Hall of Fame

Don Gerlach

Donald Gerlach was so young when he joined the Mudhens that he had to ride a motorized scooter to practice. Fleet of foot with a powerful swing, Gerlach helped the Mudhens win many titles and playoff games in his 18 year career. Making great strides defensively as a catcher, outfielder and pitcher, Gerlach also maintained an impressive .350 batting average. Surprisingly, his skill level in 1969, the year he left the Mudhens, was the same when compared to the prime of his career. He was also the spark on the 1968 team that played for the Minnesota Amateur Baseball Championship and lost to Dassel-Cokato in the final game.

Jerry Weber

Jerry Weber was a catcher, and an outfielder from 1948 to 1962. In 1954 at the age of 21 he became manager. His philosophy was to develop the young local talent. In 1955 his Miesville team won the Dakota County League Championship. Under his managerial guidance, Miesville won the Cannon Valley League playoffs in 1960, the Minnesota Amateur Class B Baseball Championship in 1961, and qualified for the State Tournament again in 1962. He served on the Miesville Mudhen Board of Directors from 1960 to 1975. In the year 2000 he thought that Miesville's rich 80 year history had produced numerous retired Mudhens who might want to get together now and then to reminisce and help promote Miesville Baseball. That Idea developed into an organization called the Miesville Dugout Club which thrives today.

John Conzemuis

John Conzemius played for the Mudhens from 1950-1953 and then again from 1957-1970. The four year absence from Mudhen ball was due to his military obligation, however, he played baseball for the U.S. Fifth Army in Camp Zama, Japan during that time. During his 16 year career he pitched in over 150 games as a starting or relief pitch and was the Mudhen manager for years as well. He and his team won numerous Cannon Valley League Pennants, League Play off Championships and births to the State Baseball Tournament. He was President of the Cannon Valley League for two years and also served on the Minnesota Baseball Board.

Joe Hammerschmidt

Joe Hammerschmidt, a native of New Trier, MN. played for the Mudhens from 1973 through 1998. He played every position over his 25 year career but 95% of the time as a catcher. He was a member of the State Tournament Championship teams of 1978, 1989, 1992, 1995, and drafted as a catcher for state tournament play by Red Wing in 1973 and by Dundas in 1997. In addition to playing, he spent countless hours preparing the filed and cutting grass for Mudhen, Babe Ruth, and Little League games from 1980 through 2000. He also served on the Miesville Mudhen Board of Directors and was in charge of the concession stand from 1994 through 2000.

Mike Hartung

Mike Hartung played 16 years for the Mudhen’s from 1969 to 1985. His primary position was shortstop but occasionally played other infield positions. Mike participated in six state tournaments, was a member of the state championship team of 1978, and was selected to the “All Tournament Team” that year as well.

Sylvester Wiederholt

Cy Wiederholt played from 1936 to 1941 in a pasture that was located behind the current Wiederholt’s Supper Club. In late 1941 he left for the service and upon his return in 1946 he played until the early 1950’s.

Cy was a catcher for most of his career but on occasion played first base.

In the early 1960’s Cy organized a group of people to work on getting Miesville a new ballpark. Twenty-six individuals purchased one share of stock for $100.00 to fund the ballpark that exists today.

Dan Carey

Dan Carey played from 1966-67 and 1974 to 1982 and was a hard throwing left handed pitcher, a first baseman and managed during his Mudhen career. Carey was a member of the New York Mets farm system in the late 1960’s and rejoined the Mudhens in 1974. Dan was the MVP of the 1978 Minnesota Class “B” State Tournament that was won by the Mudhens.

Dan has done volunteer work through the American Heart Association as

speaker and multiple committee member. Dan also volunteers professional training in the health/fitness field.

Tom Ditty

Tom Ditty was a Mudhen from 1974-1981. He was multi-talented and played in the outfield, played first and third, pitched and was drafted one year by the Red Wing Aces as a catcher. Ditty played in eleven state tournaments and four state championship games. He was elected to five All-Tournament teams during his baseball career and 1992 was inducted into the St. Cloud State Athletic Hall of Fame for Baseball and Basketball. Tom has served six years on the City of Hastings Planning Commission, served on the building committee and parish council at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church and has been a member of the Hastings Country Club Board of Directors.

Jack Ruhr

Jack Ruhr has been the President of the Mudhens for over 46 years. He was an original stockholder in 1960, when the current ballpark was built, and has served as player/manager. Jack recruited many players over the years and helped form the nucleus of many championship teams. Jack has been a father figure to many Mudhen players and a central figure in the Cannon Valley League. Ruhr was honored on July 4th, 1990 by having the Miesville Ball Park re-named “Jack Ruhr Field”. Jack was elected to the Minnesota Amateur Baseball Hall of Fame in September of 2000 in recognition of his dedication to the league, the sport and the team.

Donald Schauer

Donald Schauer, a skinny fifteen-year-old farm boy, started playing for Miesville in 1950. Patrolling shortstop and second base with sure hands, Schauer played a major role in Miesville's 1955 and 1959 Championship teams. A true .300 plus hitter with power, Schauer could make a losing game a lot more exciting or end a close game with one swing of the bat. Through his baseball talent and Miesville community service, Schauer has given back to the team that now plays ball on the land his parents used to farm.