Peterson, Jirschele in charter class
By Greg Seubert
What’s been talked about for years is about to become a reality.
The Badger Amateur Baseball Association will induct the first four members into its Hall of Fame Saturday, June 19, during the association’s 75th anniversary celebration in Marion.
Dave Peterson, Don Jirschele, A.N. Brunner and Wally Schultz will be honored at an induction ceremony between alumni and all-star games.
Peterson played for and managed the Waupaca Lakemen for more than 50 years; Jirschele, who passed away last year, coached and supported the Clintonville A’s; Brunner served as the BABA’s first commissioner; and Schultz was involved with the BABA’s North Division.
“It’s an honor,” said Peterson, who played or managed in 14 of Waupaca’s BABA Grand Championships. “I didn’t play or manage to be a Hall of Famer. How could I? There was no Hall of Fame. I’ve been in the BABA for 50-plus years and during that time, there was always talk about starting a Hall of Fame.
“It’s been talked about for more than 20 years,” he said. “It never got off the ground, although we had a couple meetings. We talked and tried to come up with a set of qualifications, but it never quite got going.”
The Lakemen competed in the BABA’s South-Central Division for years. The BABA canceled last year’s season because of COVID-19 concerns. The Lakemen were invited to join the Dairyland League last year and are competing in that league again this season.
The BABA has had its share of teams join and leave over the years. Some small communities, such as Leopolis, Wittenberg and Gresham, have fielded teams since the 1940s. That adds up to a lot of games and a lot of players over 75 seasons.
“It’s a big deal,” Peterson said. “It’s in their blood and their families. I give them more credit than the bigger towns like Waupaca or Clintonville. To keep those small town (teams) going, that’s amazing. Why does it keep going? I think it’s the way it’s organized. You give the local guys a chance to play. That’s what’s fun about the BABA.”
The South-Central Division has five teams this season: Scandinavia, New London, Weymont, Plover and Green Lake. Besides Waupaca, the division at one time included teams from Iola, Manawa, Lanark, Buena Vista, Lake DuBay, Ripon, Omro and Berlin.
Peterson’s 53 seasons with the Lakemen including five straight Grand Championships from 1976-80.
“I enjoyed playing, but I also enjoyed the managing part,” he said. “I felt like I could lead and keep things going. Playing was more fun. I kind of hated to give it up, but you can’t beat Father Time. When I tried to play and manage at the same time, that became a little bit of a burden. Pretty soon, you feel like you’re cheating one or the other.”
BABA to mark 75 seasons
Seventy-five years of baseball history will come to life this weekend in Marion.
The Badger Amateur Baseball Association will celebrate its 75th season Saturday June 19, with alumni and all-star games. The first four members of the organization’s Hall of Fame will also be inducted between the two games.
Past players will take the field for the alumni game at noon that will include players from the BABA’s four divisions: South-Central, East, West and North.
Each division will also be represented with a charter Hall of Fame member. They are Dave Peterson (South-Central), Don Jirschele (East), A.N. Brunner (West) and Wally Schultz (North). The induction ceremony is scheduled for about 2 p.m.
After the ceremony, players from all four divisions will play in the BABA’s first four-division all-star game in 25 years. The South-Central and East divisions will face the West and North divisions.
The BABA’s traveling museum will be set up on the left field side of the field and be accessible throughout the day.
Raffle tickets will also be sold for prizes that include a bat autographed by Major League Baseball Hall of Fame members Hank Aaron, Willie Mays and Eddie Murray; and a baseball autographed by two other MLB Hall of Famers, Mickey Mantle and Harmon Killebrew.