His spirit, drive and determination never wavered. Rudy sustained catastrophic injuries to his lower extremities along with his index finger and middle finger on his right hand. On June 9, 1970, Rudy stepped on a land mine, ending his professional baseball dream. After a semester at Eastern Arizona, he made the ultimate decision to join the United States Marine Corp. Due to some academic issues, Rudy decided to attend Eastern Arizona Community College to pursue his dream of playing Major League Baseball. Rudy was heavily recruited as a pitcher by Arizona State University, which was a Top 5 Program in the Nation. Louis Cardinals, he declined their offer and was advised to go back to school to gain more experience.
After graduating from Pueblo, he received an offer to play professional baseball with the St. High and graduated from Pueblo High School in 1968. Rudy was proud of the upbringing that he experienced with his parents and never forgot his roots on Tucson’s south side. Rudy was preceded in death by his parents Casimiro and Rosenda Gallego and older brother Casimiro “JR” Gallego. Gallego, 74, of Tucson, passed away at the Tucson VA Hospital on Sunday, November 26, 2023. He was also a positive mentor in the lives of everyone he met. Rudy was known for his dedication and love for his family, his love of sports, and his special ability to influence and coach anyone who was willing to listen and learn. Rudolpho Terrazas Gallego (Aug– November 26, 2023)
