championship Finalists in 1970 and 1974, losing both times by only one run in tight games.

In 1997, Moncada was inducted into the Texas High School Coaches Hall of Fame for his distinguished baseball coaching career at Eagle Pass High School.  Moncada noted that he had many job offers to leave Eagle Pass to go coach other high school teams, but he chose to stay home with the Eagle Pass Eagles.  Moncada stated how glad he was to have stayed in Eagle Pass because otherwise this baseball naming ceremony would not have been possible.

Moncada stated that his first team in 1959 featured Rudy Bowles as his pitcher and such other great players such as Sammy Ibarra, Eddie Lerma, and Esteban Luna to name a few.

Moncada thanked the young men who played for him during the 23 years and made it possible to enjoy such an outstanding coaching career.  Moncada also noted that he was very fortunate to have great Assistant Coaches like his brother, Rolando Moncada, Pete Castillo, Juan Manuel “Chuco” Farias, and Armando Roman during these 23 years.

Following Moncada’s speech, a photograph of Coach Polo Moncada and his former players whom were present at the naming ceremony was taken for history sake.

Gratkowski introduced Dr. Jaime Chahin, Dean and Professor of the College of Applied Arts at Texas State University, who played during 1969-1971 with Coach Moncada’s Eagles baseball team, as the spokesperson for all the great baseball players who played under Coach Moncada.   Dr. Chahin stated that he was lucky to have played with Coach Moncada and great players during 1969, 1970, and 1971.  Dr. Chahin recognized fellow teammates Dr. Juan Saucedo and Mario Trevino from the 1970 team whom were present at the ceremony.  He also asked for a moment of silence in honor of his 1970 teammates whom had passed away, including Ronnie Acosta, Rolando Surita, Robert Krezdorn, Francisco Martinez, and Assistant Coach Rolando Moncada.

Dr. Chahin stated that a baseball “coach is like a conductor.  He or she has no instruments, does not play anything, bat, run or pitch.  He coaches. He creates a vision.  The lesson we learn is that that vision is a journey.”  Chahin reflected that the wins and losses taught the players valuable lessons in life.   Dr. Chahin noted that  three teachers who also influenced him were Coach Polo Moncada as his junior high civics teacher, high school math teacher Ricardo Salinas, and high school Spanish literature teacher Maria Riddle. Dr. Chahin stated that these three great teachers taught him important lessons in this journey in life.  “We learned three lessons. That you have to be on time, that you have to be on task, and you have to build relationships because life is relational,” said Dr. Chahin.  He also  recognized local youth baseball coaches such as Ismael Ibarra, Henry Staten, and Lalo Mendez as creating a feeder baseball player program for Coach Moncada.

EPISD School Board President Lupita Fuentes acknowledged that on June 9, 2015 the Board approved to name the EPISD Student Activity Center Baseball Stadium in honor of Coach Leopoldo “Polo” Moncada for his extraordinary dedication to the youth, school district, and community.   Board President Lupita Fuentes proceeded to unveil the new sign with Leopoldo “Polo” Moncada Baseball Stadium as the  audience applauded.   A reception followed the ceremony..