During this time he threw a no-hitter and several one and two-hitters and was a member of the Junior League All-Stars in 1939 and 1940. Dick attended Aquinas High School, where he played baseball for four years, graduating in 1952. The Hall of Fame Committee will induct the following into the Wisconsin State League Hall of Fame: Nick Mitidiero - Lombard . He appeared in 56 games in 1996 and in a career-high 76 games in 1997 when he hit .289 and set career-highs in runs (30), hits (58), doubles (9), RBI (22), walks (35) and on-base percentage (.397). Boyer graduated from La Crescent High School in 1970, and later that summer married his high school sweetheart, Susan Czechowicz, who survives him. Born in Alma Center and educated at UWL (undergraduate) and Winona State (graduate), Buckley began his professional career as a teacher at La Crosse Lincoln Junior High School. P. O. He returned to Wisconsin for good after the season and married his high school sweetheart, Donna Johnson. After retirement, Schmidt completed his bachelors degree from the University of Minnesota and earned his law degree from the University of Wisconsin. He was signed by the Boston Red Sox in 2001, but an early season elbow injury ended his playing career. In 1999 Dee took over the head coaching position at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC). 1) The Negro Leagues Researchers and Authors Group put together by the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum thanks to a grant provided by Major League Baseball. He followed that up with a 15-9 record in 1941, striking out 130 while walking only 37. . 92 0 obj <>stream Sheboygan Athletic Club Launches New Website, Logo . He was instrumental in setting the groundwork for the eventual merger of the WISAA with the public-school Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association in 2000. He was a multi-sport athlete, but his passion for baseball reigned supreme. Green Bay Packers All-Time Leading Rusher Ahman Green and National Baseball Hall of Fame Pitcher and Brewers Legend Rollie Fingers, are among five Wisconsin sports legends who will be inducted into the Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame at the 73rd Anniversary Induction Ceremony. Robin Yount: MVP Season Helmet. Driver and Green being in attendance means the Packers All-Time Leading Rusher and All-Time Leading Receiver in the organizations 102-year-old history will be present. There were no girls sports when she attended Arcadia High School, where she graduated in 1946, but she coached in a summer softball league and played neighborhood pickup games with the boys. He was one of the first pitchers to be used in the role of what has now become known as the set-up man, most often entering in the 7th or 8th inning and then giving way to the likes of Hall of Fame closer Rollie Fingers. He played football, basketball, and baseball at Aquinas High School, graduating in 1952. He was part of a Brewers staff that transformed the team from 90+ losses each year from 1975-77 into division winners in 1981 and a World Series appearance in 1982. Hockenbery played baseball for the Onalaska Hilltoppers and was a four year starter. After high school Babe served in the army during WWII. 1921 was his last season in the majors. Granderson Stadium opened on April 17, 2014. He even contributed on the mound, appearing twice in relief and once as a starter. Jeff Schmidt was born in Northfield, MN and grew up in La Crosse. The 1905 La Crosse Pinks were champions of the six-team class D Wisconsin State League, compiling a gaudy 68-41 record. La Crosse Area Baseball Hall of Fame | Baseball 17:30 22:30. Sheboygan, WI 53082-0032, 2023 Wisconsin State Baseball League. Mike Dee was born in 1953, and grew up in the Chicago area until his family moved to La Crosse before his senior year in high school. Sheboygan A's. 2007. Registration is now open for the 2022 Wisconsin State League Awards and Hall of Fame Dinner. John Anderson John Anderson was named to the NFL 1980s All-Decade Team, and he is in the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame. Check out the Wisconsin ties to the Baseball Hall of Fame. He led Aquinas to its first state basketball championship in 1941. Vision problems short-circuited his career. 117 of his players were named first or second team all conference, 17 players were named All-Region honorees, and eight earned All American status. He coached and played baseball and softball in the La Crosse area for more than 30 years, turning down a contract offer from the Chicago Cubs at the age of 28 because he didnt want to start a new career at such an advanced age. When the Federal League folded in the fall of 1915 Konetchy was purchased by the Boston Braves. IN a game against Rushford in the early 1950s he pitched a no-hitter, striking out 13 and homering for good measure. This data comes from two sources. Box 32 Box 32 Babe played both fast pitch and 16-inch softball during and after his baseball days. 1) The Negro Leagues Researchers and Authors Group put together by the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum thanks to a grant provided by Major League Baseball. Anderson was selected as Packers most valuable defensive player for three consecutive years. His final professional record was a very respectable 31-22 in 74 games. He started 16 completing 14. 73rd Anniversary Wisconsin Athletic HOF Induction Ceremony Wisconsin After graduating, he moved to Michigan City, Indiana, where he taught and coached basketball and baseball for seven years, before returning to La Crosse to join his fathers construction business. During his three seasons (1947-49) he was named to the La Crosse All-Star team three times He also pitched for South Ridge, Bangor and Coon Valley. He also served as a coach for his oldest daughters softball team and his grandsons Boys and Girls club squad. After graduating from UWL he took over the family furniture business and signed on as an assistant coach for his alma mater Lancers. To date the Corrine Zielke Fund has provided a half million dollars to area teams, communities, and schools for baseball equipment and facilities. In 1982 he went 12-6 with a sparkling 2.64 ERA and struck out 162 batters in only 160.1 innings while pitching for the Peninsula Pilots in the Carolina League. Ghelfi is the father of five children, two of whom also played baseball professionally. | Site Map. Chuck and his wife are enjoying their retirement, following the lives of their three children and five grandchildren. Jorgensen is a University of Wisconsin graduate. Winners were determined by a vote of League general managers, Managers, and personnel. Official Instagram account of the Sheboygan A's baseball team. The first new member is Cy Berg, a baseball coach who led the Old Abes to four state championships. Jerry Augustine was inducted into the UW-La Crosse Wall of Fame in 1984 and the Milwaukee Brewers Wall of Honor in 2014. He also tied his career-high with three home runs. In the 1960s it was difficult for Wisconsin high school players to get a good look from scouts because they played summer ball, and unless they made the state baseball tournament, they often went unnoticed. At one point that season Kober was struggling and talking about quitting. Dee also spearheaded the renovation of an old campus gymnasium into a state-of-the-art indoor training facility. Founded in 1951, the Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame was created to preserve the legacy and rich history of sports and athletic achievements in our state. There were originally seven nominees for this years class, those who werent voted in this year will automatically be on next years ballot. He was a slugging first baseman and designated hitter, pounding 23 home runs and 25 doubles in only 631 at bats over the course of his two most productive seasons in 1976 and 1977. %PDF-1.6 % He played baseball for local legion and semipro teams and in city softball leagues for more than 25 years, playing his final game on his fiftieth birthday. He played part of 1985 in Major League Baseball for the Minnesota Twins. The WIAC established a Hall of Fame to coincide with the conference's celebration of its 100th anniversary, which took place during the 2012-13 academic year. The Induction Ceremony will take place on April 1st, 2023, at the Marcus Performing Arts Center in downtown Milwaukee. The event will take . The center fielder wore this batting helmet in 1989, when he won his second AL MVP Award after winning one at shortstop in 1982. Babe passed away at his home on August 19, 1998. He practiced law with a Madison firm before joining the University of Wisconsin Athletic Department in 2004. He had spent the previous six seasons in the Texas Rangers front office. A cash bar reception will begin at 4:30 PM, followed by dinner at 6 PM and the awards program to follow. At Viterbo he set school records for highest career batting average, most doubles, and most RBI. His best single season was 1976, when he hit .259 with 11 home runs, 13 doubles, 33 runs scored and 36 RBIs in 109 games. After discussions with league officials, the Wisconsin State League has announced its decision to postpone the Hall of Fame Banquet, originally scheduled for January 30, 2021. Charles Hockenbery was born December 15, 1950 in La Crosse, WI. The Wisconsin Class A State Tournament qualifiers get underway Tuesday night. Wisconsin State Baseball League - Facebook While at UWL he earned all-conference honors in 1970, and led the team in RBI in 1969 and 1970, batting .325 over the two seasons. . His interest in managing waned after that, and he turned down an offer to manage in the Reds minor league system, instead returning home to Onalaska where he continued to play ball on local teams while working in the construction business. Garry Bahe (Sun Prairie): Bahe was the head coach at Sun Prairie High School for 14 years, after serving 16 seasons as an assistant coach.His record as a head coach was 161-115. Unfortunately, his arm injury recurred, and he retired after splitting the season between Peoria, Beaumont, and Decatur. He reported to spring training with the Cardinals in 1953 and was assigned to their class D minor league affiliate in Hazelhurst, Georgia. Marinette, Wisconsin minor league baseball history - Wikiwand He enjoyed perhaps his finest offensive season in 1995, when he was traded from the Astros to the Cubs in mid-season. Williams made his major league debut in 1995 after parts of five seasons in the minor leagues. He played baseball for Onalaska High School, and then for a regiment team in the Army National Guard at Fort Leonard Wood, MO. In addition to baseball, Thornton also coached basketball, football, and both boys and girls skiing. Address: The event will take place on Saturday, October 29 at Blue Harbor Resort and Conference Center in Sheboygan, WI. He also played baseball for the American Legion La Crosse Stars in 1947 and 1948. The purpose of the La Crosse Area Baseball Hall of Fame is to recognize the significant impact that baseball has made in La Crosse, Wisconsin. Interested organizations can contact Carley Sanfilippo by email at csanfilippo@wihalloffame.com or by phone at 414.507.6197. When he was 16 he joined the competitive factory team, and at age 20 he signed his first professional contract with the La Crosse Pinks of the Class D Wisconsin State League. Green Bay Packers All-Time Leading Rusher Ahman Green and National Baseball Hall of Fame Pitcher and Brewers Legend Rollie Fingers, are among five Wisconsin sports legends who will be inducted into the Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame at the 73rd Anniversary . In operation since 1970, the Wisconsin State League is a highly competitive league that features many of the midwest's top current and former collegiate athletes, as well as many former professional baseball players. Also inducted will be Dave Johnson, a baseball player who had played with the Eau Claire Cavaliers for 18 years, and managed the legion team for 13 years. During an eleven year career that included time with the Astros (1991-95, 2001), Chicago Cubs (1995-98), San Francisco Giants (1999-2000) and Colorado Rockies (2000), Servais batted .245 with 130 doubles, 63 home runs and 319 RBI in 820 games. Richard Francis Dick Ghelfi was born on August 24, 1934, in Genoa, WI. In 1910 Konetchy put together a 20-game hitting streak, batted over .300 for the first of four times, and won the Triple Crown in fielding, leading NL first basemen in fielding percentage, putouts, and assists. Ghelfis career was cut short by injury after four years of steady progress in the Cardinals minor league system. Kusick made his major league debut on September 8, 1973, going 0-4 against the White Sox. Lou Erickson moved to Rockford for the 1949 and 1950 seasons. Box 32 Coach Terry was inducted into the State Baseball Coaches Hall of Fame in 1986 and the UWL Wall of Fame in 1994. Buckley Baseball Tours now sponsors 25-30 multi-city tours each summer, guiding as many as 1500 fans a year to stadiums across the country. Support provided by Market New York through I LOVE NY/ New York State's Division of Tourism as a part of the Regional Economic Development Council awards. Schedule Released for 2021 Season - Wisconsin State Baseball League Wisconsin State Baseball League - Facebook Former Green Bay Blue Ribbons Manager Denny Ruh passed away on Friday at the age of 82 after a brief health battle. That solid performance earned him a promotion back to Quad Cities in 1971, AA Shreveport in 1972, and AAA Salt Lake City in 1973, where he pitched in 1974-75 as well. 1942 Wisconsin State League | Baseball-Reference.com He assisted Jay Buckley in running the Stars of Tomorrow baseball tournament for 29 years, and umpired and officiated local baseball, football, and basketball games for more than 30 years. The next day he made his major league debut, getting his first hit in a 4-3 loss to the Reds. Hockenbery began his professional career later that summer at class A Quad Cities in the Midwest League. Upon her death on February 5, 2000 she left nearly $1 million to be used for the support of baseball in the La Crosse community. He appeared in only four games in his brief stint that year, and opened 1970 at Idaho Falls in the rookie league. After high school he enrolled at the University of Northern Iowa (UNI), but had to put his college career on hold in order to serve three and a half years in the Air Force. The big right hander usually batted cleanup and eventually attracted the attention of professional scouts. P. O. Saturday, April 1, 2023 1948 Wisconsin State League | Baseball-Reference.com He played sparingly until late September when he garnered his first two major league hits in a game against the Giants and finished the season on a 6 for 16 tear. He starred for Quality Lumber & Coal and the Johnson Doughboy Fryers, earning recognition as an All State third baseman in a career that stretched through the 1960s. Please join us in congratulating these honorees for the positive impact they have made on our state.. He spent seven seasons in the Angels minor league system where he posted 10 wins and 41 saves with 313 strikeouts in 486.2 innings. He caught for the Onalaska high school team as a fifth grader. AP Photo/Matt Slocum. Green is also a four-time Pro Bowl selection. She still lives in Arcadia, making occasional appearances at baseball events and Loggers games. Keep up to date on everything happening in the Wisconsin State League by following the league online on Facebook,Twitter,andInstagram. While one gauge of success is how much wealth one acquires in a lifetime, the more meaningful and lasting measurement is how much one gives away. Jay Buckley is Mr. One of his teammates at Decatur was his Aquinas High School teammate Dick Ghelfi. When the hitting barrage ended, he had collected ten consecutive hits, tying a record set in 1897 that would stand until 1952, and is still the second most consecutive hits in MLB history. They celebrated 71 years of marriage before she preceded him in death by two years. After his death in 1975 she returned to work, running the tea shop at Doerflingers. He was then invited to the next round of tryouts, held at Copeland Park, where he was offered a contract with the Cardinals, complete with a $28.50 bonus check. All Rights Reserved. Augustine compiled a career record of 55-59 with a 4.23 ERA in 944 innings. He also led all catchers in fielding percentage in both 2002 and 2004. In 1995 he accepted a position as head coach of the UW-Milwaukee baseball team. His success at the collegiate level earned him an invitation to the 1991 Olympic Baseball Trials. He made his major league debut on August 10, 1997 as a pinch hitter against Mariano Rivera and the New York Yankees. Playing under manager Jake Aydelotte, the Badgers placed first in the league standings with a record of 51-39. . He attended Viterbo University and was drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the 20th round of the MLB amateur draft in June of 1990. Stepping away from the baseball diamond did not mean he stopped contributing to the community though. He returned to La Crosse, where he played semipro ball for several teams in the area, including the La Crosse Mohawks, for whom he was the highest paid player on the team. The Wisconsin State League has released the all-league first and second teams for the 2022 season, as voted on by the team's General Manager's and league personnel. Len played first base for Centrals state runner-up squad in 1952. In 1983 he advanced through AA (Reading) and AAA (Portland), before making his major league debut that year with the Phillies. He continued to compete for local softball teams into his late 60s. Registration is now open for the 2022 Wisconsin State League Awards and Hall of Fame Dinner. During Buckleys 29 years coaching, Central High School won 20 city championships and made 15 trips to the state tournament, winning two state championships. All Rights Reserved. He enjoys watching baseball and regularly attends reunions of retired Angels players. This data comes from two sources. Former Eau Claire Cavaliers player, Dave Johnson will be inducted into the Eau Claire Baseball History Hall of Fame. He was signed by the St. Louis Cardinals in 1954 and spent the season in their minor league system, batting 489 times for a .254 average, including seven homeruns and 24 doubles. During his 11 year career, he hit .262 with 87 homeruns. The only way to experience the true power of the Baseball Hall of Fame is in person. He spent three summers pitching in the Junior Legion League. The Wisconsin State League, also known as the Wisconsin State Baseball League, was established in 1970 and is considered by many as one of the top semi-pro baseball leagues in the mid-west, if not the entire country. He continued to play baseball, appearing regularly at Copeland Park as a member of the La Crosse Old Styles in the 1980s. He left school after the eighth grade and began working at the Funk Candy Company. He founded the Stars of Tomorrow baseball tournament in 1967 and guided it through its first six years before stepping down due to health reasons. Gus Burwell - Madison . The Wisconsin State Baseball League will induct five into its Hall of Fame next October and an additional inductee gets the honor of being the first to be selected for a new wing of the Hall of Fame. Super Bowl Table Partner for $10,000 First two rows table location, video thank you and on-stage mention, 8 total VIP passes to Champions Club. In 2014 West Salem honored him by dedicating their baseball diamond Damian Miller Field. He was named Midwestern Collegiate Conference Coach of the Year in 1997, 2000, and 2001. He took a team with a losing record in 1998 and turned them into perennial champions, winning 680 games in a 23 year career that featured 12 league championships and six NCAA tournament births. Ghelfi pitched a total of nine seasons in the minors, compiling a career record of 58-52 with a 3.92 ERA, averaging seven strikeouts per nine innings pitched, and winning ten or more games four times. Leadership Table Partner for $3,500 Dinner and Premium Open Bar - Table for 8 people. He played seven seasons in the majors with the Twins and the Toronto Blue Jays. Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame Announces 73rd Anniversary Induction Class for April 1st, 2023, including Ahman Green and Rollie Fingers. Rick Boyer (1952-2021) was Mr. Inductees. Since the Wisconsin State League Hall of Fame was formed in 2007, 78 individuals have had the honor of being inducted into the prestigious Hall of Fame. At the end of his career with the Packers, he led the organization in tackles and was tied for the Packers career record in interceptions by a linebacker. Corinne Zielke was a true friend of baseball. 81 of his former players went on to play baseball at the collegiate level, and nine of them signed professional contracts.