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St. Louis Park has a long tradition of athletics. The
following are just a very few examples. Please
contact us with any
additions, corrections, or stories. (See separate page
for
Golf history.) Thanks to John Froom and Don
Schimmel for their additions.
On June 25, 1894, the Village Council received a letter
protesting the public playing of baseball on Sunday. Action
taken unknown.
In 1910, L.L. "Doc" Brown was manager of the baseball team and
remained active in baseball in the Park for many years. In
the 1930’s he was the official scorekeeper for the Park
team. Ben Brown says, “You could take his score book years
later and follow the game right through the final out.”
In 1911,
Bert Baston signed up for high school football at the
age of 14 and made history as the first All-American from
St. Louis Park.
In 1914, Mr. F.M. Moon, Manager of the St. Louis Park Base
Ball Club, convinced the Village Council to provide $50 to
grade the Ball Park. In 1916, the baseball team was
reimbursed $50 for their work on the ballpark.
Parkites may have traveled to see the ill-fated
Twin City Raceway,
1915-17.
The "Williams
Brothers Independents" basketball team toured the Twin
Cities and outstate areas in 1924-25. The brothers
were Pete, Howard, Spike, Stoge, Ken, and Warren Williams
and cousin George Gibson. The team was coached by Fred
Ohde, and uncle.
Earl Bartholome, 4140
Brunswick played 18 seasons of professional
hockey, from 1933 to 1952, first with Rochester, NY, with
the AHL. Younger brother Kenneth Bartholomew was an
outstanding speed skater.
Softball was organized into a league in 1934. The game,
originally called “kitten ball” after the original team
called the Kittens, was invented in 1895 at Minneapolis’s
Engine House No. 19 by Lt. Louis Rober. The game was
invented to pass the time at the fire station, and the teams
were initially all sponsored by fire stations. The game
became known as “Diamond Ball” in 1925, and in 1934 the
Amateur Softball Association was formed and the game was
renamed softball. But St. Louis Park still used the term
kitten ball, as reported in a 1942 story of the Brookside
Aggies (boys).
In 1934, the new Highway 7 cut right through the area that
had been used for the high school's athletic field, so in
September 1935 a new field was dedicated. The
Hennepin County Review reports that "A colorful
procession was part of the occasion, in which flag bearers,
faculty members, the 'peptimists' and the contesting teams
took part." The bad news was that "Wayzata emerged
victorious, 36-0, in a game that saw many substitutions."
The St. Louis Park football team of 1936 beat the Village of
Bloomington 7 to 0 on the new Oriole football field. The two
teams did not play each other again until 1954 when
Bloomington became a member of the Lake Conference.
Don Schimmel reports: "Park had a hockey team before
WWII, introduced in 1940, and coached by Carl Carlson
(honest). Carl also coached the 1941 team, but as far as I
can figure out, hockey was discontinued after that, and
wasn’t started up again until after WWII."
Boys' hockey resumed at Park in 1946 at a rink located where
Central Community Center is now. Boys' gym teacher
Pete Zanna volunteered to coach the new team, even though he
didn't even know how to skate. Zanna was head coach
from 1946-1968, and Assistant Coach frin 1968 to 1972.
Rex Pickett wrote an account of the development of the
program, called "Outside to
Inside: The Origins of Lake Conference High School
Hockey." The article was published in the hockey
newspaper Let's Play Hockey. Thanks to John
Froom for sending this to us.
The Minneapolis Lakers, led by George Mikan, brought pro
basketball to Minnesota in 1947.
The softball season was successful in 1948, with teams being
fielded by the VFW, Christy’s, Rodgers Hydraulic, and the
American Legion.
On December 14, 1948, the New York Giants baseball team
announced that they were building a $1.5 million stadium
called Candlestick Park on the corner of Highway 12/Wayzata
Blvd. and Zarthan. The stadium ultimately got built in
Bloomington and the Giants went to San Francisco.
Jim Mattson was all state for St Louis Park in 1949 State
Hockey Tournament and had a 60 plus save performance or more at the
tournament. He went on to All American goalie in the early
'50s at the U of M with John Mayasich as a teammate. He
played pro goalie for the Green Bay Bobcats minor league
hockey many years after. Mattson is related to the great
Passolt dynasty of the 1970s.
Local Little League started with a meeting at the home of
Warren (Tup) Way of Minnetonka. In attendance were Bob
Reid and Howard Merriman (Edina), Carl Hensel and Harold
Strot (Minnetonka), Paul Jorgenson (Hopkins), and Fred
and Lou Johnson (St. Louis Park). Hensel had witnessed
Little League on a trip to Williamsport, Penn., where it was
founded by Carl Stotz in 1939 as a three-team league.
The league started in 1951 with one team each from Edina,
Hopkins, Minnetonka and Park, and that year games were
played at a temporary field in Hopkins. The coaches were
Reid, Jorgenson, Strot, and the Johnsons.
The first Little League game played by St. Louis Park was
against Hopkins.
A meeting was held on January 23, 1952 at Village Hall to
organize an Athletic Association.
Shorty Dale was named
Temporary Chairman.
Skippy Field made its debut for the 1952
Little League season when the
Village leased part of Carpenter Park to Little League
Baseball of Minnesota, Inc. In 1952, Park
Department employee Elmer “Shorty” Dale convinced the park
board to lease the property that would become Skippy Field,
and convinced the Skippy Peanut Butter Plant on Highway 7 to provide the $4,000 needed to
construct the park. Little League caught on fast, and by
1955, St. Louis Park had 8 teams. A minor league diamond was
added in 1959 and dedicated to Shorty Dale, the godfather of
Little League in St. Louis Park. See the article about
Skippy Field from the Re-Echo.

Adult slow pitch softball was also introduced in 1952, due
to the efforts of Recreation Director
Dorothea Nelson. From
an initial four teams, as many as 240 teams have
participated in later years.
1952 was the year the Park Athletic Association was formed,
meeting for the first time on February 6. The group’s goal
was to ensure that a program of competitive athletics was
available to all boys and girls in the Park. First President
of the organization was Otis Dypwick, sports information
director at the University of Minnesota. Other officers were
Dr. Walter Johnson, B.E. Stoltman, and Jack Dunsworth.
In June 1953, Jerry Longabaugh headed up the St. Louis Park
Soft Ball Club.
Terry Bartholome, Class of 1954, signed with the Detroit
Tigers in 1957 or 1958 for $40,000 and a bonus of $10,000.
The contract had its plusses and minuses. Since Terry was
also an outstanding hockey player at Park and the U of M (he
roomed with Herb Brooks), he likely would have been chosen
for the U. S. Olympic Team in 1960, as 1954 teammate Bob
Owen was, but since he had "turned pro," he was ineligible
to be on the U. S. team at that time.
In 1955, 6 ft. 7 in. center Warren Jeppesen scored 47 points
against Edina in an 86-67 victory, a new Lake Conference
individual scoring record. Jeppeson made 17 field
goals and 13 free throws.
Bob Reith was named to the all tournament hockey team at the
State tournament in 1958. He was also a star golfer.
1958 graduate Don Brose played in the State hockey
tournament in 1958 with SLP (and Bob Reith) and is in the
NCAA coaches hall of fame. He started coaching as a 19
year-old player coach at Concordia and after a few years he
coached for 38 seasons (1962-2000) at Mankato State.
He won a total of 540 games as a head coach.
Babe Ruth Southern Baseball League (as opposed to Little League) played at
Acme Field at Princeton and 36th in 1959. The field was
owned by the City.
Long-time MLB Pitcher Tom Niedenfuer was born in August 1959
at Methodist Hospital and lived his early years on Xenwood
Ave. in the Park. He pitched for the LA Dodgers and
the Baltimore Orioles in his 9 year career from 1981-1990.
"Arnold Palmer Thrilled Park Fans in 1959 PGA." He
participated in the PGA tournament at the Minneapolis Golf
Club.
In 1960, Bob Owen was on the U.S. Olympic hockey team and was the
first Parkite to win a gold medal. Owen was All-Lake
Conference and All-State at Park High, where he graduated in
1954. He went on to Harvard, where he was named
All-Ivy League. His St. Louis Park address was 4305
Brook Ave. So. His father was Ed E. Owen, who worked for
Parks and Rec and served as a City Councilman. He
played hockey in Duluth in 1934, and had a brief stint as a
professional in Duluth before coming to St. Louis Park.
Al Druskin, Class of 1960, signed with the Twins in 1964.
In September 1962, the championship Police Federation Little
League team was honored at an award ceremony at Skippy
Field, attended by Minnesota Twin Bob Allison. The Ewald
team was runner-up.
1962 - St. Louis Park captured the State Boys Basketball
Championship defeating over 480 schools for the prize. The
tournament was a one-class 8 team event back then.
Lion’s Field was located at the SW corner of Highway 7 and
the Minnesota Northfield and Southern Railroad. It had to be
abandoned because of the pollution that came from
National
Lead.
From 1965 until 1983, the
Parkettes were cheerleaders for the Vikings.
1965 graduate Bob Stein was an All-American football end at
Park High where he also played varsity baseball and
basketball. Stein went to the U of M where he was a 2-time
All-American and was drafted in 1969 by the KC Chiefs of the
NFL. He played in January of 1970 in Super Bowl IV against
the Vikings and is the YOUNGEST person ever to play in a
Super Bowl still. He was born January 22, 1948 and was only
21 years old at Super Bowl IV. He went on to play six more
years in the NFL, with the Chiefs, Los Angeles Rams and
finished in 1975 with the Minnesota Vikings. His last NFL
game was the 1975 NFC playoff game against Dallas (Hail Mary
catch game). He went on to get a law degree and was an NBA
player agent for many years. In 1987 he was named the first
President of the NBA's Minnesota Timberwolves, a position he
retained until 1994, when the team was sold to Glen Taylor.
In 1968, Parkite David Skoog was drafted by the Minnesota
Twins.
In 1970, Parkite Bruce Wachutka was drafted by the Minnesota
Twins.
Jeff Diamond, 1971 grad, was a long time President of the
Tennessee Titans NFL team and was formerly the president of
the Minnesota Vikings. He worked in the NFL for over
thirty years.
In 1972, Parkite Rick Dominik was drafted by the Chicago
White Sox.
Boxer George Foreman’s wife Adrienne gave birth to daughter
Michi on January 6, 1973 at
Methodist Hospital. Mrs. Foreman
lived in South Minneapolis. George beat Joe Frazier for the
Heavyweight Championship on January 22, 1973.
Al Beal, a Park graduate who attended St. Olaf, was on the
all-Midwestern Conference football team 3 times (at least)
as of 1973. He was also on the Lutheran Brotherhood
All-Lutheran team.
1973 graduate Chuck Engel was MVP of the State American
Legion tournament and played four years of baseball at St.
Cloud State. He played two years of minor league ball
in 1978-79.
Mark Trestman was a 1974 graduate who played college
football and became the head football coach for CFL's
Montreal Allouettes. He also coached for the Vikings,
North Carolina State, and the University of Miami.
In 1974, Parkite Larry Goldetsky was drafted twice,
including in the third round to Montreal in 1975 and the Kansas
City Royals. He was a minor league player and coach
for 8 years.
1974 Park graduate Scott Rosenthal pitched for Dick
Siebert's Minnesota Gophers from 1975-1978.
1974 grad
Danny Passolt was a 9 letter winner and captain of the 1974
Hockey team and All Conference in hockey and Soccer. He went
on to play for the University of North Dakota Sioux for two
years after high school.
Danny Johnson was a Golden Gloves boxer (1975) who had been
on the varsity football and wrestling teams at Park High.
1975 grad Jeffrey Passolt played hockey at St Louis Park
then went on to play at St. Cloud State for four years in
1977-80. He is inducted in the SCSU Sports hall of Fame and
is FOX 9 News Lead Nighttime Anchor.
1976 graduate Reid Goldetsky was an All-American gymnast in
high school at Park High and was a scholarship gymnast for
the Golden Gophers.
1978 graduate Johnny Passolt lead the Lake Conference in scoring (hockey)
with 35 goals 23 assists in 1978. He was a member of the
NCAA Championship team at Minnesota State - Mankato in 1980,
coached by Park Alumnus Don Brose. Johnny was all conference
in hockey and soccer and is in the Minnesota State-Mankato
Athletic Hall of Fame. He is the fourth leading scorer
(hockey) in the history of the school. Johnny is also the
head golf pro at a course in Hayward, Wisconsin and also
designed the course.
In 1980, Mike Olson was the second round draft pick
for the Kansas City Royals (38th overall). He was considered
the greatest fastball in the history of Minnesota high
school baseball. He could throw 98 mph. He went
on to play three years of minor league ball. Mike is
now the Head Varsity Coach at Edina High School.
1980 graduate Jim Peterson was the first McDonalds High
School All-American basketball player ever from Minnesota.
He played for four years for the U of M and nine seasons in
the NBA. He is currently a WNBA coach for the
Minnesota Lynx and commentator during Timberwolves
broadcasts.
1980 graduate Terry Leinendecker was a first team all-state
soccer goalie at Park and went on to become a three-time
All-American goalie at St. John's. He also played
professionally.
The Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome opened in 1982.
1983 graduate Benjy Kent played college soccer at the
University of Wisconsin and later professionally. He
is currently (2010) the Head Coach for the SLP girls soccer
team.
1985 graduate David Solseth attended Grandview College in
Iowa and was slected in 30th round of the 1989 draft.
He played three years of minor league baseball hitting over
.300 in 1989.
Amy Davidson, a 1986 Park graduate, led her team to the
state title and played four years of college ball at Kansas
State.
1987 graduate Kathy Blair participated in three state
basketball tourneys at Park and attended Indiana University
on a basketball scholarship. She was a state qualifier in
several track events as well.
The Historical Society has a framed proclamation recognizing
Dennis Koslowski, who won a bronze medal in Greco-Roman
wrestling in the 1988 Olympics in Seoul, Heavyweight
Division. This was the first medal won by an American in
Greco-Roman wrestling in an Olympics attended by Eastern
European competitors. His brother Duane competed in the
Super Heavyweight division. Since 1984, Dennis had won five
national Greco-Roman titles, two silver medals in the Pan
American games, and a silver at the 1987 World
Championships.
1992 graduate Amber Dewall was a star guard on the Park
girls basketball team and attended Northwestern University
(Big Ten) on a basketball scholarship.
Erik Rasmussen, class of 1995, was named "Mr. Hockey" for
the State of Minnesota. He went on to play two years at
the U of M and nine years in the NHL.
1998 Park graduate T.J. Bohn became the first Park graduate
to ever play in the majors when he appeared in games in 2006
for the Seattle Mariners and 2008 for the Philadelphia
Phillies.
1998 graduate Aaron McEachran was all-conference in hockey
and baseball at Park. He attended Northern Iowa (D1) on a
baseball scholarship and was a 17th round draft pick of the
Toronto BLue Jays in 2001. He played three years in the
minors with the Jays and three additional years in
independent baseball.
In 1998, Park went to the Boys' State Hockey Tournament.
In 2001, Parkite Aaron McEachran was drafted by the Toronto
Blue Jays baseball team.
In 2002, Parkite T.J. Bohn was drafted by the Seattle
Mariners baseball team.
In 2003, Park went to the Boys' State Hockey Tournament.
2006 graduate Andy Sackrison currently plays D1 hockey for
Minnesota State-Mankato. Andy was a 5th round pick in the
NHL draft in 2006 by the St. Louis Blues.
In 2009-10, St. Louis Park High School had three
All-American hockey players that attended Gustavus Adolphus
College. Park became the FIRST high school in the USA, to
EVER have more than two players honored in the same year.
Quite a feat. David Martinson (2004 graduate) was named a
1st Team All-American and was the Hobey Baker Award winner
for being the "Best Division 3 Player in the USA" during
2009-10. Josh Swartout (2006) and Mitch Carlson (2004)
were second-team All-Americans.
BOYS' HEAD HOCKEY COACHES
1946-1968: Pete Zanna
1974-1980 Chuck Pfannenstein
1980-1983 Keith Schaeffer
1997-2011 Tim Donahue (1987 Park
graduate)
2011 - Former NHL player Shjon Podein (UMD)
ST. LOUIS PARK ATHLETIC HALL OF FAME
One of the originators of this program, Don Schimmel,
describes how it came to be:
It was Bill Hammerlund's idea in the first place, and
he was encouraged by the real guru of Twin City High
School Athletic Halls of Fame, Don Swanson, both of whom
were teammates on the Gustavus football team in the
early 1950s. Don was the long-time football coach at
Patrick Henry (the football field at Henry was named for
him). He was a 1949 graduate of Mpls. South, and I think
he got a HOF going there, as well as at Henry, and Mpls.
Edison, too. And there are probably others--Washburn and
Roosevelt come to mind.
In 2003 or 2004, the 3 of us met with Andy Ewald, the
High School Athletic Director, to discuss the idea, and
it took off from there. I put together the bylaws, Andy
contacted Deb Wold and Phil Frerk, and the 5 of us got
it going. Other original members of the HOF Committee
included Linda Gust (coach of the Girls Synchronized
Swimming), Monika Schmitz Fraser (Class of 1980), Ben
Brown (Class of 1934), and Al Wachutka (Class of 1979).
The 2005 induction event was held on September 29 at the Minneapolis Golf Club,
with 26 inductees.
The 2007 induction dinner was held on October 4 at the
Minneapolis Golf Club with 22 inductees.
The 2009 ceremony was held on
September 10 at the Doubletree Hotel with 15 inductees.
The 2011 ceremony was held on September 22 at the Doubletree
Hotel with 11 inductees. Channel 9 news anchor Jeff
Passolt was the master of ceremonies. A new feature
was the Team of Distinction, won by the 1962 boys'
basketball team, which won the State championship that year.
The inductees with the year inducted are:
|
Bruce Ackland - 2007 |
Class of 1962 |
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Jill Anderson - 2009 |
Class of 1990 |
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John Anderson - 2007 |
Class of 1981 |
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Steve Ashley - 2011 |
Class of 1967 |
Bert Baston - 2005 |
Class of 1912 |
|
Clifford Bohmbach - 2009 |
Coach |
|
Dick Bracher - 2007 |
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Francis Bradley -
2005 |
Class of 1951 |
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Don Brose - 2009 |
Class of 1958 |
|
Don Brown - 2011 |
Class of 1954 |
Sally Callahan -
2005 |
Coach |
|
Jenny Johnson Carrier - 2011 |
Class of 2000 |
Deb Cordner - 2005 |
Class of 1998 |
Amy Davidson - 2005 |
Class of 1986 |
|
Carter DeLaittre, Jr. - 2007 |
Class of 1970 |
|
Alan Druskin - 2009 |
Class of 1960 |
|
Gary Eidson - 2009 |
Class of 1975 |
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Chuck Engel - 2007 |
Class of 1970 |
Bob Fitch - 2005 |
Class of 1937 |
|
Monica (Schmitz) Fraser - 2007 |
Class of 1980 |
|
Phil Frerk - 2007 |
Coach |
|
Barb Eide Gardiner - 2011 |
Class of 1986 |
Mike Gillham - 2005 |
Class of 1963 |
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Sally Gannon Goddard - 2011 |
Class of 1988 |
|
Reid Goldestsky - 2009 |
Class of 1976 |
Roy Griak - 2005 |
Coach |
|
Brian Grover - 2009 |
Class of 1971 |
|
Lyle Hanks - 2007 |
Coach |
John Hanson - 2005 |
Class of 1946 |
|
Larry Hartman - 2007 |
Class of 1985 |
|
Laarry Herrmann - 2011 |
Class of 1966 |
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Amber DeWall Hickory - 2007 |
Class of 1994 |
Lloyd Holm - 2005 |
Coach |
Warren Jeppesen -
2005 |
Class of 1955 |
|
Roger Johnson - 2007 |
Class of 1969 |
|
Jerry Jones - 2007 |
Class of 1959 |
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Nancy Knauer - 2005
|
Class of 1986
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Sue Kragseth - 2005 |
Class of 1979 |
Gerry Krueger - 2005 |
Coach |
|
Jim Kumpula - 2009 |
Class of 1959 |
Joanne Kutzler -
2005 |
Class of 1969 |
|
Rod Lazorik - 2011 |
Class of 1958 |
Terry Leiendecker -
2005 |
Class of 1980 |
|
Beth Lindblad Lanham - 2009 |
Class of 1984 |
|
Jerry Ludvigson - 2007 |
Class of 1948 |
|
Don McKay - 2009 |
Class of 1946 |
|
Elmer "Bud" Malone - 2007 |
Class of 1940 |
|
Karen (Jennings) McCarron - 2007 |
Class of 1994 |
Jim Mattson - 2005 |
Class of 1949 |
|
Kathy Blair Mobley - 2011 |
Class of 1987 |
Bruce Mortensen -
2005 |
Class of 1962 |
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Cindi Aarsvold Nickel - 2009 |
Class of 1986 |
|
Bob Olson - 2011 |
Class of 1965 |
|
Bob Owen - 2007 |
Class of 19554 |
|
John Passolt - 2007 |
Class of 1978 |
|
Arthur Patterson - 2007 |
Class of 1958 |
Jim Petersen - 2005 |
Class of 1980 |
|
Rollie "Gus" Peterson - 2011 |
Class of 1948 |
Erik Rasmussen -
2005 |
Class of 1995 |
|
Bob Reith - 2007 |
Class of 1958 |
|
Bob Roy - 2009 |
Coach |
|
Augie Schmidt - 2007 |
Coach |
Dick Seaberg - 2005 |
Class of 1951 |
Peter Shapiro - 2005 |
Class of 1975 |
Bob Stein - 2005 |
Class of 1965 |
|
Ellen Hanson Thompson - 2009 |
Class of 1987 |
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Stan Veker - 2009 |
Class of 1966 |
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Bruce Wachutka - 2007 |
Class of 1970 |
Bob Wagner - 2005 |
Class of 1965 |
|
Lefty Wright - 2011 |
Class of 1953, Coach |
|
Darold "Deb" Wold - 2007 |
Coach |
|
Pete Zanna - 2009 |
Coach |
Tom Zanna - 2005 |
Class of 1965 |
|
Kim (Babula) Zerr - 2007 |
Class of 1983 |
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