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Legion state baseball tourney banquet draws hundreds

Raabe urges players to put in the work

By Travis Rosenau 3 min read

NEW ULM -- Hundreds gathered at the Royal Oak Event Center on Wednesday evening for the Minnesota American Legion Division 1 State Baseball Tournament Banquet.

Casey Lux, the banquet's master of ceremonies, and keynote speaker Brian Raabe helped kick off a week that will feature the best legion teams in Minnesota battling for the right to be state champions in what will also be the 100th annual state tournament.

Raabe, a New Ulm native, 1986 New Ulm High School grad and former Major League Baseball player, started by thanking everyone who helped put the banquet together.

After telling all players in attendance to stand and clap for the parents, grandparents and others who support them every day, Raabe moved on to thanking the military for their service.

Raabe then talked about something he learned from the late University of Minnesota head baseball coach John Anderson, who died on July 26, which was how important it was for young players in attendance to find their fit when deciding what they wanted to do in their future.

"Go where you fit, where you become the best man, the best person you can," Raabe said. "Look for a school that's going to make you a rock star baseball player, a rock star student and a rock star man. The goal should be when you're looking, any school that you're going to go to, you want to make sure that they are getting you ready for the next 50 years of your life."

Raabe, who was also a member of New Ulm's 1985 American Legion World Series team, said those who want to be great at whatever they do put in the work. He said it was extremely easy to be average and very difficult to be great and that most people choose to settle out of doubt. He urged the players in attendance to strive for more and put in the work.

"Most of you [players] here, 90% of you, 80%, I hope it's less than that, are bigger than I am," he said. "I looked more like a bat boy back in those days than I did actually a player. I played in the big leagues. I'm in the Hall of Fame at the University of Minnesota. Not because God blessed me with unbelievable size, unbelievable strength, but he did bless me with unbelievable competitiveness, a will like no other."

State tournament play will begin Thursday and continue through Sunday at Johnson Park and Mueller Park in New Ulm, Riverside Park in Springfield and Sleepy Eye Baseball Park in Sleepy Eye.

Pool play games will take place Thursday and Friday, with the quarterfinals and semifinals taking place Saturday at Johnson Park and Mueller Park. The third-place game take place at 10 a.m. Sunday at Johnson Park, while the championship game will have an approximate first-pitch time of 1 p.m. on Sunday at Johnson Park.

Tickets for individual games are $10, with a $40 tournament pass also available.

Veterans and active-duty military members will receive free admission for the state tournament thanks to support from the Minnesota Veterans 4 Veterans Trust Fund.

A full tournament schedule can be viewed at newulmlegionbaseball.com. The winner of this tournament will advance to the regional tournament, which will take place from August 4-9 in Fargo, North Dakota.

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