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SEARLES -- Al Drexler said he knew something was up during a Searles Grizzlies' home game after he had finished talking with KNUJ Sports Director Tom Wheeler for KNUJ Day.
"I had just finished talking with Tom and I went to the shelter and was just going to sit down for a while and then go home," the Searles resident said. "And it was the ninth inning and there was dead silence. Casey Lux grabbed the microphone and I thought that something was not right here. Then he announced that I had been elected to the Minnesota Amateur Baseball Hall of Fame and it totally caught me by surprise."
Drexler has been involved in baseball at Searles for over 50 years and has done everything.
"There was a post on Facebook that our groundskeeper is also our head chef," he said. "And Searles baseball has been a lifelong love for me and I absolutely love it."
Drexler played Searles baseball from 1974-1985 before becoming a coach and board member. He coached youth baseball for 20 years and was a board member from 1990-2025.
He also held the office of President from 1997-2024, and during that time made park improvements including a grass infield and a mound reconstruction in 2011. In 2012, Searles added a new scoreboard, a second field and batting cage. In 2018, the park saw a batter's eye and fencing under Drexler's leadership, and in 2024 new dugouts were added.
"We added the second park to maintain the quality of the big park," Drexler said. "We were able to take the kids off of the big park for all of their practices and games.That made caring for the big park a little easier."
Drexler said that he did not do any of this to take credit for it.
"This award came up so fast and I was totally shocked by it," he said.
Drexler said that he did not know for over a year that a committee had started the groundwork on this.
"The committee that started this -- Casey [Lux], my wife, Kathy, and my two sons Jeremy and Danny," he said. "And then to keep it secret for eight months -- not a peep came out of them."
Drexler said that the reason he first took over as president back in 1997 was to look at the by-laws of the association.
"In there, Article 2, it read that our purpose is to serve the youth of the community and give them a place to play and promote sports in the Searles area. Kids can play for free -- have a good uniform and a nice hat on."
Drexler said that his wife has been a big supporter of him.
"All of these years, she was the one I would call if we were short of help in the concessions stand and she would help right away. We did this for the love of the community."
The Hall of Fame Banquet is Saturday, Sept. 18 in St. Cloud at the River's Edge Convention Center. Tickets are $50 for adults and $10 for children. The Happy Hour runs from 3-5 p.m. with the meal at 5:30 p.m. and banquet at 6:30 p.m.
Tickets must be purchased by Sept. 1.
The Searles Baseball Association will be sponsoring a bus. The bus will leave from St. John's Church in Searles at 12:30 p.m. and then return to the church after the ceremonies.
Those who wish to ride the bus up will have to confirm by calling or texting Casey Lux at 651-208-3743.