Joe Slobko

Garden City’s “Mr. Baseball,” Joe Slobko made Garden City Community College a premier baseball program through his competitive spirit and hard nose coaching.

From 1976-97, Slobko’s Broncbusters were 820-340, winning three Region VI championships.  His 1978 and 1980 teams were each ranked #2 in the final National Junior College Athletic Association polls.  His 1981 team won a Jayhawk Conference record 60 games.

Among the players Slobko coached at Garden City were Major Leaguers Ronn Reynolds and Brad Moore, NFL running back Corey Dillon and Kansas City Royals general Manager Dayton Moore.

In his book More Than a Season: Building a Championship Culture, Moore wrote of Slobko: 

“…playing for Joe was one of the best things that happened to me in my life.  He was a rough, tough throwback, but an unbelievable competitor.  I wanted to win for Joe because he cared so much about competing and winning.  I loved playing for him.”

Slobko, who taught psychology at Garden City Community College, also worked an associate scout for the Kansas City Royals and Cincinnati Reds.

Slobko died in 2020 at the age of 83.