Interested organizations can contact Carley Sanfilippo by email at csanfilippo@wihalloffame.com or by phone at 414.507.6197. Rick Boyer (1952-2021) was Mr. Taylor Schwarz - Sheboygan . During his senior year he was spotted by a scout for the St. Louis Cardinals and invited to a tryout camp in Red Wing, Minnesota, where he impressed the scouts by striking out all three batters he faced. Box 32 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. Wisconsin State Baseball League - Facebook This historic class also includes US Olympic Gold Medal Winner and University of Wisconsin (UW) Badgers Legend Gwen Jorgenson, UW Athletic Hall of Fame Member and Milwaukee Bucks Minority owner Ted Kellner and Green Bay Packers Hall of Famer and NFL All-Decade Team Honoree John Anderson. He continues to help as part-time pitching coach, and is a regular at the legion games. Hank O'Day (1914) Notable alumni. The big right hander usually batted cleanup and eventually attracted the attention of professional scouts. Baseball in La Crescent. He followed that up with a 15-9 record in 1941, striking out 130 while walking only 37. In 1911 the Cardinals team was involved in a train wreck on a trip to Boston. Williams made his major league debut in 1995 after parts of five seasons in the minor leagues. In 1953 he was awarded the annual Claire Raith trophy for all around baseball ability, character, and sportsmanship on and off the field. After his sophomore year in high school, he was offered professional contracts by both the St. Louis Browns and Cardinals, but turned them down. Three times (1993, 1994, 1998) he ranked among the top three NL catchers in fielding percentage. 5:30pm 10:30pm Fingers was named MVP of the 1974 World Series with the Oakland As. 2) Gary Ashwill and his collaborators. Bill Terry took the reigns as UWLs head baseball coach in 1969 and kept the job for eleven years. During Buckleys 29 years coaching, Central High School won 20 city championships and made 15 trips to the state tournament, winning two state championships. 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. He captained the Fighting Irish baseball team his senior year. That year he appeared in 15 games, batting .250 with two doubles and four RBIs. Leonard (Len) Vingers (1934-2021) was born and raised in La Crosse, graduating from Central High School in 1952. In 2012 he was named to the WIAC All-Time Baseball Team. Shannon is a member of the Cardinals Hall of Fame and a two-time World Series champion. 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. He was released by the Dodgers in July and claimed on waivers by the Phillies. 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. 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. He guided the girls ski team to the 1979 state championship. Cloud, Lynchburg, Charlotte and Tacoma before his promotion to the Twins, he batted .288 with a .492 slugging average and 113 home runs. The 2021 campaign will once again feature a 30-game regular season . He was promoted to Joplin the following year where he compiled a 20-4 record with 161 . READ MORE. . He also coached the La Crosse Juniors for 22 years, winning a national title in 1986. In 2014 West Salem honored him by dedicating their baseball diamond Damian Miller Field. Leadership Table Partner for $3,500 Dinner and Premium Open Bar - Table for 8 people. His 2,150 hits included 344 doubles, 181 triples (17th all time), and 74 home runs. He took his talents up the river to St. Marys College in Winona, where he continued to set scoring records on the court and excelled in baseball. The Hall of Fame data is found for the years 1920-1948 and the Ashwill data is found from 1904-1919. In 2004 Notre Dame honored him with the Harvey G. Foster Distinguished Alumnus Award. He also played semipro ball for the La Crosse American Federation of Labor team, managed by La Crosse Area Baseball Hall of Famer Paul Pip Wuest. Since retiring from professional baseball, he spent 12 years as head baseball coach at UW-Milwaukee, and for the past nine years he has been calling games for the Brewers on FOX Sports Wisconsin. Vision problems short-circuited his career. The league made the decision in the best interest of all involved, as COVID-19 cases continue to surge in Wisconsin. Among their many generous gifts was one made in collaboration with UW-La Crosse and the La Crosse Loggers. In 1996 the WBCA named him their Man of the Year. Registration is now open for the 2022 Wisconsin State League Awards and Hall of Fame Dinner. His career slugging average of .641 ranks third all-time at UWL. 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. The Wisconsin State League is one of the premier semi-professional/amateur baseball leagues in the mid-west. The Coon Valley native played baseball at Westby High School and Creighton University before being drafted by the Houston Astros in 1988. 1921 was his last season in the majors. 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. After finishing his tour of duty, Terry returned to UNI and earned his teaching degree. Hall of Fame | Wisconsin State Baseball League Carroll graduated from Aquinas High School in 1932, joined the U.S. army in 1942 and retired four years later at the rank of Major. Over a fifteen year MLB career, Ed Konetchy led National League first basemen in fielding eight times and batted .281 in 2,085 games. Hockenbery began his professional career later that summer at class A Quad Cities in the Midwest League. Gwen Jorgensen Gwen Jorgensen is an Olympic Gold Medal Winner from Waukesha, WI. A's to Host Wisconsin Class A State Tournament - Sheboygan A's Baseball He sat out the 1953 season and attempted a comeback with Binghamton in 1954, but retired after only five games and a 1-1 record. In 1953 he was named to the Wisconsin State Semi-Pro all tournament team. He made his major league debut on August 10, 1997 as a pinch hitter against Mariano Rivera and the New York Yankees. Wisconsin State Baseball League - Facebook 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. In 2010 he was named the La Crosse Tribune Sportsperson of the Year for his successful efforts to save UWL baseball. The Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) has announced the members of its 2022 Hall of Fame class. Names Left to Right: Marcus Hanel, Chris Charnish, Don Wojczulis, (1250 Sports Radio), Lance Allen (WTMJ 4), Noah Miller, Curt Weiskirch . His teams went 60-60 over three years, and 23 of his players earned All-conference honors. Address: The next day he made his major league debut, getting his first hit in a 4-3 loss to the Reds. Baseball Hall of Fame alumni. He married Marian Dorothy Stellick in 1948, and together they raised four children. In addition to baseball, Thornton also coached basketball, football, and both boys and girls skiing. In Hazelhurst he sported an 11-4 record and 3.23 ERA in 128 innings pitched. All Rights Reserved. Wisconsin State League (D) Encyclopedia and History | Baseball This data comes from two sources. 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 was signed by the Boston Red Sox in 2001, but an early season elbow injury ended his playing career. Former Eau Claire Cavaliers player, Dave Johnson will be inducted into the Eau Claire Baseball History Hall of Fame. The Hall of Fame Committee will induct the following into the Wisconsin State League Hall of Fame: Nick Mitidiero - Lombard . Box 32 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 was hitting .359 when the St. Louis Cardinals purchased his contract for $1000 in June of 1907. At Viterbo he set school records for highest career batting average, most doubles, and most RBI. Sheboygan, WI 53082-0032, 2023 Wisconsin State Baseball League. Later that same year he was honored by the city of La Crosse for his lifetime contributions to the local softball scene. 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 split the season between Albany in the Georgia-Florida League and Jonson City in the Appalachian League. He played professionally for one more season, splitting 1978 between Vancouver in the PCL and Jersey City in the Eastern League, turning in a fine 3.44 ERA and 8-11 record, before hanging up his spikes. 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 earned one save and struck out 15. He was a feared slugger on the diamond, leading the Bodega softball team to a national title in 1932 and the UAW of America Union 396 team to the 1939 state amateur baseball championship. 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. That year he was named coach of the year by the Minnesota State High School Baseball Coaches Association. 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.