Albuquerque's Beacon: Stubbs and Ellis to be Honored at City's Professional Baseball Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
In a celebration of local baseball history, the Albuquerque Professional Baseball Hall of Fame will induct two distinguished figures from the sport - Franklin Stubbs and A.J. Ellis - on Saturday night. The induction ceremony will take place before the game against the Sacramento River Cats, with the on-field ceremony kicking off at 6:05 p.m., followed by the first pitch at 6:35 p.m.
Franklin Stubbs, a slugger who spent 10 seasons with the Albuquerque Dukes, will be honoured for his impressive career with the team. Drafted in the first round of the 1982 draft by the Dodgers for the Albuquerque Dukes, Stubbs made a name for himself with his powerful batting, setting a mark of 53 career homers over 237 games. His .285 batting average and 175 RBI also rank him sixth on the Dukes' all-time list and tied for 10th on the all-time Albuquerque Triple-A home run list.
Stubbs' tenure with the Dukes was not without its challenges. On occasions, headlights from parked cars beyond the outfield wall could sometimes blind him while batting. Interestingly, A.J. Ellis, another inductee, joked that these headlights might have been used to signal pitches to Stubbs.
Ellis, an 18th round draft pick of the Dodgers, had a contrasting career path to Stubbs. While Ellis had to fight his way to make a name for himself, Stubbs' athletic background was evident from the start. Ellis played in 169 games with the Isotopes from 2009-11 and 2014, showcasing his exceptional defensive skills with a .991 fielding percentage as a catcher, which is the second-highest by Isotopes catchers, with only 10 errors in 1,187 chances.
The Isotopes will pay tribute to both Stubbs and Ellis by wearing mustard yellow jerseys on Saturday night, marking Dukes Retro night. The evening will conclude with a postgame fireworks show, weather permitting, adding to the festive atmosphere.
In addition to his induction, Stubbs also served as an Isotopes hitting coach in 2013 and 2014. The opposing pitcher stood 60 feet, 6 inches away from Stubbs when he batted, a distance that was no match for his formidable swing.
The induction of Stubbs and Ellis is a testament to the rich baseball history in Albuquerque and a reminder of the passion and perseverance required to excel in the sport. The ceremony promises to be a memorable event for fans and players alike, making it a must-attend for any baseball enthusiast in the area.
Despite the potential interference from headlights during his playing days, Franklin Stubbs set impressive statistics in sports, particularly in baseball for the Albuquerque Dukes, earning him a spot at the Albuquerque Professional Baseball Hall of Fame's induction on Saturday night. Meanwhile, the weather may or may not allow for a postgame fireworks show to add to the festive atmosphere of Dukes Retro night, honoring both Stubbs and fellow inductee A.J. Ellis.
