Gordon Leigh (Jack) Bloomfield

Gordon Leigh (Jack) Bloomfield passed away peacefully at home on July 28, 2025, having lived 95 years of a life filled with family, friends, and sports. He passed away in his home of over 50 years, spending his last days surrounded by loving friends and relatives. Jack began life on August 07, 1930 in Monte Alto Texas, born into the loving Bloomfield family of Madeline Harper Bloomfield and Alfred Albert Bloomfield and Jack's brother George Mitchell (Mitch) Bloomfield. From this upbringing Jack carried a central love of family with him to the end of his days. Young Jack discovered that he loved sports of all kinds and that he had a fiercely competitive spirit. His father and brother played semi-pro baseball together on the McAllen Muehlebachs, and Jack began a lifelong career in baseball as the Muehlebachs team mascot. Shortly after, Jack began playing on the Donna Cardinals baseball team with his brother Mitch. Jack soon learned that he was good at other sports too. At Edinburg High School he won district in tennis in 1945,'46,'47, and was selected All-District in basketball in 1947. After graduating high school in 1949, the following year he made All-State in fast pitch softball in the A.S.A. Tournament in Austin, Texas. In 1950 Jack played basketball and baseball at Edinburg Junior College. The Korean War interrupted Jack's statewide activities but couldn't stop his participation in sports. The Army drafted him in 1951 for two years during the Korean War. His superiors learned that he had been scheduled to play professional ball, so they assigned Jack to Special Services for the purpose of entertaining troops. In 1951 and 1952 Jack made All-State in the N.B.A. Baseball tournament while serving in the U.S. Army. After his military service, in 1953 and 1954 Jack played NIFL fast pitch softball in Fort Wayne, Indiana, with the world champion Zollner Pistons softball team. As a rookie, he had the highest batting average in the N.F.L.League..(.337). Drafted in baseball by the Milwaukee Braves in 1955, he played five years of minor league ball. 1955 marked an even more important milestone in Jack's life: his marriage to Betty Slayton, his life partner for the remainder of his days. Jack met Betty over a bridge game at the student union building in Pan American in 1953. He recalled that he asked her to go with him to the golf course for their first date. Jack's Japanese adventure began in 1960 when he accepted an offer from the Kintetsu Buffaloes to play for them in Japan. Jack later recalled “I had agreed over the phone on a baseball contract and hoped they would keep their word.” Taking the gamble, Jack moved his family to Japan, beginning his seven-year baseball career where he led the league in hitting in 1962 and 1963 with a .374 and a .335 average. After retiring from playing, Jack reentered the U.S. baseball community. Initially he was a scout for the San Diego Padres before being named the first base and hitting coach for the Padres in 1974. From 1975-1978 he was the first base and infield coach for the Chicago Cubs. For the next thirty-five years he was a major league scout for the Astros and other clubs before retiring after fifty years in professional baseball. The game left him with countless memories and many lifelong friends. Jack Bloomfield was inducted into the Rio Grande Valley Sports Hall of Fame in 1993. He was inducted into the Texas Scouting Hall of Fame in 2008, and in 2012 was honored with the Legends in Scouting award at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, California. In his later years Jack often spoke fondly of all the times when his family gathered together for holidays and special reunions,whether for Thanksgiving football games or an outing he planned at a ranch in Bandera, Texas. When asked “What matters most to me?” he answered “My family, good health, and happiness”. Gordon Bloomfield is survived by his wife of 70 years Betty Slayton Bloomfield, son Michael Boyd Bloomfield (Bonnie), daughters Sherry Ann Greer ( Hank), Jacquelin Fern Fowler (Daniel) Julie Bloomfield Beckley , grandchildren Jenny Sneed, Bryan Bloomfield, Jeremy Bloomfield, Katie Greer, Blake Beckley, Brennan Beckley, Mackenzie Beckley, Madison Beckley and great-grandchildren Jaden Smith, Alanna Williams, Grace Bloomfield., Brady Bloomfield , Luke Fowler, Henry Bloomfield and Sophia Bloomfield as well as nieces Debbie Lopez and Cathey Hinojosa and their children. Mr. Bloomfield was predeceased by his parents Alfred Albert Bloomfield and Madeline Harper Bloomfield, his brother George Mitchell Bloomfield, his grandson David Fowler and his great granddaughter Cameran Bloomfield. Services will be held at Calvary Baptist Church at 1600 Harvey Street in McAllen at 10:00 AM, Saturday, August 2nd under the direction of Pastor David Chan. Serving as pallbearers will be Bryan Bloomfield, Jeremy Bloomfield, Blake Beckley, Brennan Beckley, Timothy Sneed and Larry Hardy. A private burial will be held at a later time. The family thanks all the caregivers for Gordon Bloomfield during his final days, especially by enabling his return to the home he loved so much. Dr. Mark Gonzalez, Luis Gracia, and David Hernandez were very kind and compassionate in caring for Jack and guiding him and the family during the difficult final stages. In lieu of flowers , the family suggests memorial gifts to the First Christian Church in Edinburg, Vannie Cook Children's Hospital or a charity of one's choice.

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Gordon Leigh (Jack) Bloomfield

July 28, 2025