Last living member of 1949 Bowie state championship team dies
EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — The final living member of the 1949 Bowie High School baseball team died. Alfonzo Lopez was part of the first team to be declared Texas state champions.
Lopez’ nephew confirmed with ABC-7 about his death. He was 94.
Lopez was part of a team that made history. 1949 Bowie Bears baseball team’s 3-2 victory led them to life the first state championship trophy.
ESPN reporter and El Paso native Roberto Franco interviewed Lopez about the team’s journey in 2024.
“That meant a lot to the community at the time,” Franco said. “You have this team of Mexican Americans accomplishing this.”
Franco’s interview with Lopez discussed the challenges off the field. The team saw signs that read, “No Mexicans allowed” on the road, according to Franco.
The team also had to sleep under the bleachers of a football stadium and eat outside, he said. Lopez told Franco about seeing the signs at the time.
“He was quiet for a long time and just kind of staring at it intently,” Franco said. “Probably thinking back on, on what was happening then at that time.”
Franco said El Paso is proud of the local boys that made history.
The championship trophy bonded the teammates for life. They kept it throughout the Korean War era. Throughout the years, the teammates met up to talk when they were back home.
Franco said the team’s memories were kept alive and won’t fade to time. He described the team’s win as “a story every El Pasoan should know.”
“It’s the stuff movies are made of,” he said.
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