The 1957 Baseball Team
Note:The The player on the last row (between Penton and Whitehead) identified at G. Bacon is Gene Bacque.
Click here for Gene's profile which documents the teams for which he played from 1957 through 1969: http://athleticnetwork.net/site.php?pageID=55&profID=23
In the '60s, Hanshin won two CL pennants, 1962 and 1964. The decade was also memorable for the efforts of pitcher Gene Bacque, who compiled a 100-80 record with a 2.83 ERA in eight years with the Tigers - winning Japan's equivalent of the Cy Young Award - the Sawamura Award - in 1964. His baseball card is pictured below. Gene is the only foreign pitcher ever to be honored in this way.
Gene Bacque, 1964 Winner of the Sawamura Award, Japan's equivalent of the Cy Young Award.
Compliments of http://www2.gol.com/users/michaelo/History.html Click here for more information on the Hanshin Tigers, including history, ballpark, mascots, fight song, glossary, roster, schedule, and standings.
Gene Bacque was a AAA Hawaii Islander trying to make the big leagues. He joined Hanshin in '62, and in '64 he helped fill the void left when Koyama went to the Flyers. He won the Sawamura award with a 1.89 ERA, the only American to ever win it. In '65 he threw a no-hitter against the Giants. For more information on the Hanshin Tigers, click on the link below: http://members.tripod.com/~wallpaperman/Hanshin_Tigers_page.htm
The 1972 USL Baseball Team, with Assistant Coach Gene Bacque in the upper left.

1st Row L-R: David Sanches, Charles Bordes, Mark Trosclair, Al Torregano, Bobby Walsh, Chip Sanches. 2nd Row L-R: Glen Hebert, Mark Hooks, Mike Debaillon, Ron Hurst, Clarence Berken, John Patout, Bill Simms, Mike Sturgeon. 3rd Row L-R: Mike Hardy, Coach Gene Bacque, Joe Partin, Robert Hicks, Jamie Davis, Mark Speyrer, Carl Meche, Tom Carroll, Danny McIver, David Meche, Coach Gerald Hebert, Coach Don Lockwood
Gene Bacque's return to Lafayette was a solid stroke of good fortune for Cajun Baseball. After Tigue Moore recruited him to coach the Guaranty Bank American Legion for a couple of years, he served Coach Bobby Banna as an assistant coach at USL during the 1971 season. Gene continued to contribute to the program by serving as Don Lockwood's assistant coach from 1972 through Lockwood's last season.
Click here to view the menu to the Baseball Photo Gallery, then select the year you wish to review: http://athleticnetwork.net/site209.php
On May 11, 2007 Gene Bacque had the honor of throwing the first pitch to open play for Baseball Alumni Reunion Weekend. Click here for the photo gallery containing images of his first pitch, along with those of the entire weekend of activities: http://www.ragincajuns.com/PhotoAlbum.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=15400&PALBID=11373
Below is a recent picture of Gene and Ann at a special family event (compliments of Michelle).

Gene Bacque Family on October 4, 2008 at Andrea's wedding (L-R): Rita Bacque (oldest), Ann Bacque (wife), Michelle Bacque Wilson (3rd child), Andrea Bacque LeBlanc (bride & youngest child), John Bacque (2nd child), Suzanne Bacque Broussard (4th child) & Gene Bacque.
The Athletic Network is honored to place the spotlight on Gene Bacque.