the early 1900s, and is to this day.
New Germany baseball legend Gerald “Beans” Roepke noted that in the early 1900s until 1955, baseball
in New Germany was played in Fred Hein’s pasture,
which is now Lindstrom Park.
In 1955, a new ballpark was built on School District
77 land, and dugouts and the grandstand were built
with the help of volunteers.
In 1956, the New Germany city fathers organized
a team, and with manager Harry Zellmann, joined
the 7-Hi League, consisting of Excelsior, Hopkins,
Hutchinson, Long Lake, Mound, Richfield, Winsted,
and New Germany.
The ballpark was dedicated May 6, 1956. Later, the
village of New Germany purchased the property.
Changes took place at the ballpark, and in 1970, the
grandstand and dugouts were rebuilt.
In 1980, a chain link fence was installed and dedicated in memory of Dean Hensel, son of Loren and
Dorothy Hensel, according to the New Germany Centennial Book.
In 1959, New Germany entered the Crow River
Valley League with the teams of Glencoe, Green Isle,
Hamburg, Lester Prairie, Mayer, Norwood, Plato, and
Young America.
In this same year, the New Germany baseball team
became known as the “Dutchmen” as its official name,
by which it is still known today.
In 1987, the Crow River Valley League was split into
two divisions, the North and the South. New Germany
was placed in the North Division.
The Dutchmen were Crow River Valley League
Champions in 1964, 1967, 1968, and 1971.
The Dutchmen have made five state tournament appearances; 1967 in Alexandria, 1968 in Springfield,
1970 in St. Cloud, 1971 in Brownton, and most recently
in 1997, when they beat Buckman 7-5 in the first game,
and lost to Le Sueur, 4-3, in the second game.
In 1971, the Dutchmen had their best showing at
state, placing third.
In 2017, New Germany will be the host of the Region 7C tournament.
Hall of Famers
The New Germany Dutchmen have one member in
the Minnesota Baseball Amateur Hall of Fame.
That member is Gerald “Beans” Roepke, inducted
in 1993.
After 29 seasons of playing baseball, and before
retiring from the Dutchmen, Roepke posted some impressive accomplishments.
In 1961 and 1980, he was voted the team’s most valuable player; in 1980, 1981, 1982, and 1986, he had the
Dutchmen’s highest batting average; in 1981, he won
the Crow River Valley League batting title, with a .446
batting average.
That same year, 1981, he was selected the Most
Valuable Player in the Crow River Valley League allstar game.
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14
2016-17 Edition
Community Guide
NEW GERMANY