The Original St. Paul
Baseball Old Timers
Hot Stove League

Last Updated: 11/22/23

SAVE THE DATE !!

The 2024 Old Timers Banquet will be held as follows:

Wednesday, January 24, 2024

Southview Country Club
239 Mendota Road East
West St. Paul, MN 55118

5:30 pm: Batting Practice (Social Hour)
7:00 pm: Game Time (Dinner & Program)
Featuring a Star-Studded Panel of Head Table Guests
and a Fabulous Steak Dinner

Check back at a later date for further information and details!

About the Baseball Old Timers

History
The Baseball Old Timers Hot Stove League was founded on January 6, 1939 -- by 14 members of the New York Yankee's farm system -- who lived in St. Paul and wanted to keep their interest in baseball alive during the off season. They held their meetings at the Nickel Joint on Blair Avenue in St. Paul -- and continued to do so into 2020!

Today the St. Paul Old Timers has many members. In addition to meeting regularly (at its new meeting location in Roseville) to mingle with good friends and enjoy lively discussion on America's pasttime, the group is involved in charitable endeavors and other activities involving the game.

Meeting Dates & Locations
The Baseball Old Timers Hot Stove League meets on the fourth Thursday of each month, from September through May. (While no official meetings are held in June, July, and August, other events and activities take place -- see below.) As noted above, meetings are conducted at VFW Post 7555 in Roseville, with batting practice (social hour) beginning at 6:00; the general membership meeting begins at 6:30 p.m. Of course, food and refreshments are available, FREE OF CHARGE, to all members!

Special Events & Activities

Annual Old Timers Hot Stove League Banquet
Each year, the Baseball Old Timers gather together with other baseball friends and fans at the Annual Banquet -- to celebrate the great game of baseball, as well as the relationships to which it has led. It's truly "Where Old Friends Meet!" Big league stars of today, yesterday, and tomorrow are present, as well as sports celebrities of the Twin Cities. This events serves as a fundraiser for the organization.

The monumental 81st annual (WOW!) banquet was held at The Southview Country Club (located at 239 Mendota Road East, West St. Paul) on Monday, January 23, 2023. Batting practice began at 5:30 pm, with the dinner and program starting at 7 pm.

The 82nd Annual Banquet is scheduled for Wednesday, January 24th. Further details will be forthcoming, as they become available!

Featured speakers and guests at the 2023 banquet included current and retired front-office and player personalities from the Minnesota Twins, from the Saint Paul Saints and from the Minnesota Gophers, as well as local baseball celebrities:

Kris Atteberry Scheduled Event Emcee; MN Twins Radio Network Studio Host & Play-by-Play Personality Sean Aronson Actual Event Emcee; Saint Paul Saints, Director of Broadcasting & Media Relations	Dan Gladden MN Twins Radio Play-by-Play Broadcast Analyst, two-time World Series Champion and Twins Hall of Fame Member
Louie Varland Current MN Twins Pitcher, 2021 and 2022 Twins Minor League Pitcher of the Year	Dave St. Peter Current Minnesota Twins President & Chief Executive Officer
Thad Levine (unable to attend) Current Minnesota Twins Senior Vice President and General Manager	Jerry Bell Retired Twins President (1987-2002), Executive Board Chairman, Twins HOF Member
Jim Rantz Retired MN Twins Director of Minor Leagues, Twins Hall of Fame Member	Derek Sharrer Executive VP & General Manager, St. Paul Saints, Twins Triple-A Affiliate
John Anderson Head Coach of the Minnesota Gophers	Father Dan Haugan Old Timers Member / Pastor, Lumen Christi Catholic Community in St. Paul

At the 2023 banquet, this year's honored Older Timer (Pete Bradt) received special recognition, and the
2022 and 2021 4th District American Legion MVPs, Justin Hanson (2021, Rosetown Post 542), Leo Fleischhacker (2022, Tri-City Red Post 513), and Evan Fischer (2022, Rosetown Post 542) were honored with the Klark-Killen Memorial Award.

A Silent Auction, featuring a wide array of sports memorabilia, was also available during the evening.
A FREE Door-Prize Drawing concluded the event, with all attendees eligible to enter!

 

Prior Banquet Archives

2023 Banquet Program* Twins Caravan Press Release (Twins web site)	2023 Banquet Flyer Twins Caravan Press Release (MLB Story)
2020 Banquet Program* 2020 Banquet Pictures	2020 Banquet Flyer
2019 Banquet Program* News Article / Photos (White Bear Lake Magazine)	2019 Banquet Flyer
2018 Banquet Program*	2018 Banquet Flyer
2017 Banquet Program*	2017 Banquet Flyer
2016 Banquet Program* 2016 Banquet Pictures	2016 Printable Banquet Flyer
2015 Banquet Program*	2014 Banquet Program*
2013 Banquet	2012 Banquet News Article / Photos (Mendota Heights Patch News)
2011 Banquet Program*	2010 Banquet Photos (courtesy of Gordy Jones)

 

*Note: The Banquet Program includes a listing of Officers & Directors, Honored Old Timers, Yearly Klark-Killen Memorial Award winners, as well a list of members who are gone from this earth, but who are certainly not forgotten -- so it is well worth viewing and printing!!! (Banquet programs from 2012 and 2013 are not available at this time.)

Annual Charity Benefit Baseball Game
2023 marked the 55th year that the Old Timers have donated financial support to Our Lady of Peace Hospice in St. Paul (formerly known as Our Lady of Good Counsel Home), which provides end-of-life care for individuals who have limited financial resources. And, since 1987, each year, the Old Timers have come together on the field -- to raise funds for this worthy organization -- through a benefit baseball game, featuring the St. Paul Past-Timers vs. the St. Paul Old-Timers. This year's event was held as follows:

Saturday, August 19, 2023

Toni Stone Field (Dunning Sports Complex)
1221 Marshall Avenue, St. Paul, MN 55104
Game Time: 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
(Batting Practice: 11:00 a.m.)

Raffle tickets for cash prizes:
$2.00 each OR 3 tickets for $5.00
(Cash Prizes: 1st Prize - $150; 2nd Prize - $75; 3rd Prize - $50; $4th Prize - $25
Winner need not be present to win. Contact Bob Bradt to purchase raffle tickets!)

After the game, refreshments were served
during a gathering on the VFW Post 7555 patio,
4:00 - 7:00 p.m.:
1145 Woodhill Drive,
Roseville, MN 55113

A great time was had by all, so make plans to attend the 2024 game!! Come on out to watch the older generation (semi-pro and former scholastic ball players) play ball in a relaxing outdoor environment -- all to benefit a very worthy facility!

Please remember that if you cannot make the actual ballgame in any given year, monetary donations are always accepted and very much appreciated! For more information about this wonderful event, please see how, in this event flyer. If you would like to volunteer or make a donation, please contact the Old Timers.

Other Events
In addition to meetings and the above events, members enjoy taking in a Twins game and other local events as a group.

Other Info:

FEATURED BOOKS / SITES:

StewThornley.net
Please visit the web site of member, Stew Thornley (an Official Scorer for Major League Baseball), by clicking the link above.

Stew's site features a ton of great historical baseball information, particularly involving the Twin Cities area teams (as well as Minneapolis Lakers hoops history!) You will also find inforamtion on all of Stew's publications and books, which belong in everyone's baseball library!

Lastly, info and a link to the Society of Baseball Research, of which Stew is an officer, is also available -- as well as a grave site tour and information (yes, really!) on MLB Hall-of-Famers.

 

4th District American Legion Baeball
For information, game schedules, scores, etc., make sure to visit the 4th District American Legion Baseball web page, by clicking the link above. Historical information on past seasons is also available!

 

Baseball Before the Twins,
Lexington Park and the Original st. Paul Saints in the Turbulent 1940's
by Vern Schultz
Author Vern Schultz (now deceased) had a lifeling love with Americas's national pastime. In this book, he shares a plenitude of baseball memories from the most important and exciting decade of baseball played by the original St. Paul Saints.

Contact Rudy Janetto about obtaining the book, if any remaining copies are available.

 

The Best of River-Town Small-Ball
by Doug Nachbar
Author, Doug Nachbar, was on hand at the December 2016 meeting to discuss his book, "The Best of River-Town Small-Ball." In it, Jim Stoll (Arlington A's, Marble Mallards) and 9 other legends of the Minnesota River Valley Lower Basin are featured / profiled, including Jordan's NBA Hall-of-Famer, Jim Pollard, Belle Plaine's Jim Harsh, Prior Lake's Pat Devitt, Lonsdale's Jim Kubes, and John Freund, who played for LeSueur, Glencoe, and Shakopee. Per Nachbar, baseball was king during this Golden Age of the game, and the princes of the diamond which he profiles are the reason why.

For information on obtaining a copy of the book:
Doug Nachbar, 952-393-7470, MidasTales@aol.com
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/RiverTownSmallBall/?fref=ts

 

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Membership Info & Contacts

How Do I Join this Superb Organization?
The only requirement for membership in the Baseball Old Timers is having some kind of a connection to baseball, as well as a love for the game -- AND an interest in spending great time with good friends, who also enjoy the great American game! You must also be at least 21 year of age.

If you are not a member, you should be, if you --

Membership dues are $25.00 annually (what a deal !!! -- free food and brew / soda is served at all meetings too)... and joining is a simple process!

1. Print this membership application form, fill it out, and follow the instructions on the form. OR

2. Call Bob Bradt at 651-455-3487 for further information -- or if you have any questions regarding membership, OR

3. Send an an e-mail to Bob with your questions, and he will promptly respond with needed information.

The Baseball Old Timers welcome your interest in our organization!

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