wisconsin state league baseball hall of fame

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. Charlie Abbey (1892) Charlie Bartson (1892) Grant Briggs (1891) Harry Burrell (1892) Joe . Shannon is a member of the Cardinals Hall of Fame and a two-time World Series champion. Tony Ghelfi was born in La Crosse in 1961. After having played against the likes of Hank Aaron and Jackie Robinson, Johnson wasnt interested in segregated baseball. He impressed the scout and signed a free agent contract with the California Angels. Following the 2005 season, he was named Senior Director of Player Development for the Texas Rangers. He led the team with a 15-3 record in 1952, strkiking out 10 or more in eight of his starts. 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. He went 5-4 with a 3.29 ERA, striking out 50 in 63 innings. Check out the Wisconsin ties to the Baseball Hall of Fame. It was his defense, however, that won him awards. Johnson continues to live there and can frequently be seen in the stands at Copeland Park during a Loggers home stand. In 1935 he married Marie Wahlstrom of Waukon, IA, and they raised two children. In 1953 he was awarded the annual Claire Raith trophy for all around baseball ability, character, and sportsmanship on and off the field. Jerry Augustine has done it all when it comes to baseball in his native state of Wisconsin. Hockenbery played baseball for the Onalaska Hilltoppers and was a four year starter. Frank Thornton was born in Portage, WI on February 25, 1944. During the 1940s and 1950s the local baseball scene was quite active and highly competitive, featuring teams from Camp McCoy that often featured major league players, against whom Henley frequently pitched, and held his own. This data comes from two sources. He served as a private in the U.S. Army during World War II. Scott Servais was born on June 4, 1967. This earned him another promotion, this time all the way up to class B Peoria in 1956. Carroll was highly decorated for a lifetime of selfless service. This performance earned him a promotion to Joplin, in the class C Western Association, in 1954. Three times (1993, 1994, 1998) he ranked among the top three NL catchers in fielding percentage. He continues to operate his insurance company and call games for the Brewers on Fox Sports Wisconsin. He was named a National League All Star in 2002, doubling twice in three at bats, driving in two runs and scoring one. The Wisconsin State Baseball Leagues is considered one. He played college ball for the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, and was a part of the UWL squad that reached the NAIA World Series in 1979. She helped Rockford to the league championship in both 1949 and 1950. He is the winningest coach in UIC baseball history, and was named Horizon League coach of the year a conference record 10 times, six times more than the second most honored coach. 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. The Eau Claire Baseball History Committee will induct 2 new members into its Hall of Fame. Wisconsin State Baseball League - Facebook In June of 2009 the university announced plans to cancel the sport, and Terry spearheaded an effort to raise more than $175,000 to save the program. He caught for the Onalaska high school team as a fifth grader. After retiring, he returned to the La Crosse area, where he lives today. 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. Box 32 73rd Anniversary Wisconsin Athletic HOF Induction Ceremony Wisconsin Address: He managed local American Legion and semipro teams for six years before taking over the Western Wisconsin Technical College team. He earned the nickname Hambone for his tall lanky frame. | Site Map. Konetchy was not the only local talent on the team. The Induction Ceremony will take place on April 1st, 2023, at the Marcus Performing Arts Center in downtown Milwaukee. He graduated from UW-La Crosse in 1968, lettering in baseball. Williams made his major league debut in 1995 after parts of five seasons in the minor leagues. 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). Bill Terry was born in Cresco, IA in 1930, but grew up just down river in Lansing, IA, playing baseball and basketball at Lansing High School. Welcome to the official Facebook Page of the Wisconsin State Baseball League. 25 Main St Cooperstown, NY 13326 In Hazelhurst he sported an 11-4 record and 3.23 ERA in 128 innings pitched. He moved from teaching jobs in Maxwell, IA to Westby, WI, where he began his coaching career, assisting the legendary head football coach Elmo Gulsvig. He also guided his teams to 23 regional titles, 18 MVC championships, and 24 city championships. His final professional record was a very respectable 31-22 in 74 games. 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. Konetchy and Cardinals manager Roger Bresnahan led the rescue effort, carrying several passengers to safety. In 1948 she made her professional baseball debut for Racine of the All American Girls Professional Baseball League. 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. He enrolled at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse in the fall of 1969 and graduated in 1972, two years after he was drafted by the Minnesota Twins. Sheboygan Athletic Club Launches New Website, Logo . His generous donations have made a major impact at both the Kohl Center and Camp Randall Stadium. Tom Klawitter - Wikipedia In 1959 he accepted a position as executive secretary of the Wisconsin Catholic Interscholastic Athletic Association (WCIAA), which later became the Wisconsin Independent Schools Athletic Association (WISAA). Fingers led the Milwaukee Brewers to their first playoff appearance in 1981 and received the American League Most Valuable Player Awards and Cy Young Award. He eventually returned to La Crosse, where he continued to play baseball, as well as softball. Registration is now open for the 2022 Wisconsin State League Awards and Hall of Fame Dinner. Kellner also has been an influential leader in bringing Milwaukee Bucks new arena, the Fiserv Forum to life, and he is a minority owner of the Bucks. Those members are: Boyd and Matt Rohde (Horicon Hurricanes), Matt Fredricks (Janesville Aces), Steve Ploetz (Madison Avenue Bar) Bob Sauger (Sheboygan A's Baseball).The five will be inducted at the League's Annual Awards and Hall Fame Dinner at Blue Harbor Resort and Conference Center in Sheboygan on Saturday, January. 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. He also coached the La Crosse Juniors for 22 years, winning a national title in 1986. Cloud, Lynchburg, Charlotte and Tacoma before his promotion to the Twins, he batted .288 with a .492 slugging average and 113 home runs. The Burlington Barons used seven hits to help drive in eight runs to close out the regular season with an 8-1 victory over Kenosha Saturday. He finally began his professional career in 1947 with the Hutchinson Cubs in the Western Association. He began his career as a regular in the Brewers rotation, starting 87 games in a three year span, going 34-42 with a 4.14 ERA. The Wisconsin State Baseball League settled on three catchers and two pitchers for induction into its Hall of Fame. Hock returned to the minors in 1976, fashioning a 5-6 record and striking out five batters per nine innings. 2) Gary Ashwill and his collaborators. He also helped Team USA win a gold medal in the 1988 Olympics and a silver medal in the 1987 Pan American Games, and earned USA Baseballs Alumni Award in 1994. Pavela interrupted his college career to serve three years in the Navy during WWII. He returned to Notre Dame, graduating in 1948. Ghelfis career was cut short by injury after four years of steady progress in the Cardinals minor league system. In 1956 he took a managerial position in Dickinson, South Dakota, but was soured by the fact that the team refused to allow black players on the roster. 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. All Rights Reserved. In one such contest at Copeland Park, Henley outdueled Hall of Famer Satchel Paige, leading the local All Stars to a 3-1 victory over the barnstorming team of professional players. He enjoys watching baseball and regularly attends reunions of retired Angels players. Hall of Fame. He also served as player-manager for the Onalaska Scenics for nearly 20 years, beginning at age 18. P. O. He also tied his career-high with three home runs. Baseball Hall of Fame alumni. Cornerstone Table Partner for $20,000 Two front row table locations, including a Hall of Fame Legend or award nominee sitting at 1 of your tables, 18 total VIP passes to Champions Club. Dave and Barb Skogen have been married more than fifty years, and have spent much of their working lives as partners in the grocery business. However, she retired following the 1950 season when she married Burton Sauer. He was limited to a 135 games over the next two seasons, but hit well enough (.290 with six home runs) to attract the attention of the Cincinnati Reds, who drafted him out of the Cubs organization and put him on their opening day roster in 1950. Later that same year he was honored by the city of La Crosse for his lifetime contributions to the local softball scene. 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. Tom Martin Going into A's Hall of Fame | Wisconsin State Baseball League He was a standout pitcher for the Minnesota Gophers, leading the team to the Big Ten Championship in 1992. His first hit was a pinch hit grand slam. Schedule Released for 2021 Season - Wisconsin State Baseball League But that didnt stop Hockenbery. While at UWL, Augustine helped lead the Eagles to back-to-back conference titles in 1972 and 1973, when he was named to the All-Wisconsin State University Conference First Team. Address: Green is also a four-time Pro Bowl selection. 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. In 1953 she married Arthur J. Zielke. 5:30pm 10:30pm Playing under manager Jake Aydelotte, the Badgers placed first in the league standings with a record of 51-39. . The event will take place on Saturday . Today, the Wisconsin State Baseball League officially announced the major award winners for the summer 2022 season. 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. He captained the Fighting Irish baseball team his senior year. He followed that up the next day with four singles and a triple, then started the following game with two more singles. Registration is now open for the 2022 Wisconsin State League Awards and Hall of Fame Dinner. The Hall of Fame data is found for the years 1920-1948 and the Ashwill data is found from 1904-1919. 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. He played seven seasons in the majors with the Twins and the Toronto Blue Jays. 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. Winners were determined by a vote of League general managers, Managers, and personnel. All Rights Reserved. The center fielder wore this batting helmet in 1989, when he won his second AL MVP Award after winning one at shortstop in 1982. He coached over 125 players who went on to play baseball at the collegiate level, ten of whom signed professional contracts. Parizek worked at La Crosse Peerless Brewery, the La Crosse Rubber Mills, and the La Crosse Post Office. The cost to attend is $25 per person with reservations due by October 15. Former Green Bay Blue Ribbons Manager Denny Ruh passed away on Friday at the age of 82 after a brief health battle. 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. He also owned and operated Hocks Scoreboard Tavern in Onalaska from 1980 to 2013. Konetchys playing days, however, were far from over; he remained active in the minors until 1926. This data comes from two sources. In 30 years he compiled a 459-131-1 record. A's to Host Wisconsin Class A State Tournament - Sheboygan A's Baseball The 1986 team finished the season ranked 19th in the nation by USA Today. The wise investment of the proceeds of the sale grew into the endowment that she provided for local baseball. All seven teams from 2020 return this summer, including the Addison Braves, Burlington Barons, Greater Green Bay Blue Ribbons, Kenosha Kings, Lombard Orioles, Sheboygan A's and West Allis Nationals. P. O. The Wisconsin connections to the Baseball Hall of Fame - Journal Sentinel Box 32 He also served as a coach for his oldest daughters softball team and his grandsons Boys and Girls club squad. More than his accomplishments on the field as a player or coach, Boyer is best remembered for the positive impact he had on those around him, especially the hundreds of high school athletes he coached in in his nearly half-century affiliation with La Crescent Lancers baseball. 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. After his junior season, Schmidt was selected with the 29th overall pick by the California Angels in the first round of the 1992 MLB Amateur draft. He finished the season with six home runs and a .240 batting average in 108 games. He started 16 completing 14. His teams made five state tournament appearances, winning it all in 2009. One of his catchers on the Bangor team was future Yankee Elston Howard, who caught for Bangor while stationed at Fort McCoy, Camp McCoy. Address: Robert Kootch Carroll was born in La Crosse on October 8, 1915 and died there on January 11, 1988. Daves passion for baseball started in the late 1940s, when his father became a Cardinals fan, and Dave followed suit. His baseball career, like many local players, began in Little League, including participation in the Stars of Tomorrow tournament, run by La Crosse Area Hall of Famer Jay Buckley. The event will take place on Saturday, October 29 at Blue Harbor Resort and Conference Center in Sheboygan, WI. Williams was named head coach of the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse baseball team in 2002, leading the team to a 26-18 record (19-9 conference). That season was Eds last in professional baseball, and he retired back to Texas, becoming a foreman at the Convair plant. He opened the 1952 season at class A Binghamton but suffered a shoulder injury and was sent down to Quincy at the end of the season to recover. 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. Their legacy is here for all Wisconsinites to celebrate and honor for generations to come. He continued to compete for local softball teams into his late 60s. Augustine finished his professional career at the AAA level, playing for the top minor league clubs of the Yankees and Orioles in 1985 and 1986 after finishing his Brewers career in 1984. 1948 Wisconsin State League | Baseball-Reference.com In his first MLB game, Ghelfi struck out six in five innings of work, picking up the win over the Giants. At one point that season Kober was struggling and talking about quitting. In 1979 he made a successful move to the bullpen, where he spent the remainder of his career. In 1999 Dee took over the head coaching position at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC). After his sophomore year in high school, he was offered professional contracts by both the St. Louis Browns and Cardinals, but turned them down. From there he moved on to slow pitch softball, organizing two different local leagues, earning the Claire Raith 12 Softball Award for his efforts. Wisconsin State League - BR Bullpen - Baseball-Reference.com Harnish He worked for at the La Crosse Allis-Chalmers plant for 28 years and then moved to Continental Can for 17. A cash bar reception will begin at 4:30 PM, followed by dinner at 6 PM and the awards program to follow. He was also involved in the early organization of the Stars of Tomorrow tournament. Craig Kusick was inducted into the UWL Hall of Fame in 1985 and the Minnesota High School Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2010. Nehring started his career by going 13-6 with a 3.49 ERA at class D Fond du Lac in the Wisconsin State League. 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. 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. In 2010 he was named the La Crosse Tribune Sportsperson of the Year for his successful efforts to save UWL baseball. 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. 2007. Its here to recognize not only our great sports icons but each of you, the people of this state, and your incredible passion for sports. His career slugging average of .641 ranks third all-time at UWL. 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. In 1990 Hock became the first coach of the Onalaska American Legion baseball team, and remained at the helm for the next ten years. From the time he joined the Packers in 2000 through the end of the 2004 season, Green gained more yards from scrimmage (9,036) and rushing yards (6,848) than any other player in the NFL. OTBA Hall of Fame Inductees picture taken at Miller Park.) Box 32 Before he joined the Central High School faculty, Thornton had a brief career as a railroad fireman. He also played baseball for the American Legion La Crosse Stars in 1947 and 1948. 2) Gary Ashwill and his collaborators. #WSL 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. Wuest was an outstanding all-around athlete, and was inducted into Centrals Hall of Excellence in 2005. Everett Johnson was born on October 7, 1926 in Onalaska. Legendary Blue Ribbons Manager Denny Ruh Passes Away, All-League Teams Announced for 2022 Season, Registration Open for 2022 Awards and Hall of Fame Dinner, Nationals, As Sweep Yearly Awards as WSL Announces Major Award Winners, Class A State Tournament Halted Due to Rain; Nationals Named Winner. During Buckleys 29 years coaching, Central High School won 20 city championships and made 15 trips to the state tournament, winning two state championships. News | Wisconsin State Baseball League Tickets will go on sale Wednesday for the Janesville Sports Hall Fame's induction dinner Saturday, May 20, at the Janesville Country Club. He was chosen to serve as Oktoberfest Parade marshal in 1969, named Man of the Year in 1971 by the greater La Crosse area Chamber of Commerce, and was honored by Viterbo University in 1985 as a recipient of the prestigious Pope John XXIII Distinguished Service Award. He was posthumously inducted into Wisconsins Athletic Hall of Fame in 1961, the first La Crosse native to earn such a distinction. 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. 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. He and Leo Mashak ran the National Baseball Congress tournament for over 40 years. It's More Than Just a Game Sheboygan A's Baseball He continues to help as part-time pitching coach, and is a regular at the legion games. He was involved in local labor circeles, and was honored one year as the Labor Day Parade Marshal. A dozen passengers were killed and 47 others injured. Boyer spent 45 years coaching at La Crescent High School, the final 17 as head coach, fashioning a 326-143 record. By then he was the pitching coach for the University of Minnesota, a position he held from 1988-98. His best season was 1976, when he posted a career-best 3.30 ERA and was named to the Topps All-Star Rookie Team and the AL All-Rookie Team. 1958 to sign a professional baseball contract with the Cardinals. He currently resides in Onalaska, where he has lived most of his life. Other teams in the league were Beloit, Freeport, Green Bay, Oshkosh, and Wausau. hbbd```b``"D2vK0y,&I#Yf)q`$`q]-"U2L@ uLg`: tH He remained at the helm for 30 years, overseeing all interscholastic sports for private high schools in Wisconsin. Ed Konetchy died from heart disease on May 27, 1947. This performance caught the attention of the Seattle Mariners, who planned to call him up, but he injured his ankle, costing him the entire 1977 season. In 1987 he was named Wisconsin State High School Coach of the Year and the Wisconsin Baseball Coaches Association Coach of the Year. After retiring from teaching he has kept busy with his passion for stock car racing. The first new member is Cy Berg, a baseball coach who led the Old Abes to four state championships. Five Inducted into WBCA Hall of Fame - Wisconsin Baseball Coaches What began as an annual car trip to visit baseball stadiums eventually grew into the largest baseball tour company in the United States. The Brewers have retired Rollie Fingers jersey. He was a historian of the game and an eager and talented participant. Photography Credited to Ron Modra and Jim Biever. Vision problems short-circuited his career. Tickets to Janesville Sports Hall of Fame induction dinner to go on Considered a top prospect in the Angels minor league system, Schmidt was selected to play three seasons in the Arizona Fall League, and was named to the 1996 and 1997 AAA All-Star Teams. Selected was the Kenosha Kings Brother Battery of pitcher Randy and catcher Billy Johnson, Oshkosh Giants catcher Brian Neveau, Sheboygan catcher Clay Schwartz, and Green Bay Blue Ribbons pitcher Paul Wilmet. The Hall of Fame Committee will induct the following into the Wisconsin State League Hall of Fame: Nick Mitidiero - Lombard . 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. The Pinks were managed, and named after, former Major League pitcher Emerson Pink Hawley, and featured La Crosse native and future Major Leaguer Ed The Candy Kid Konetchy (2015 La Crosse Baseball Area Hall of Fame inductee).