In the late 1920s and '30s, Golden Gloves boxing was a big deal for Pasadena Junior College athletes. There may not have been a better boxer out of PJC than Mannie Pineda, who won three GG titles in an impressive three different weight classes. In 1929, he was the only GG boxer to knock out an opponent. In 1930, Pineda won the 118-pound division crown. After taking a year off, he returned in 1932, moving up in weight class and winning the 135-pound division title. After PJC, he served his country in World War II, weathering the Battle of the Bulge. Pineda became a pioneer among Mexican-American journalists, serving as a long-time sports editor at the Pasadena Star-News and as a top auto racing writer.