The Kandiyohi County Historical Society partnered with the Willmar Stingers to begin a West Central Baseball Hall of Fame in 2025.

We are now seeking nominations for the West Central MN Baseball Hall of Fame Class of 2025.  The HOF covers a 45-mile radius of Willmar which includes communities such as Glenwood, Montevideo, Redwood Falls and Dassel-Cokato.  In order to be considered for the West Central MN Baseball Hall of Fame, nominees must fall within the 45-mile radius of Willmar and be featured in one of the following categories: Professional, Amateur, and Community Involvement.  

The Kandiyohi County Historical Society partnered with the Willmar Stingers to create the West Central MN Baseball Hall of Fame in 2014.  

If you wish to submit a nomination, a form has been created to submit potential candidates to the Historical Society.  The form can be obtained by calling 320-235-1881 or emailing to director@kandiyohicountyhistory.com


The West Central Area Baseball Hall of Fame Class of 2024 Announced


Three to be inducted into the West Central Baseball Hall of Fame.

The Kandiyohi County Historical Society is proud to announce the Class of 2024 inductees into the West Central Minnesota Hall of Fame. This year's inductees include:

  • David I. Dollerschell (Litchfield, MN) David grew up in Litchfield, MN.  He graduated from Litchfield High School in 1969.  He played baseball with the Eden Valley Hawks and Litchfield Blues.  Dollerschell played for 2 years at the Willmar Junior College.  He played at University of Minnesota Duluth in 1973, the first year the college had baseball.

  • Irvin Holtz (1915-2017) Irvin Holtz was known as Raymond’s Mr. Baseball.  He was born and raised in the Raymond area.  He was a player for a short time during World War II. In 1956, he became manager of the Raymond town team.  He remained manager until the mid-1970s. He volunteered time and resources to the Raymond baseball field. He was responsible for erecting the lights on Lilleberg Field.  Holtz passed away in 1997.

  • David Lohn (New London, MN) Born and raised in New London, MN.  He graduated from New London-Spicer High School in 1967.  He served in the military after high school.  He played baseball in high school and at the Willmar Junior College.  Lohn played for New London and Norway Lake town teams for 20 years. 

 
For more information, call Jill Wohnoutka at (320) 235-1881 or email director@kandiyohicountyhistory.com.

 


2023 Hall of Fame Class
Ron Moe (Willmar, MN)  Ron Moe (Willmar, MN) Born and raised in Willmar, MN, Ron Moe began his baseball career in 3rd grade playing for Elsie Klemmetson.  Ron grew into a top-notch pitcher, infielder, and hitter for Willmar Legion, Willmar High School, Willmar Community College and area amateur teams.  Moe managed and coached the Willmar Rails for 8 years.  He was also a baseball official for 30 years for multiple levels. 
 Jon Rambow (Willmar, MN)   Jon Rambow (Willmar, MN) Born and raised north of Raymond, MN, Jon Rambow started playing baseball at Raymond High School and with the Willmar VFW under Elsie Klemmetson.  He continued to play at a college level at Willmar Community College and St. Cloud State University.  He played amateur baseball for the Raymond Rockets and Granite Falls.  Rambow volunteered to coach many different teams and levels and has devoted many hours to youth baseball in the area.
Jordan Smith (Willmar, MN) Jordan Smith (Willmar, MN) Jordan Smith was born and raised in Willmar.  He played with Willmar High School, American Legion and VFW, St. Cloud State University, the Cleveland Guardians organization, St. Paul Saints and Sioux Falls Canaries. He played for the Willmar Stingers the summer of 2010 and the Cape Cod League in the summer of 2011.  Smith was drafted by the Cleveland Guardians in the 9th round in the 2011 Major League Baseball draft.
 
 
 
2022 Hall of Fame Class
Allan Rambow (1930-2021) Willmar, MN.   Allan was born and raised in St. Johns Township, Kandiyohi County.  He graduated from Willmar High School in 1948 where he played for three years.  Allan played for the Willmar Legion and the Willmar Kernels.  From 1953-1969, Allan played for the Raymond Town Team.  Allan played outfield because of his strong arm and fast legs.  
Rick Maursetter (Willmar, MN) Born and raised in Montevideo.   He played four years at Montevideo during high school, four years at St. Olaf College in Northfield, and played two years with the Montevideo Spartans.  Maursetter has been a member of the Willmar Baseball Boosters for over 25 years.  He coached the Willmar Rails starting in 2002.  Maursetter was the committee chairman for building Taunton Stadium. 
Obert Gjerde (Sunburg, MN) Born and raised in Sunburg.   He graduated from Kerkhoven in 1957. Played his first baseball game at the age of 22 on the Norway Lake team.  He continued to play for 13 years as third baseman.  He was a .250 hitter.  In 1968, the Lakers went to the state tournament and made it to the semi-finals.  He turned to managing the Norway Lake team in 1987.
2021 Hall of Fame Class

Don Betzen (Granite Falls, MN)

Born and raised in Moorhead, Minnesota, Don played both Little League and high school baseball.  He was a pitcher for the Moorhead Dragons from 1953-1956.  He played baseball with the Williston Oilers, New Prague, the Valentine Hearts in Nebraska.  He settled in Granite Falls and was pitcher there for the Kilowatts from 1960-1972.  Over his career Don pitched 50 shut-outs and 6 No Hitters.  Betzen led Granite Falls to seven state tournaments from 1960-1974. 

 

Allen “Ole” Hovey (1929-2012)

Born in Litchfield and grew up in Atwater where he lived the rest of his life.  Allen served in the Army from 1951-1953.  He worked at the Atwater Post Office from 1950-1984.  Allen graduated from Atwater High School in 1947 where he lettered in football, basketball and baseball and named 1947’s most valuable senior athlete.  He played town team ball in Lake Lillian and Atwater from 1947-1960.  He coached Atwater Summer recreation boy’s baseball, Atwater BorGreLegion baseball and Atwater/Grove City High School. 

Earl J. “Smitty” Smith (1917-1996)

Earl was born in Kerkhoven and graduated from Morris Ag School.  He served in the Navy during World War II.  After returning to Willmar, Smith began his 32-year career of being an umpire.  He umpired high school, town team and church league games.  He was a member of the Willmar Baseball Boosters and the Southwest Minnesota Umpires Association.  Smith give Left Ranweiler credit for his umpiring career as Lefty was the one who encouraged him to start.  

2020 Hall of Fame Class

Quinten “Lefty” Hoien (Litchfield, MN)

After graduating from Twin Valley High School in 1952, Quinten went on to play baseball for Eastern Arizona College and Colorado State College.  He participated in the College World Series in 1955.  Quinten played amateur baseball for 25 years with the Belgrade Redmen and Dassel-Cokato Saints where he played in five state baseball tournaments.  Quinten coached high school and Legion baseball for a number of years.  He received the R.M. Farrish Award for American Legion baseball.  He was inducted into the University of Northern Colorado Athletic Hall of Fame in 2002.

Harlen “Butch” Steen (Raymond, MN)

Harlen played high school baseball with Browns Valley High School.  He also played Legion baseball with Browns Valley and New Effington, SD from ages 16-18.  Harlen played one year at SDSU.  From 1962-64, he played amateur baseball for New Effington.  He played with the Browns Valley Bombers from 1965-1986.  Harlen missed three years playing baseball locally while serving in the Army.  He pitched a perfect game for the Browns Valley Bombers in 1975.  Harlen has pitched in six decades.  Harlen is responsible for restarting the baseball program for the town of Raymond.  He coached and played for the Raymond Rockets from 1989 to the present.  He coached them to 12 MN State Tournaments and won the state championship in 2016. Harlen was involved in upgrading the Raymond Baseball Field.  Harlen is a member of the Raymond Rocket Hall of Fame and was involved in getting that program started in 2002.

Rudy Vigil (Willmar, MN)

Rudy began is his career in 1970 playing for Willmar’s Tee-League.  Rudy played for Willmar High School, Willmar VFW, Willmar Legion, and Willmar Rails baseball from 1978-1981.  Rudy played for two years at the Willmar Community College.  In 1984 Rudy was recruited to play first base for the University of Minnesota.  In 1985, Rudy returned to Willmar and continued to play town team baseball.  He played for the New London Spicer Twins, Raymond Rockets, and Atwater Chuckers from 1979-1999.  Rudy is known for hitting.  During the years of 1998 & 1991, Rudy batted .434 and .442 and had 103 runs batted in and hit 28 home runs. 

2019 Hall of Fame Class

Robert Donner 
(Clara City, MN)
Robert Donner was born and raised in Clara City, MN.  He began his baseball career in 1941 at the Clara City High School.  He played there until he graduated in 1943.  Donner played for the town baseball from 1943-1958.  In 1944, Donner tried out for and played for the Minneapolis Millers.  After playing baseball, Donner continued to be involved by being a town team baseball umpire from 1958-1965. 

Ellsworth “Elsie” Klemmetson 
(1931=2010)
Ellsworth “Elsie” Klemmetson was born March 24, 1931 in McIntosh.  He graduated from Willmar High School in 1949.  Elsie dedicated over 55 years of coaching to youth baseball programs for Willmar Recreation, VFW and the Willmar Community College.  He was awarded the Sportsman of the Year Award in 2005.  He retired from coaching in 2009. 

C. Howard “Howie” Peterson 
(Willmar, MN)
C. Howard Peterson was born and raised in Willmar.  His baseball career started in high school from 1937-1939.  Peterson played for various town teams which included Willmar, Kerkhoven, and Benson from 1934-1954.  He played one year at the University of Minnesota in 1944.   Peterson played in 1945 for the U.S. Navy team.   

 

Brad Skoglund 
(Paynesville, MN)
Brad Skoglund grew up in Willmar. He played high school baseball 1977-1978 and at the Willmar Community College from 1979-1980.  He continued his college career at Southwest State University in Marshall from 1981-1982.  In 1982, he was named team MVP.  He played for the Willmar Rails from 1977-1982, 1984-1986.  Skoglund played for the Paynesville Pirate team 1993-1995.  Skoglund coached the Paynesville High School team for 32 years.  Skoglund coached youth baseball for over 35 years.  In 2017, Skoglund was inducted into the Minnesota State High School Baseball Coaches Hall of Fame.  Skoglund won the Dick Siebert Award in 2012.  
2018 Hall of Fame Class
Randy Haats
(Willmar, MN)
Randy Haats (Willmar, MN) Native of Raymond, MN and graduated from Raymond High School in 1967.  During his high school career, he was a pitcher and shortstop and was named All-Conference 3 times.  Haats played baseball at Willmar State Junior College (Ridgewater) and 2 years at South Dakota State University.  Haats played for the Raymond Rockets for 13 years and was inducted in the Raymond Rocket Hall of Fame in 2013.  Haats coached at Willmar Community College and the Willmar American Legion game.  He spent over 20 years as a umpire for high school, college and amateur baseball.
Wade Adamson
(Willmar, MN)
 Wade Adamson (Willmar, MN) Grew up in Willmar and graduated from Willmar High School in 1975 where he pitched.  During his senior year, the Willmar Cardinals went to the state baseball championship game and placed 2nd.  Adamson played his college years at South Dakota State University during which the team won the conference championship his junior and senior years.  In 1978, Adamson was drafted in the fourth round of the 1978 draft by the Minnesota Twins.  He played Class A and AA until 1981.  He played 10 years with the Willmar Rails and coached for Willmar schools and the Willmar Legion Team.
Mike Johnson
(Willmar, MN)
Mike Johnson (Willmar, MN) Native of Kerkhoven, MN and graduated from Kerkhoven High School in 1963.  He played at the Willmar Community College from 1963-1965 and St. Cloud State University from 1965-1967.  From 1960-1984, he played for various teams including the Kerkhoven American Legion, Kerkhoven town team, Norway Lake, Granite Falls, and Willmar.  Johnson coached from 1971-2010 for Clara City High School, New London-Spicer, Willmar Jr. High, Clara City/Raymond Legion, Willmar Community College & Ridgewater.  Johnson volunteered with youth baseball by coaching traveling teams.
2017 Hall of Fame Class
Greg Kallevig
(Bloomington, IL)
Greg Kallevig (Bloomington, IL) Native of Willmar, MN and graduated from Willmar High School in 1982.  During his high school career, he was named All-Conference and All Area in 1981.  Kallevig played baseball at South Dakota State University where in 1984, he participated in the Division II World Series in 1984.  Kallevig was drafted by the Chicago Cubs in 1985.  During his time with the Cubs organization, Kallevig played Class A, AA, and AAA.
Howard Tucker
(1922-1965)
Howard Tucker (1922-1965) Tucker grew up in Swift County.  Tucker graduated from Murdock High School in 1940 where he played baseball.  Tucker played with the DeGraff Legion team, which won the state tournament in 1940.  He also participated in the Corn Belt League until 1944 when he entered the Maritime Services.  Tucker signed a contract to play with the New York Giants in 1946.  He is considered on the top pitchers of his time.
Ronald Tucker
(Willmar, MN)
Ronald Tucker (Willmar, MN) Tucker grew up in Swift County and graduated from Murdock High School in 1945.  He played for the Murdock town team in high school as the high school dropped the baseball program during World War II. He played for Benson, DeGraff and Kerkhoven. Tucker signed a contract to play with the Boston Braves in 1947.  He played his last amateur game in 1962 where he pitched a perfect game against Raymond.
2016 Hall of Fame Class
Marlin Denzer
(1909-1985)
Marlin Denzer (1909-1985) Born in LeSueur, MN and resided in Willmar until the 1941.  Denzer started pitching in Willmar in 1926.  Denzer lead the Willmar to the state town-team championship in 1934 where he pitched in all seven games for a total of 44 innings and allowed only 8 runs.  The right-handed pitcher helped Willmar reach the state tournament six times between 1928 and 1935.  Denzer enlisted in the Marine Corps the day after Pearl Harbor.  After his service, Denzer moved to Minneapolis.
Henry "Lefty" Ranweiler
(1922-1974)
Henry "Lefty" Ranweiler (1922-1974) Born in New Ulm, MN and resident of West Central Minnesota since 1949.  While serving in the Merchant Marines during World War II, Ranweiler played baseball from 1941-1945. After his military service, Ranweiler played in the minor league for the Cleveland Indians from 1946-1947.  From 1949-1951, Ranweiler played semi-pro baseball with Bird Island and Olivia.  Ranweiler was recruited to play for the Willmar Rails in 1952 and he continued to play there until 1958.  He stayed involved with baseball by coaching the Willmar State Junior College (Ridgewater) baseball team from 1966-1973.  He played all three outfield positions, first base and pitched when needed.

Steve Schneider
(Willmar, Mn)

Steve Schneider (Willmar, MN) Schneider grew up in Willmar, MN.  Schneider graduated from Willmar High School in 1962 where he played baseball.  Schneider played legion ball in Willmar from 1959-1962 and for the Willmar Red Birds from 1960-1962.  After high school, Schneider went the University of Minnesota on a baseball scholarship.  He played short stop for three years and in 1964 the Gophers won the College World Series.  He played for the Gophers from 1964-1966.   After college he was drafted by the California Angels and played five years in single A ball.
2015 Hall of Fame Class
Norman “Red” Jones 
(Litchfield)
Norman “Red” Jones (Litchfield) Born in Raymond, MN and got his start playing pee wee and midget games.  From 1954-1957, Jones played for the Raymond High School and the American Legion.  He played for the Raymond Rockets for 14 years, 1956-1969.  After moving to Litchfield, Jones managed the Litchfield Blues 1977-1978.  Jones coached the Litchfield’s Babe Ruth team for 10 years.  Jones organized Litchfield’s Cal Ripken youth baseball program.  He is a founding member of the Litchfield Baseball Association and was instrumental in the construction of the Optimist Park.  In 2013, Jones was inducted into the Minnesota Amateur Baseball Hall of Fame.
William “Porky” Wegner, Jr.  
(1896-1970)
William “Porky” Wegner, Jr.  (1896-1970) born in Raymond, MN.  He managed the Raymond Legion Baseball team for 20 plus years.  Wegner was manager when the first Raymond team went to the State Amateur Tournament in 1937.  Wegner managed the Raymond Legion team in the State Tournament in 1951.  Wegner was selected as a Minnesota Sport Champion in 1958 for the Minnesota State Centennial.  Wegner served on the Region Amateur Baseball Commission and as an officer in the Corn Belt League. 
Willard Reigstad 
(1919-2001)
Willard Reigstad (1919-2001) Born in Arctander Township, MN and lifetime resident of Kandiyohi County.  Reigstad played for New London High School where he graduated in 1939.  Reigstad played and managed the Norway Lake Lakers for many years.  The ballpark in Sunburg is named in his honor, Reigstad Field.  Reigstad also played for Belgrade and Clara City.  In the early 1940’s, Reigstad played for the St. Cloud Rox.  In 1971, Reigstad was inducted into the Minnesota Amateur Baseball Hall of Fame. 
2014 Hall of Fame Class
Mike Kingery 
(Grove City)
played professional baseball for 17 years with the Kansas City Royals, Seattle Mariners, San Francisco Giants, Oakland A's, Colorado Rockies, and Pittsburgh Pirates. He played VFW and American Legion baseball in Atwater and Willmar.
Howie Schultz 
(1922-2009)
played five seasons with the Willmar Rails starting in 1950. Prior to coming to play in Willmar, Schultz played for the Brooklyn Dodgers, Philadelphia Phillies, and Cincinnati Reds.
Barry Wohler 
(Orono)
a Bird Island native played baseball for Bird Island-Lake Lillian high school. He played Legion ball for six years starting when he was in 7th grade. He played at the University of Minnesota and signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers and played Triple A baseball.
Sylvester “Blix” Donnelly
(1914-1976)
a right-handed pitcher and lifelong resident of Olivia, MN. He had an 18 year professional career between 1935-1952. He played for the St. Louis Cardinals, Philadelphia Phillies, and Boston Braves.
Art Grangaard
(1915-2004)
was instrumental in building up the baseball interest in Willmar area in the 1950’s. Awarded MVP of the Willmar Rails when they won the 1952 Class AA state tournament. He was both manager and third baseman.
Joe Martinson
(1923-2007)
started work at KWLM in 1947 where he covered many area high school, Legion and Willmar Rails baseball games with his memorable play-by-play. He was an assistant coach and manager of the Willmar American Legion baseball team.
Rueben “Rube” Nathe
(Litchfield)

started playing baseball in his youth in New Munich, MN. He has been managing the Litchfield Blues since 1982. Coached the Local American Legion team for 29 years. Served as District and Minnesota State Vice Chairman for 36 years.