Quad City Hitmen Baseball Hall of Fame

2005 Inductee - Brian Rangel, Founder

April 10, 2005, as read by Patrick Rangel, Executive Director, Quad City Hitmen Baseball Association -

Simply stated, The Quad City Hitmen exist because of one man…a dedicated coach who left his mark on hundreds and hundreds of young people.

Brian Rangel founded the Quad City Hitmen in 19991, wishing to provide an opportunity for kids to play top-notch competitive baseball, and help foster their dreams of some day representing their respective High School teams.

To date, nearly 1000 area youth have participated in the Hitmen program, learning the game and experiencing moments that will last a lifetime. Brian wanted the Quad City Hitmen to provide just that…he wanted to ensure everyone- moms and dads, sisters and brothers, and grandparents- knew they were part of something special.

Many of us will never fully realize the extent of what Brian Rangel did for the Hitmen program. He had a special kind of impact. As a coach, Brian had a special way about him that made all the kids who played for him feel good about what was happening. Win or lose, the kids learned something, and the game was fun. And not only did he touch the lives of many kids in the area, he also added something to the lives of the parents.

Brian Rangel never coached a day for himself. He was in it strictly for the kids and their families, a trait lost among many who try to coach today. He had no ego-simply a large and understanding heart. Brian believed that each young person is special in his or her own way, that we all have tons of good in us, and that acting the right way and treating people the right way is far more important than any game winning hit.

Brian Rangel passed away just a few months before the 1996 Hitmen Baseball season. At that time, many people conveyed to the Hitmen program the impact Brian had on their families. One mother wrote, "Our son was one of the lucky boys to play baseball for Brian. He was the kind of coach parents always hope their child will have. He made each boy feel important and positive about himself. Brian gently disciplined them and gave them the self-confidence they needed to succeed." Another father wrote, " My son was probably just one of hundreds of kids Brian helped in some small way. If he never remembers how Brian taught him to hit, I hope my son at least will remember the kindness."

Please take a moment and look around. The young people you see before you, and those players that have paved the way, are Brian Rangel's legacy. And the premise on which he founded the Quad City Hitmen remains in tact to this day as we enter into our 15th season. Brian Rangel introduced competitive baseball to our Quad City youth full scale; and he introduced Quad City Hitmen Baseball to the rest of the country. We are forever grateful for his gift, and we are honored to continue his dreams for our youth.

Please give a round of applause to Tim and Sharon Rangel, as we graciously honor our founder, the late Brian Rangel, and welcome him into the Quad City Hitmen Hall of Fame.

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