Amateur Baseball has Strong, Long Tradition in Minnesota [AUDIO]

ST. CLOUD - The Minnesota Amateur Baseball Hall of Fame will induct six new members.  The event will be held tomorrow (Saturday) at the St. Cloud Civic Center, which is also the home of the Minnesota Amateur Baseball Museum.

Spokesman Bob Karn says baseball has a long tradition in Minnesota, dating back to 1857.  Minnesota boasts having more amateur baseball teams than any other state in the nation.

The Minnesota Amateur Baseball Hall of Fame was started in 1963.  And the Museum opened in 1992.

Karn says they have a lot of artifacts in storage that they haven't been able to display, but once the Civic Center expansion is complete, their museum will also be able to expand.

The museum has displays on the five national American Legion champions from Minnesota, the history of black baseball, and some Twins memorabilia donated by former Twins owner Calvin Griffith.

The museum also includes displays on the three Minnesota-born inductees into the National Baseball Hall of Fame: Dave Winfield, Paul Molitor, and Albert "Chief" Bender - a Native American.  And check out a replica of the first-ever Sports Illustrated magazine from 1954, which featured Wes Westrum from Clearbrook on the cover.

The museum is open to the public for free during regular Civic Center hours.

Listen to our interview with Bob Karn:

This year's Hall of Fame inductees are:
Duane Gaulke - Jordan
Terry Geiser - New York Mills
Don Goracke - Morris/Chokio
John Hanowski - Little Falls
Ken Kuck - Searles
Wendell Stuewe - Hamburg

Inductees have to have had a great contribution to amateur baseball, beyond just being a great player.

Resources
Minnesota Amateur Baseball Association website