Back row: Rollie Seltz, Pete Johnson, Paul Keup, Fred Keup, Jack O'Brien, Mike O'Brien, Norb Schmitt Front row: Gene O'Brien (manager), George Bodmer, Bob "Minnow" Meyer, Lloyd Schultz, Jerry Miller, Lee Engfer Bat boys: Greg Engfer and Paul Johnson
--by Tom Melchior
In 1948 I was an eighth grader in Gaylord and batboy for the Gaylord town team. On occasion we would visit Grandpa Pete and Grandma Clara, who lived in Belle Plaine. Grandpa talked about the Tiger baseball team and what wonderful players they had. He took me to watch Belle Plaine face Winsted in the 1948 state tournament in Shakopee. I was one of the 7,513 fans who crammed into the park. The stands couldn’t hold all the fans so many of us stood behind a roped off area in front of the outfield fence. “Lefty” Johnson started on the mound for the Tigers and Gene O’Brien homered in the eighth.
Sadly Winsted beat the Tigers 6 to 4. Belle Plaine players included Gene, Jack, and Bob O’Brien, “Red” Weldon, “Minnow” Meyer, “Lefty” Johnson, Jack O’Connell, Lloyd Schultz, Norb Schmitt, Marty Donovan, Orville Westphal, and a young Fred Keup.
My parents moved to Belle Plaine in the fall of 1952. The Tigers lost the state championship to Cannon Falls, 4 to 3. Pete Johnson, George Bodmer, Paul Keup, and Mike O’Brien joined the team.
I tried out for the Tigers in the summer of 1953. My high school buddy, Pete Johnson, left the Tigers to sign a professional contract with the St. Louis Cardinals. My classmate, Dave Grosser, played third base. How I wanted to be a Tiger! Manager Gene O’Brien said I would play more if I signed with Carver and so I became a Black Sox shortstop.
In 1954 I joined the Tigers and played with them for three years. I played and managed Benson in 1957 and missed the last year Belle Plaine hired players and played Class A baseball. Bob O’Brien and Pete Johnson returned to lead the Tigers.
Many people say that was the end of the Glory Days of amateur baseball in Minnesota. From 1947 to 1957 the Belle Plaine Tigers filled its roster with wonderful players. I felt I had reached the major leagues as a 17-year-old in 1954. Every game it seemed as if we faced some hired pitcher who had played pro ball. What a thrill!
After the home games we gathered in Gene O’Brien’s garage to replay the game and listen to the stories of years past. Gene made sure there was grape and orange pop for Dave and me while the veterans enjoyed their beer.
Here’s a tip of my Tiger cap to you Fred and all the other players who have left me with great memories.
