Position: Utility

Kurt Stellpflug

Class of 2014

Pitcher, Utility

Augusta Athletics 1989-96; Osseo Merchants 1999-2004; Whitehall Wolves 2005, 07


Kurt “Plugger” Stellpflug was an extremely tough and highly respected competitor during his 16 seasons of play in the CRBL.  The dominance and humility that he exhibited throughout his outstanding amateur baseball career makes Stellpflug an overwhelming selection to the Chippewa River Baseball League Hall of Fame.

A big right-hander with a rocking, high kicking delivery, Plug’s hard fastball and knee buckling curve were let loose from a deceptive three-quarter release point.  Collectively, these components became synonymous with his lengthy success from the mound.  Averaging over nine strikeouts per nine innings, Kurt led the CRBL in K’s four seasons (60 in 1993, 59 in 1996, 81 in 2002, and 73 in 2003).  In total, the right-handed ace led or tied for the CRBL lead 15 times in six different pitching categories.  In addition to his strikeout belts, Stellpflug led the CRBL once in innings pitched (73 in 2002), twice in ERA (1.36 in 2002 and 0.56 in 2004), twice in wins (8 in 1993 and 7 in 2002), twice in saves (1 in 1995 and 3 in 1996), and four times in shutouts (1 in 1991, 1 in 1993, 2 in 1995, 1 in 2001).

Shining among these league leading totals was Stellpflug’s historical 2002 season.  Pitching for the Osseo Merchants at the age of 40, Kurt became the sixth pitcher in CRBL history to win the CRBL’s Triple Crown of pitching.  His 7 wins, 81 punch-outs, and 1.36 ERA were all pace setting marks, as was his 73 innings pitched.

Plugger’s game altering abilities from the mound often overshadowed the prowess he possessed from the right-handed side of the plate.  In his 11 seasons as a full-time player, Kurt hit over .300 five times (1990, 1995, 1996, 2001, 2003), over .400 four times (1992, 1993, 1999, 2000), and a lofty .525 (31 for 59) in 1994.  His 31 safeties in 1994 tied for the CRBL lead in that category.  In the same season, Kurt also became one of 13 hitters to garner 6 hits in a game, doing so vs. the Hallie Eagles in a 13 to 9 Augusta win.  Offensively, Kurt’s other league leading offensive total came later in 2003 when he banged 10 doubles for Osseo.

A member of the Augusta Athletics from 1989 through 1996, the classy Stellpflug’s presence on the young franchise helped jump start amateur baseball in an area where it had been dormant for over 30 years.  After a two-year sabbatical from the CRBL in 1997 and 1998, Kurt returned with the fledgling Merchants of Osseo, playing from 1999 to 2004 before finishing as a part-timer with another new franchise, the Whitehall Wolves in 2005 and again in 2007.

A game changing winner wherever he played, Plug was part of four division winners, three CRBL champions, 12 WBA qualifiers, six WBA Final 8 teams, and one WBA champion with the Augusta Athletics in 1994.  His individual contributions were clearly recognized in his eight All-CRBL awards (1990, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002), two Honorable Mention All-CRBL awards (1999 and 2003), and Most Valuable Pitcher Award of the 1994 WBA Finals.

Upon induction, Kurt’s highest all-time ranking can be found in pitching wins where he is 6th.  Other top marks from the slab include winning percentage (12th), innings pitched (12th), strikeouts (13th), ERA (17th), saves (tied for 15th), shutouts (tied for 13th), and K/9 IP (19th).

As a hitter, Stellplug is highly ranked in batting average (17th), slugging percentage (22nd), homeruns (tied for 35th), runs scored (36th), doubles (tied for 38th), total bases (39th), RBI’s (tied for 39th), hits (tied for 40th), and singles (tied for 42nd).

Scott Hughes

Class of 2014

Utility

Augusta Athletics 1989-99, 2001-06


The Augusta Athletics built their dynasty of the 1990’s on the double barreled formula of power hitting and power pitching.  Exemplifying these game altering traits better than anyone was Augusta legend, Scott Hughes.

An imposing presence both from the mound and in the batter’s box, no player in CRBL history led or tied for the league lead in single-season statistical categories more than Hughes.  In total, the big righty paced the CRBL 35 times in 14 out of a possible 18 individual areas.

As a pitcher, “Hughey” was a league leader 23 times.  Specifically, he led the CRBL in innings pitched twice (80.1 in 1999 and 64 in 2004), ERA twice (3.06 in 1995 and 0.75 in 2001), wins in five seasons (9 in 1994, 7 in 1997, 7 in 1998, 11 in 1999, and 7 in 2003), winning percentage six times (1.000 in 1994, .875 in 1997, .875 in 1998, 1.000 in 1999, .833 in 2002, and .875 in 2003), strikeouts once (67 in 1997), saves once (2 in 1993), and shutouts six times (2 in 1993, 1 in 1996, 1 in 2001, 3 in 2002, 2 in 2003, and 2 in 2006).

As a hitter, Big Scott was a pace setter 12 times.  In two seasons, he was a CRBL batting champion (.493 in 1989 and .510 in 1990), once in at-bats (71 in 1994), four times in hits (33 in 1989, 31 in 1994, 33 in 1997, and 34 in 1999), once in doubles (9 in 1994), once in home runs (7 in 1993), once in RBI’s (26 in 1993), and twice in runs scored (29 in 1995 and 30 in 1997).

Scott’s ascension to a top flight, multi-threat player came in 1994 when he went an undisputed 9 an 0, tying for the league lead in wins (9) and shutouts (2) while pacing the CRBL outright in K’s with 67 and winning percentage (1.000).  During this breakout season, the Augusta ace also spun the 28th no-hitter in CRBL history with a 12 to 0, 9-inning gem vs. the Bloomer Fightin’ Woodticks.  That same season, Hughes also led the league in at-bats (71), hits (31), doubles (9), runs scored (29), and became one of only 13 hitters in league history to have 6 hits in a game, doing so against the Cadott Red Sox.

Hughes’ full arsenal of historical talent was no more evident than in 1999 when he had arguably the greatest pitching and hitting season ever in league play.  Hitting .459 with a league leading 34 hits in 74 at-bats, Scott drove in 23 runs and scored 17 while banging 8 doubles and 5 home runs all while drawing just 6 walks.  Concertedly from the slab, the high-kicking righty with the windmill wind-up also set a still standing season record for winning percentage at 1.000, claiming a clean slate of 11 wins without a defeat.  The win total paced the 10-team CRBL as did his 80.1 innings pitched.

Accordingly, Scott was named All-CRBL a total of eight times (1989, 1990, 1993, 1994, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2002) while participating in 15 All-Star games (1989, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006).  In three All-Star exhibitions, Hughes was the best of the best, getting named the contest’s MVP in 1989 (retroactively in 2017) 1994, 1996, and 2003.

The game changing skills that Hughey forcefully imparted on the CRBL became one of the pillars upon which Augusta rose to be a preeminent league power.  In the Big Righty’s 17 seasons of CRBL play, Augusta captured seven South Division titles, five CRBL crowns, qualified for 16 WBA tournaments, survived to play in six Final 8’s, and played in three WBA championship games.  Perhaps the flash point of success amidst this excess of winning came in 1994, when Hughes and the Athletics won the elusive WBA championship, triumphing over the Abbotsford Merchants 8 to 4 in the title game.  It represented the first time a CRBL team had won the WBA tournament since the Thorp Cardinals in 1953.

Off the hill, Hughes’ highest ranking upon induction can be found in shutouts where he is 3rd.  He can also be found ranked among the greats in winning percentage (4th), wins (5th), innings pitched (14th), strikeouts (16th), saves (tied for 21st), ERA (28th),  and K/9 IP (47th).

As a hitter, Scott’s best rank is in batting average where he is 2nd.  His other high marks in batsmanship are in home runs (3rd), slugging percentage (3rd), RBI’s (5th), runs scored (5th), total bases (6th), doubles (7th), hits (9th), singles (15th), at-bats (24th), games played (25th), and base on balls (42nd).

(Biographical information amended, 2018)

Stan Prince

Class of 2012
Utility
Cooks Valley Hayshakers 1971-82; Chippewa Falls Lumberjacks 1983-84


Over his 14-season amateur baseball career, Stan Prince carved out a lasting reputation as one of the CRBL’s best contact hitters and slickest fielding defenders who was admired for both his quick hands and vacuum-like glove.
Breaking in with the Cooks Valley Hayshakers in 1971, Stan had the first of his 10 seasons of .300 hitting or better when he batted .328 (19 for 58). Of those 10 seasons, Prince topped .400 in 1976 (.404, 19 for 47), 1977 (.453, 29 for 64), 1981 (.407, 15 for 37) and in 1983 (.407, 27 for 69). His personal best came in 1980 when he paced the CRBL with a scalding mark of .511 (24 for 47), during which he also set a career high in home runs with 2.
Prince’s three other leading offensive outputs occurred in doubles, when he tied for the CRBL lead with 5 in 1974 and 4 in 1976 while leading outright with 6 two-baggers in 1977.
It would be remiss to not acknowledge Utility Stan’s contributions from the mound, where he consumed 260.2 innings of CRBL play, topping 50 frames in two different seasons for the Hayshakers – 66.1 IP in 1976 and 50.2 in 1978.
Prince’s aforementioned .407 output in 1983 also included his career high in RBI’s with 19, runs scored with 16, as well as matching his personal bests in doubles with 6 and home runs with 2. This offensive bounty coincided with his first year on the upstart Chippewa Falls Lumberjacks. His seasoned approach and outstanding play that year helped the ‘Jacks win the North Division title, a CRBL championship, and a berth in the WBA tournament. In the 13-7 CRBL championship win vs. Cadott – Stan’s lone appearance in a title game – he was 2 for 6 with a double, 2 RBI’s, and 2 runs scored.
After completing his career as a part-time but still productive player for the Lumberjacks in 1984, Stan’s league resume included an All-CRBL award in for his memorable 1983 season. The remarkably high level of bat control Prince regularly employed was the tool by which he crafted an attention grabbing lifetime average of .365, placing him 10th all-time in CRBL competition.
With his induction, Mr. Prince joins brothers and fellow sluggers Joe and Pat as CRBL Hall of Famers and immortals.

Rick Rubenzer

Class of 2011

Utility

Jim Falls Sturgeons 1977-83, 85-98

Manager

Jim Falls Sturgeons 1985-98


A sure-handed fielder with a smooth and easy left-handed swing, Rick Rubenzer’s playing and managerial career left an indelible mark on the CRBL during his 21 seasons with the Sturgeons of Jim Falls.

The breadth and quality of Rubenzer’s time in the CRBL is illustrated in his stature as the only person in league history to gather 100 managerial wins, 300 hits, and 300 innings pitched.

As field general for the Prehistoric Fish from 1985 to 1998, Rick’s managerial methods resulted in six WBA appearances (1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1991, 1992), one North division title (1989), one Final 8 showing (1991), and seven winning seasons (1986, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, and 1995)  — an unmatched run of success for one of the CRBL’s oldest franchises.

Manager Rubenzer was also one tough out.  Upon induction, he can be found in the Top 20 all-time for nine offensive categories.  Rick’s highest perch is in walks, where he is ranked 4th.  His other Top 20 ranks include being 6th in games played, 8th in at-bats, 9th in hits and singles, and 10th in RBI’s, runs scored, doubles, and total bases.

The impressive summation of these totals featured a .460 (23 for 50) batting title in 1981.  The 23 hits that season tied for the league high.  Rubenzer’s other league leading effort occurred in 1988 when his pile of 28 RBI’s coincided with the Sturgeons stellar 14 and 2 regular season record.

Including the .460 batting crown in 1981, Rick topped .400 in a total of four campaigns, doing it in 1981 (.460), 1987 (.404), 1988 (.435), and 1992 (.408).  In seven other seasons (1980, 1983, 1991, 1994, 1995, 1999, and 2000) he was on the north side of a .300 batting average.  His 270 career walks were built on 15 seasons in which his keen batting eye garnered 10 or more base on balls.

The consummate utility man, Rick accumulated 368 innings off the mound.  His career high of 55.2 innings also came with a personal best 6 wins in 1983 for 12 and 6 Jim Falls, the Sturgeons’ first winning record since 1975.

Rick was selected All-CRBL in 1988 as a shortstop for his outstanding 28 RBI, .435 AVG., 2 HR, 18 BB season.  His 14 All-Star game appearances (1980, 1981, 1983, 1985-1989, 1991-1995, 1999) are currently the 6th most in league history.

Rick is the second member of his family to be immortalized as a CRBL Hall of Famer, joining younger brother Randy who was in the Inaugural Class of 2009.

Ben Pitsch

Class of 2011

Utility

Jim Falls Fallsmen 1927,30; Eagleton Eagletons 1928-29; Jim Falls Cardinals 1931; Anson Ansonites 1932; Jim Falls Old Abes 1937-38; Jim Falls 1939-41; Jim Falls Legion 1947-50; Holcombe Old Abes 1951-52; Jim Falls Dairymen 1953

Manager

Jim Falls Fallsmen 1930; Jim Falls Old Abes 1937-38; Jim Falls 1939-41; Jim Falls Legion 1948-50


Nearly 60 years after his last game, Ben Pitsch is remembered as a patriarch of one of the most recognizable family names in CRBL history.  On the playing the field, he carved out an admirable and devoted playing career over 18 seasons of league competition.

Playing the bulk of his career in what should be viewed as the “dead ball” era of the CRBL, Benny was a consistent and reliable performer from both the batter’s box and the mound.

Averaging over 1 hit a contest during his 234 game career, Pitsch hung up his spikes as the league’s all-time leader in games played, at-bats, hits, singles, doubles, RBI’s, runs scored, walks, and total bases.  In 17 of his 18 league seasons, Ben collected 10 or more hits, with his career peak of 18 knocks coming in 1951.  Batted over .300 twice, doing so in 1938 at .340 (17 for 50) and 1947 at .304 (17 for 57).  Consistently used as a pitcher during the 1930’s, Pitsch tied for the Chippewa Valley League lead with 1 save in 1936.

During his nine seasons as a player/manager for four different Jim Falls teams, Mr. Pitsch led his squads to three winning records and two .500 finishes.

Playing in a time period when amateur leagues and teams were much more commonplace in the Chippewa Valley, Ben was also a standout for Jim Falls teams in the Cloverbelt, Yellow River, and Eastern County leagues during the 1920’s and 1930’s.

Even with this cross-section of amateur baseball experiences, Pitsch’s name can still be found on the CRBL’s all-time lists.  Upon induction, Pitsch is 21st all-time in at-bats and singles, tied for 29th in walks, tied for 30th in games played, and tied for 34th in hits.

Participated in the 1953 All-Star game, one of only four seasons in which the league exhibition was held during Pitsch’s career.

Russ Nelson

Class of 2011

Pitcher, Utility

Jim Falls Mobile 1969-70; Jim Falls Saints 1971-87; Jim Falls Sturgeons 1988-91, 2002-03; Bloomer Merchants 1992;

Bloomer Fightin’ Woodticks 1993-2001


In a league career that spanned a remarkable 35 seasons, Russ Nelson rubber-armed his way to the likely insurmountable totals of 1,770.1 innings pitched and 1,163 strikeouts.  A durable and inventive pitcher, Nelson is remembered as much for his longevity as he is the fiery competiveness that permitted him to cross five decades of play in the CRBL.

Naturally, Russ was a pace-setter in innings pitched during multiple years, doing so in 1985 with 96 innings, 79 innings in 1988, and 71 innings in 1992.  Nelson’s personal best, workhorse mark of 104.1 innings pitched came in 1979, the only year in the Jim Falls Saints’ 17 season existence in which they qualified for the WBA tournament.

Nelson surpassed the 50 inning mark a league record 23 seasons, doing it for the first time with 52.1 innings in 1971 for the Saints at the age of 19.  25 years later, he notched his last such effort with 62 innings pitched in 1996 for the ‘Ticks when he checked in at 44 years young.

Russ’ one season as the top winner in league play came in 1988, when in his first year as a Sturgeon and 20th year in the CRBL, he set a career high with 9 wins to embroider his league best 79 innings hurled for the 14 and 2 Fish of Jim Falls.  His stalwart performance and winning contributions earned him a well-deserved All-CRBL nod at pitcher.

Nelson also led the league in saves with 2 in 1984 and tied for the lead in shutouts with 1 in 1982, 1989, and 1991.

1989 found the righty chewing up 62.1 innings while going 5 and 2 in helping the North champ Sturgeons win their first division title since 1973 with a team won/loss record of 12 and 4.  Fittingly, Russ hurled his last 4.2 innings for the 2003 Sturgeons in a part-time role.

From the batter’s box, Nelson hit over .300 in 5 of his 23 seasons as a regular in the line-up as he steadily built some healthy offensive totals.  His season best average of .357 (15 for 42) came in 1982.  His lone offensive leading total came in 1975 when he rapped 5 doubles.

Participated in seven All-Star games (1971, 1981, 1983-1986, 1988).  In addition to his All-CRBL award in 1988, Russ was recognized with Honorable Mention All-CRBL in 2002.

Upon induction, Nelson is the all-time leader in innings pitched and strikeouts, ranks 3rd in wins and is tied for 15th in shutouts.  Offensively, Russ is 5th all-time in games played, 7th in at-bats, and 10th in walks.

Joe Vavra

Inaugural Class of 2009

Utility

Lafayette Indians 1979-80


2009 will mark the 28th year of pro baseball for CRBL alumnus and Lafayette native Joe Vavra.  Following a record setting career at UW-Stout, Joe was drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 8th round of the 1982 amateur draft.  Vavra’s versatile, hustling, and fundamentally sound style of play enabled him to quickly rise through the Dodgers’ minor league system, reaching the Triple A level in Albuquerque, NM in August of 1984.  That summer was his best in the minors, as he hit .307 (86 for 280) with 14 doubles, 1 triple, 1 home run, 37 RBI’s, 36 runs scored, a .365 OBP, and just 17 strikeouts in 90 games at Double A San Antonio, TX.  Joe would conclude his professional playing career in 1986 with an accumulative batting average of .288 (342 for 1,187) in 365 minor league games.  Vavra would spend the next 14 years coaching for the Dodgers, being asked to fill a variety of instructional roles throughout the organization.

After spending 2001 as the head coach at UW-Stout, Vavra was hired by the Minnesota Twins in 2002.  Working as the minor league field coordinator within the Twins’acclaimed minor league system, Joe moved to the major league level in 2006 to become Minnesota’s hitting coach.  Lauded for his hard-working, positive, and practical approach, Vavra’s pupils include 2006 and 2008 American League batting champion Joe Mauer as well as 2006 American League MVP Justin Morneau.

Not to be forgotten is Vavra’s short but productive time in the CRBL.  In 1980, his second and last year in the league, Vavra hit .493, leading the league with 69 at-bats, 34 hits, and 13 doubles on his way to being named All-CRBL and playing in the league All-Star game.  His mark of 13 doubles in 1980 still stands as a single-season league record.

Prior to Joe’s ascent to the “The Show”, the only other league alumnus to reach the major leagues was Vic Johnson, who pitched for the Boston Red Sox and Cleveland Indians in the 1940’s.  In Vavra, there is proof positive that the road to modern day baseball’s highest level can intersect with the sport‘s grass roots, including the Chippewa River Baseball League.

Phil Gannon

Inaugural Class of 2009

Pitcher, Utility

Lafayette Braves 1955-60; Lafayette Generals 1961-64; Lafayette Indians 1965-74


Known as “The Little Lefty”, Gannon effectively used a straight over the top, windmill style delivery to become one of the winningest southpaws in league history.

Playing his entire 20-year career in the baseball hot bed of Lafayette, the bespectacled Gannon was the go to workhorse in the “one game a week” era of league play.

The pinnacle of his pitching prowess came in 1961, when he paced the league with 118 innings pitched, 10 wins, 2 shutouts, and a 2.06 ERA.  1961 also saw him whiff 140 batters.  He had previously K’d over 100 in 1957 with 148 in 108 innings and in 1959 when his tally of 118 sit-downs in 98.1 IP led the league.  Gannon’s sub-100 total of 76 K’s in 1956 was his other league leading effort in that category.

From 1956 to 1963, he averaged 93 innings pitched, with his career high coming in that 1961 season.  Led the league in innings pitched three times, doing so in 1959 with 98.1 IP, 1961 with 118 IP, and in 1962 with 86.1 IP.  Also led the league with a 2.19 ERA in 1962.  Tied for the league lead in shutouts with 2 in 1959 and 1 in 1960.  Co-holder of the single game mark for innings pitched with 16, doing so against the Lake Hallie Lakers while striking out 15 in a 7-5 Braves’ win in 1959.

A regular in Lafayette line-ups, Phil molded a notable offensive career.  In total, he collected 251 hits, 41 doubles, 15 homeruns, 149 RBI’s, 167 runs scored, 160 walks, and 349 total bases in 952 at-bats.  His best offensive season also came in his standout 1961 campaign, when he hit .351 (13 for 37), with league high totals in stolen bases (10) and walks (13).  Tied for the league lead in triples with 2 in 1963.  Led the league with 21 RBI’s in 1971.

Gannon’s stalwart 1961 effort boosted the 10 and 1 Generals to an Eastern Division Crown, a WBA birth, and a spot in the Final 8.  In 1963, his 10 and 4 record accounted for each of the Generals’ decisions, as the crew from Lafayette duplicated their team achievements of 1961.

Provided a veteran presence and a solid stick for the upstart Indians when they won the East Division in 1966, as well as for the Indians’ WBA qualifiers of 1966, 1971, 1972, 1973, and 1974.  Participated in nine consecutive All-Star games (1955 to 1963).  A memorable performer, Gannon played the first 17 years of his career prior to the annual tradition of All-CRBL awards.