SJU Baseball 2024

2024 BASEBALL

flavor. REMARKABLE friendly. fresh.

REMARKABLY INCREDIBLY

The Saint John’s University baseball team tied for second in the MIAC with a 14-6 record (23-16 overall) and made its 13th-consecutive appearance in the MIAC Tournament in 2023.

SJU finished with six All-MIAC honorees last spring, of whom three return in 2024: senior third baseman Joe Becker (New Prague, Minn.), senior left fielder Jack Schleper (Shakopee, Minn.) and senior pitcher Wyatt Rudolf (Carver, Minn./ Chanhassen). Senior second baseman Owen Dauk (Apple Valley, Minn./Eastview) and senior center fielder Jordan Amundson (Eden Prairie, Minn.) were All-MIAC in 2022 and return this spring thanks to an extra year of eligibility granted by the NCAA due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Here’s a look at the 2024 Johnnies:

Season No. 47

The 2024 season will be head coach Jerry Haugen’s 47th at the helm of the Johnnie baseball program. He has compiled an 935-704-5 (.570) career record, including a 252-121 (.677) mark over the past 10 seasons.

Bulk of Rotation Returns

SJU returns three of its four main starting pitchers from last year’s rotation who combined for a 2.59 strikeout-to-walk ratio (140 strikeouts to 54 walks) in 2023. Rudolf led the pitching staff in innings (48.0) and strikeouts (57), and finished 3-2 with a 3.56 ERA over 11 appearances (seven starts) in his first season as a Johnnie. Opponents batted .226 (24-for-106) with Rudolf in the stretch (runners on base).

Senior Kody Dalen (Carver, Minn./ Chanhassen) went 3-2 with a 3.16 ERA, .233 opponent batting average and 42 strikeouts

in just 31.1 innings pitched (seven starts) last spring. He was named to the 2023 MIAC All-Playoff team after he struck out a careerhigh 11 batters, including seven looking, and allowed two runs on six hits in seven innings for the no-decision in the Johnnies’ season finale, a 3-2 loss to Gustavus Adolphus in the MIAC Tournament. Dalen enters his senior season with a 12-3 record, 3.80 ERA and 130 strikeouts in 125.2 career innings (32 appearances, 19 starts).

Junior lefty Will Fazio (Minneapolis, Minn./Blake) tied Casey Trapp ’23 for the team lead with eight starts and was second in innings pitched (37.2) in 2023. He finished with a 3-4 record, 41 strikeouts and a .253 opponent batting average. Trapp is currently a graduate transfer at Division I Creighton.

Four With 100+ Hits

Four Johnnies reached the 100-hit milestone for their careers last spring and all four return in 2024: Becker, Dauk, Schleper and senior right fielder Rodney Erickson (St. Paul, Minn./Woodbury).

The foursome is destined to be joined by Amundson, who starts the season with 75 hits as a Johnnie and 80 overall (five hits in 14 games over two seasons, 2020-21, at St. Thomas).

Familiar Faces in the Infield

The Johnnies’ infield will feature a number

SEASON PREVIEW

of familiar faces this season. Becker started and reached base in all 39 games last season, extending his streak to 43 going back to 2022, and led SJU with 37 RBI and nine multi-RBI games overall. He also led SJU with a .423 average (22-for52) with runners in scoring position and finished second on the team in batting average (.374), hits (55), runs scored (36), doubles (14), slugging percentage (.558) and on-base percentage (.453).

Dauk returns to second base after starting all 39 games last season. He batted .269 but posted a .443 on-base percentage and led the team in runs scored (45), walks (27), hit-by-pitch (15) and stolen bases (11-for-11). He batted .407 (11-for-27) with runners in scoring position and .387 (12-for-31) with two outs. In the field, Dauk recorded a .993 fielding percentage with one error in 151 chances.

Junior Jackson Peter (Elrosa, Minn./ Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa) played all 39 games, with 34 starts (32 at shortstop and two as the designated hitter), and batted .323 with a .412 on-base percentage, 28 runs scored and 22 RBI last spring in his first season as a Johnnie.

Senior first basemen Owen Best (Aurora, Colo./Regis Jesuit) and Andrew Mahlke (Victoria, Minn./Chanhassen) are expected to again see time for SJU at first and designated hitter. Best hit an even .300 last season with a .413 on-base percentage in 30 games (27 starts), while Mahlke hit .356 (16-for-45) in 16 games (10 starts).

A position where the Johnnies will be a bit unfamiliar is catcher. The team needs to replace Matt Herold ’23 (22 starts) and Zach Selchow ’23 (17 starts) due to graduation. SJU is expected to turn to

Jackson Peter

Jordan Amundson

Kody Dalen

Wyatt Rudolf

SEASON PREVIEW

junior Blake Mellgren (Northfield, Minn.) and Will Wareham (Lakeville, Minn./North), who is one of nine freshmen on the SJU roster who were Play Ball! MN All-Stars.

A Veteran Outfield

All three starting outfielders are set to return for SJU in 2024. Amundson started 37 games in center field and batted .278, with a .375 on-base percentage. He finished second on the team in stolen bases (8-for-11) and third in RBI (33).

Schleper started all 39 games in left field and batted .333, including .413 (31-for-75) with runners on base and .451 (23-for51) with runners in scoring position. He finished second on the team in RBI (34) and third in hits (46) and runs scored (30).

Erickson started 37 games in right field, where he registered a team-best four outfield assists. He batted .283, including .351 (13-for-37) with runners in scoring position, and finished second on the team with four homers. Becker, Dauk, Peter and Schleper all hit three home runs last spring.

Depth on the Mound

SJU returns five pitchers who made five appearances or more in 2023. Junior Connor Hartley (Inver Grove Heights, Minn./Rosemount) leads the group. He made nine appearances, with one start, and went 3-2 with a 2.22 ERA, .194 opponent batting average and 19 strikeouts in 28.1 innings. Junior Kade Bowar (Burnsville, Minn.) made nine relief appearances and totaled 14 strikeouts to three walks in 13.1 innings.

Senior Griffin Larson (Edina, Minn.) appeared in six contests, with two starts, while classmate Quinn Krueger (Woodbury, Minn.) and junior Tien Foudray (Excelsior, Minn./Holy Family Catholic) saw the mound in five each. A transfer from Division I St. Thomas, senior Jeremy Klick (Maple Grove, Minn.) is expected to join the fold after he totaled 49 strikeouts in 48.1 innings (37 appearances) for the Tommies.

The 2024 Non-Conference Schedule

The Johnnies’ 38-game schedule includes

18 non-conference contests made up of 14 different opponents. The 14 teams combined for a 290-230 (.558) record in 2023, of which four recorded 25 wins or more. Misericordia (Pa.) went 40-15 and reached the NCAA Division III World Series after it eliminated Marietta (Ohio, 37-13 record) in the Super Regional.

Following the Feb. 25 season opener against Wisconsin-Superior, SJU travels to Florida for eight games – four in Port Charlotte and four in Ft. Myers - over a span of seven days. The Johnnies then travel March 16-18 to Tucson, Ariz., for four games before returning home to host Northwestern March 25. SJU hosts Minnesota-Morris April 10 and Crown April 29 to complete the non-conference schedule.

The MIAC (Home) Schedule

The Johnnies open MIAC play April 3 against Bethel in Collegeville and are scheduled to host doubleheaders against the following MIAC opponents:

-Bethel (Wednesday, April 3)

-Carleton (Saturday, April 13)

-Saint Mary’s (Saturday, April 20)

-St. Scholastica (Saturday, April 27)

-St. Olaf for Senior Day (Saturday, May 4)

The double-elimination MIAC Tournament will be held at CHS Field in St. Paul. The four-team tournament is scheduled for May 9-11.

Rodney Erickson

Griffin Larson

Blake Mellgren Will Wareham

Feb 26 1 p.m. UW-Superior (DH)

Feb 26 3:30 p.m. UW-Superior (DH)

Mar 3 10 a.m. Otterbein

Mar 4 10 a.m. Heidelberg

Mar 4 1 p.m. Misericordia

Mar 5 9 a.m. Marietta

Collegeville / Becker Park

Collegeville / Becker Park

Port Charlotte, Fla. (C10)

Port Charlotte, Fla. (C10)

Port Charlotte, Fla. (C10)

Port Charlotte, Fla. (C10)

Mar 7 8 a.m. Hiram Ft. Myers, Fla. (TP1)

Mar 8 2 p.m. Baruch (DH)

Mar 8 5 p.m. Baruch (DH)

Mar 9 8 a.m. Muskingum

Ft. Myers, Fla. (TP1)

Ft. Myers, Fla. (TP1)

Ft. Myers, Fla. (TP1)

Mar 16 10:30 a.m. SAGU-American Indian College Tucson, Ariz. (Kino #3)

Mar 17 10:30 a.m. Wesleyan (DH) Tucson, Ariz. (Kino #3)

Mar 17 1:00 p.m. Wesleyan (DH) Tucson, Ariz. (Kino #3)

Mar 18 10:30 a.m. Luther Tucson, Ariz. (Kino #7)

Mar 25 2:30 p.m. Northwestern (DH) Collegeville / Becker Park

Mar 25 5 p.m. Northwestern (DH) Collegeville / Becker Park

Apr 3 2:30 p.m. Bethel (DH) Collegeville / Becker Park

Apr 3 5 p.m. Bethel (DH) Collegeville / Becker Park

Apr 6 1 p.m. at Gustavus Adolphus (DH) St. Peter

Apr 6 3:30 p.m. at Gustavus Adolphus (DH) St. Peter

Apr 8 2:30 p.m. at Hamline (DH) St. Paul

Apr 8 5 p.m. at Hamline (DH) St. Paul

Apr 10 2:30 p.m. Minnesota-Morris Collegeville / Becker Park

Apr 13 1 p.m. Carleton (DH) Collegeville / Becker Park

Apr 13 3:30 p.m. Carleton (DH) Collegeville / Becker Park

Apr 17 2:30 p.m. at Augsburg (DH) Minneapolis

Apr 17 5 p.m. at Augsburg (DH) Minneapolis

Apr 20 1 p.m. Saint Mary’s (DH) Collegeville / Becker Park

Apr 20 3:30 p.m. Saint Mary’s (DH) Collegeville / Becker Park

Apr 23 2:30 p.m. at Concordia (DH) Moorhead

Apr 23 5 p.m. at Concordia (DH) Moorhead

Apr 27 1 p.m. St. Scholastica (DH) Collegeville / Becker Park

Apr 27 3:30 p.m. St. Scholastica (DH) Collegeville / Becker Park

Apr 29 2:30 p.m. Crown Collegeville / Becker Park

May 1 2:30 p.m. at Macalester (DH) St. Paul

May 1 5 p.m. at Macalester (DH) St. Paul

May 4 1 p.m. St. Olaf (Senior Day) (DH) Collegeville / Becker Park

May 4 3:30 p.m. St. Olaf (Senior Day) (DH) Collegeville / Becker Park

*Visit gojohnnies.com for the most up to date schedule.

Joe Becker

Connor Hartley

Owen Dauk

Jack Schleper

GARY ’S OPENED IN 1982.

In 1982, the Johnnies went 9-0 in the regular season and have had a winning record ever since.

Coincidence? We think NOT!

Baseball Coaching Staff

JERRY HAUGEN HEAD COACH

Haugen is in his 47th season as the Johnnies’ baseball head coach and has a 935-704-5 (.570) career record, which places him in the top 15 on the NCAA Division III winningest active coaches win list. Haugen has coached 123 All-MIAC performers. In 1993, team MVP Jon Dold become the first SJU player in over 30 years to be drafted at the professional level. More recently, former SJU pitcher Joey Stock ‘20 signed with the Boston Red Sox in 2020 and outfielder Wyatt Ulrich ‘20 signed with the San Diego Padres in 2022. Haugen is currently the dean of MIAC coaches with 45 seasons of conference play under his belt. He reached 900 career wins with a win over Hamline in April of 2022.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

• Haugen has coached 129 All-MIAC performers

• Guided the Johnnies to a conference championship season in 1994, 1998 and 2018

• Appeared in 15 MIAC tournaments since 2003

• MIAC tournament champions 2012, 2015, 1016, and 2019

• Eight-time national tournament participant

• Pitcher Joey Stock ‘20 signed with the Boston Red Sox in 2020

• Outfielder Wyatt Ulrich ‘20 signed with the San Diego Padres in 2022

JASON SPOHN ASSISTANT COACH/ RECRUITING COORDINATOR

Spohn is in his 22nd year of coaching at SJU. He is a 1997 graduate of St. Cloud State University. Prior to attending SCSU, Spohn played baseball at Ridgewater and Itasca community colleges. Prior to becoming full-time at Saint John’s, Spohn taught at the Sartell Middle School for 17 years.

JOSH BUNGUM ASSISTANT COACH

Bungum is in his eighth season as an assistant baseball coach for the Johnnies. A native of Paynesville, Bungum played baseball two years at Saint John’s. He graduated from SJU in 2016 and is also an assistant football coach for the Johnnies.

SCOTT LIESER ASSISTANT COACH

This is Lieser’s sixth season as an SJU assistant coach. A 2013 graduate of St. Cloud State University, Lieser recently completed his master’s degree and served as an assistant coach at Augsburg University from 2017-18. Lieser served as the activities director at Long PrairieGrey Eagle High School from 2019-21. Lieser is the Associate Director of Annual Giving in the Saint John’s Institutional Advancement office.

SCOTT BECKER ASSISTANT COACH BRIAN HANSEN ASSISTANT COACH

NEW CLUBHOUSE AT BECKER PARK

Jordan Amundson didn’t want to miss this.

The Saint John’s University senior outfielder decided, at least in part, to return for a fifth season because of the baseball program’s spacious new state-ofthe-art clubhouse.

The facility – located on-site at Becker Park - features 51 lockers (plus six in the coaches’ area), showers and bathrooms, a satellite training room, a laundry room, a meeting room, a coaches’ office and a rooftop deck that can be used for viewing baseball games, as well as for tailgating prior to football games in the fall.

“My mouth dropped right away,” said Amundson, an All-MIAC pick in 2022 who started 37 games a year ago and batted .278 with 37 hits (including eight doubles) and 33 RBI. “It’s awesome. I’m starstruck. I can’t explain how cool this is.

“This was one of the main reasons I came back. Now seeing it in person, I can’t believe it actually looks like this and how special it is that we get to use it.”

SJU head coach Jerry Haugen said discussions about a clubhouse began around the time plans for the construction of Becker Park – which opened in 2013 –were being drawn up.

athletes. Our alums are the ones who made this happen.”

Indeed, the project was made possible thanks to donations from Johnnie baseball alumni, parents and friends.

Leading that effort was the Becker family. Scott Becker ’77 was a teammate of Haugen’s in both football and baseball at SJU and is now in his eighth season as a volunteer assistant on the baseball coaching staff. In addition, he is a founder of Northstar Capital, a leading private equity firm based in Minneapolis. Becker, his wife Julie and their family also

Work on the building is now complete and Johnnie players got to step inside for the first time following practice on Feb. 19.

“We’ve never had our own place before,” said Haugen, who is now in his 47th season as the Johnnies head coach.

“This was one of the main reasons I came back. Now seeing it in person, I can’t believe it actually looks like this and how special it is that we get to use it.”

Amundson – an Eden Prairie High School graduate who was able to return because of the extra year of eligibility the NCAA granted all student-athletes as a result of the impact of COVID-19 – said it didn’t disappoint.

“So getting (a facility) like this means a lot. It shows that the people who have played baseball at Saint John’s, or have just gone to school here, care about providing an amazing experience for our student-

provided the exceptional leadership gift that made Becker Park – which features a modern turf field, spacious grandstands and press box and a surrounding plaza area – possible.

“A lot of donors stepped up, but Scott was

“I’m speechless... This is actually the most impressive locker room I’ve ever seen.”

out front,” Haugen said. “Not only did he contribute, but he secured the involvement of other people who stepped on board and helped get this project finished.”

And for that, Johnnie players are most grateful.

“I’m speechless,” said senior third baseman Joe Becker (no relation to Scott, though

he was recruited by him), an All-MIAC selection in 2023. “This is actually the most impressive locker room I’ve ever seen.”

“I’ve been in a couple of (Division) I facilities and I’ve seen their locker rooms. This compares right to (those).”

“This is unbelievable,” added senior

infielder Owen Dauk, who scored 45 runs, had 35 hits and recorded 23 RBI a year ago. “We’ve been talking about having a locker room here at Saint John’s for years. It’s finally happened and it’s unbelievable. “It’s better than anyone could have imagined.”

JOHNNIE BASEBALL

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A state-of-the-art baseball paradise smack dab in the woods of Central Minnesota.

That aptly describes Becker Park and Lynch Plaza - the home base for the Saint John’s University baseball team. Construction of the on-campus facility began in 2013 and was concluded in 2016 as a part of the Forward Ever Forward campaign.

Haugen Field - named for longtime head coach Jerry Haugen - includes stateof-the-art features such as an artificial SprinTurf surface to allow teams to play in wet conditions, spacious dugout,

bullpens and batting cages - as well as stadium lights for late games.

The 500-seat grandstand and press box also has standing room for an additional 200 fans, while Lynch Plaza includes spaces for concessions, ticketing and restrooms.

The park and grandstand were named in honor of Scott Becker ‘77 and his family. Scott was a student-athlete during his time at SJU and an advocate for the building of the new facilities. The plaza was named for Pat Lynch ‘88, who is a loyal fan of SJU athletics and an active alumnus, in addition to funding an

The facility has only been enhanced by the addition of a spacious, modern clubhouse which opened this spring.

It features 51 lockers (plus six in the coaches’ area), showers and bathrooms, a satellite training room, a laundry room, a meeting room, a coaches’ office and a rooftop deck that can be used for viewing baseball games, as well as for tailgating prior to football games in the fall.

endowed scholarship in memory of his uncle William Drahota.

JOHNNIE BASEBALL

1 Kade Bowar

Jr. | P | R/R | 6-3 | 175

Burnsville, Minn./Burnsville

10 Will Fazio

Jr. | P | R/L | 6-1 | 200

Minneapolis, Minn./Blake

22 Jack Dobesh

So. | OF | R/R | 6-0 | 195 Edina, Minn./Edina

2 Jackson Peter

Jr. | INF | R/R | 6-2 | 185

Elrosa, Minn./BelgradeBrooten-Elrosa

3 Ryan Janzen

Jr. | INF | L/R | 5-8 | 155

St. Cloud, Minn./Cathedral

11 Jack Schleper

Sr. | OF | L/R | 6-0 | 175

Shakopee, Minn./Shakopee

23 Josh Delange

So. | OF | R/R | 6-4 | 205 Hamel, Minn./Orono

4 Jordan Amundson

Sr. | OF | L/L | 5-11 | 200

Eden Prairie, Minn./Eden Prairie

12 Tien Foudray

Jr. | P | R/R | 5-11 | 180

Excelsior, Minn./Holy Family Catholic

13 Owen Amrhein

So. | OF | R/R | 5-11 | 180

Waconia, Minn./Waconia

24 Connor Hartley

Jr. | P | R/R | 6-1 | 195

Inver Grove Heights, Minn./ Rosemount

25 Brady Drkula

Fr. | P | R/R | 6-0 | 195

Cottage Grove, Minn./Park

5 Owen Dauk

Sr. | INF | L/R | 6-0 | 175 Apple Valley, Minn./Eastview

14 Jeremy Klick

Sr. | P | R/R | 6-3 | 195

Maple Grove, Minn./Maple Grove

26 Andrew Mahlke

Sr. | 1B | R/R | 6-2 | 210

Victoria, Minn./Chanhassen

6 Quinn Krueger

Sr. | P | R/R | 5-10 | 185

Woodbury, Minn./Woodbury

15 Blake Mellgren

Jr. | C | R/R | 5-10 | 195

Northfield, Minn./Northfield

27 Owen Best

Sr. | 1B/C | L/R | 5-11 | 215

Aurora, Colo./Regis Jesuit

7 Alex Gwost

Sr. | P | R/R | 6-4 | 195

Little Falls, Minn./Little Falls

16 Joe Becker

Sr. | INF | R/R | 5-11 | 195 New Prague, Minn./New Prague

28 Alex Broholm

Jr. | OF | R/R | 5-11 | 190

Shakopee, Minn./Shakopee

8 Wyatt Rudolf

Sr. | P | R/R | 5-10 | 170

Carver, Minn./Chanhassen

17 Hunter Hoen

Fr. | P | R/R | 5-11 | 195 Belle Plaine, Minn./Belle Plaine

29 Jake Slipka

So. | OF | L/L | 6-0 | 185

St. Paul, Minn./Centennial

9 Reed Marquardt

So. | INF | L/R | 6-0 | 180

Lindstrom, Minn./Chisago Lakes

19 P.J. Johnson

Fr. | C/P | R/R | 6-0 | 190 Glenwood, Minn./Minnewaska Area

20 Jackson Geislinger

So. | INF | L/R | 6-0 | 165 Grove City, Minn./Eden ValleyWatkins

30 Sam Koppi

So. | OF | L/R | 6-1 | 200

Waconia, Minn./Waconia

31 Riley Schwellenbach

Fr. | OF | R/R | 5-9 | 160

Woodbury, Minn./East Ridge

JOHNNIE BASEBALL

32 Kody Dalen

Sr. | P | R/R | 6-3 | 210

Carver, Minn./Chanhassen

41 Noah Jensen

So. | P | L/L | 5-11 | 205

St. Cloud, Minn./Sauk RapidsRice

33 Collin Kray

So. | 1B | R/R | 6-2 | 200

Little Falls, Minn./Little Falls

42 Will Wareham

Fr. | C | R/R | 5-11 | 195 Lakeville, Minn./North

34 Justin Brooks

Fr. | INF | R/R | 6-0 | 175

Champlin, Minn./Champlin Park

43 Nick Bushlack

Fr. | INF | R/R | 5-11 | 165

Wells, Minn./United South Central

35 Tanner Hoemann

Fr. | INF | R/R | 6-0 | 195

Shoreview, Minn./Mounds View

44 Nate Bodine

Fr. | OF | R/R | 6-0 | 160

Savage, Minn./Prior Lake

50 Spencer Mellgren

Fr. | INF | R/R | 5-7 | 135 Northfield, Minn./Northfield

36 Vinny Schleper

So. | P | R/R | 6-3 | 195 Shakopee, Minn./Shakopee

45 Tommy Gohman

Fr. | P | R/R | 6-4 | 200

St. Cloud, Minn./Cathedral

51 Wyatt McCabe

Fr. | INF | R/R | 5-10 | 180

Mayer, Minn./Watertown-Mayer

37 Zach Helfmann

Fr. | C/1B | R/R | 6-3 | 230

St. Louis Park, Minn./St. Louis Park

38 Easton Fleck

So. | P | L/L | 6-3 | 180 Waconia, Minn./Waconia

46 Carter Theisen

Fr. | P | R/R | 6-5 | 225 Rosemount, Minn./Rosemount

52 Sander Lien

So. | INF | R/R | 6-2 | 195

St. Paul, Minn./Roseville Area

47 Sam Garry

Fr. | C | R/R | 6-0 | 185

Mahtomedi, Minn./Mahtomedi

53 Josh Black

So. | P | R/L | 6-0 | 195

Eagan, Minn./Cretin-Derham Hall

39 Griffin Larson

Sr. | P | R/R | 6-0 | 210 Edina, Minn./Edina

48 Rodney Erickson

Sr. | OF | R/R | 6-0195

St. Paul, Minn./Woodbury

54 Parker Meyers

Fr. | INF | R/R | 6-0 | 185 Blue Earth, Minn./Blue Earth Area

40 Brendan Hemr

So. | OF | R/R | 6-0 | 170 Blaine, Minn./Centennial

49 Matthew Magnuson

Fr. | INF | R/R | 6-0 | 195 Chanhassen, Minn./Chaska

55 Devin Orbeck

Fr. | P | R/R | 6-3 | 210

Paynesville, Minn./Melrose Area

56 Jeff Solorz

Fr. | C | R/R | 5-9 | 215

Sauk Rapids, Minn./Sauk Rapids-Rice

COACHING RESULTS

YEAR-BY-YEAR

RS = MIAC Regular-Season Champions

PO = MIAC Playoff Champions

NCAA = NCAA Tournament

Coach Unknown

Year Overall

1907 1-2

Frank Cassidy

2 seasons | 1908-09 | 5-4 (.555)

Year Overall

1908 5-2

1909 0-2

Edward Flynn

11 seasons | 1910-20 35-34-1 (.507)

Year Overall MDIC* Notes

1910 2-4

1911 2-3

1912 2-3

1913 3-3

1914 2-3

1915 2-4

1916 5-3

1917 3-1

1918 4-3-1

1919 8-2 5-1 RS

1920 2-5 1-4

Edward Cahill

2 seasons | 1921-22 5-10 (.333)

Year Overall MIAC Notes

1921 3-6 1-5

1922 2-4 2-4

Fred Sanborn

2 seasons | 1923-24 | 3-8 (.272)

Year Overall MIAC Notes

1923 2-4 1-4

1924 1-4 0-3

Eugene “Gene” Aldrich

1 season | 1925 | 2-4 (.333)

Year Overall MIAC Notes

1925 2-4 0-4

Wilfred “Bill” Houle

5 seasons | 1926-30 | 18-25 (.418)

Year Overall MIAC Notes

1926 4-5 3-4

1927 4-2 2-2

1928 3-5 3-5

1929 4-5 3-4

1930 3-8 0-5

Herman Linnemann

1 season | 1931 | 4-4 (.500)

Year Overall MIAC Notes

1931 4-4 0-0

Fr. Dunstan Tucker, OSB

18 seasons | 1932, 1934-37, 1939-44, 1947-50, 1968-71 160-82 (.661)

Year Overall MIAC Notes

1932 4-4 2-2

George Durenberger

1 season | 1933 | 5-4 (.555)

Year Overall MIAC Notes

1933 5-4 1-3

Fr. Dunstan Tucker, OSB 18 seasons | 1932, 1934-37, 1939-44, 1947-50, 1968-71 160-82 (.661)

Year Overall MIAC Notes

1934 7-5 2-3

1935 10-3 4-2

1936 14-3 8-1 RS

1937 14-2 9-1 RS

Linus “Skeets” Ebnet

1 season | 1938 | 8-3 (.727)

Year Overall MIAC Notes

1938 8-3 6-2

Fr. Dunstan Tucker, OSB 18 seasons | 1932, 1934-37, 1939-44, 1947-50, 1968-71 160-82 (.661)

Year Overall MIAC Notes

1939 9-5 6-4

1940 7-5 4-4

1941 7-3 7-3

1942 11-0 9-0 RS

1943 3-2 3-2

Joe Benda

1 season | 1945 | 2-4 (.333)

Year Overall MIAC Notes

1945 2-4 2-4

Henry “Bruts” Welsch

1 season | 1946 | 7-4 (.636)

Year Overall MIAC Notes

1946 7-4 5-4

Fr. Dunstan Tucker, OSB

18 seasons | 1932, 1934-37, 1939-44, 1947-50, 1968-71 160-82 (.661)

Year Overall MIAC Notes

1947 10-3 8-2

1948 9-4 6-4

1949 10-5 7-4

1950 9-4 7-4

John “Buster” Hiller 3 seasons | 1951-53 33-9 (.785)

Year Overall MIAC Notes

1951 13-3 10-2

1952 12-2 9-1 RS

1953 8-4 8-4

William “Bill” Osborne

6 seasons | 1954-59 66-30-1 (.685)

Year Overall MIAC Notes

1954 13-4 10-3 RS

1955 11-4-1 10-2 RS

1956 9-7 8-4

1957 14-2 11-2 RS

1958 11-5 9-3 RS

1959 8-8 6-6

Dr. Ross Horning

1 season | 1960 | 6-5 (.545)

Year Overall MIAC Notes

1960 6-5 6-4

Edward Hasbrouck

4 seasons | 1961-64 21-31 (.403)

Year Overall MIAC Notes

1961 9-5 5-5

1962 4-8 2-5

1963 1-10 1-10

1964 7-8 5-5

Elmer Kohorst

6 seasons | 1965-67, 1972-74 53-47 (.530)

Year Overall MIAC Notes

1965 5-8

1966 9-4 7-4

1967 8-7 6-6

Fr. Dunstan Tucker, OSB 18 seasons | 1932, 1934-37, 1939-44, 1947-50, 1968-71 160-82 (.661)

Year Overall MIAC Notes

1968 10-6 8-4

1969 13-4 11-3 RS

1970 9-7 8-6

1971 4-13 3-11

Elmer Kohorst

6 seasons | 1965-67, 1972-74 53-47 (.530)

Year Overall MIAC Notes

1972 6-8 6-8

1973 10-13 7-9

1974 15-7 14-2 RS, NAIA

Gary Marlow

1 season | 1975 | 5-10 (.333)

Year Overall MIAC Notes

1975 5-10 5-10

Dennis Lorsung

2 seasons | 1976-77 25-16 (.609)

Year Overall MIAC Notes

1976 12-10 11-7

1977 13-6 11-2 RS

Jerry Haugen

46 seasons | 1978-Present 935-704-5 (.570)

Year Overall MIAC Notes

1978 12-12 10-8

1979 9-8-1

1980 7-11

1981 5-13

1982 9-9

1983 5-9

1984 6-12

1985 8-12

1986 8-8

1987 11-9

1988 13-7

1989 13-6

1990 18-16 12-8

1991 20-18 12-8

1992 19-18 9-11

1993 24-9 15-5

1994 29-8 17-3 RS, NCAA

1995 23-15 12-8

1996 19-18 10-10

1997 20-16-1 11-9

1998 24-13 15-5 RS, NCAA

1999 20-16 11-9

2000 19-17 11-9

2001 8-21 6-14

2002 16-19 10-10

2003 23-15 12-8

2004 18-18 11-9

2005 17-17 10-10

2006 16-18-1 8-12

2007 23-16 15-5

2008 16-17 10-10

2009 12-20 7-13

2010 21-18 14-6

2011 19-14 13-7

2012 29-16 14-6 PO, NCAA

2013 18-16 9-9

2014 21-10 13-7

2015 26-16 12-6 PO, NCAA

2016 32-14 13-7 PO, NCAA

2017 25-13 14-6

2018 33-8 16-4 RS

2019 32-14 13-7 PO, NCAA

2020 7-1

2021 29-12 16-9

2022 24-17 15-5

2023 23-16 14-6

PROUD SPONSOR AND CONTRACTOR FOR JOHNNIE ATHLETICS

AWARDS & RECOGNITION

ABCA/RAWLINGS

GOLD GLOVE (NATIONAL)

2016 Alex Kendall

2022 Ethan Roe

ABCA/RAWLINGS

GOLD GLOVE (MIDWEST)

2007 Casey Haugen

ACADEMIC ALL-AMERICANS

1993 Jon Dold first team

1996 Chris Palmer first team

1999 Brent Schloe first team

2000 Brent Schloe first team

2005 Chris Bell second team

2014 Brett Becker third team

2015 Brett Becker second team

Logan Hershey second team

2016 Logan Hershey first team

ACADEMIC ALL-DISTRICT V

1993 Jon Dold

1996 Steve Bruce

1996 Chris Palmer

1997 Ryan Roder

1999 Brent Schloe

2000 Brent Schloe

2003 Dusty Upgren

2005 Chris Bell

2008 John Heinbigner

2011 Matt Boys

Brett Kramer

2014 Brett Becker

Dylan Graves

Joe Lampe

2015 Brett Becker Logan Hershey

2016 Logan Hershey

2017 Brennan Swan

2018 Thomas Meland

Brennan Swan

Jeron Terres

2019 Jack Schramel

2023 Owen Dauk

Rodney Erickson

Jack Haring

Luke McElroy

Casey Trapp

NATIONAL TEAM RECORDS DOUBLE PLAYS PER GAME

2.18 Saint John’s 1995 83 double plays in 38 games

NATIONAL INDIVIDUAL RECORDS

CAREER BATTING AVERAGE

.489 Ryan Roder 1996-97

BATTING CHAMPION

.562 Jon Dold 1993

fifth highest single-season batting average in NCAA Div. III history

.540 Ryan Roder 1997

11th highest single-season batting average in NCAA Div. III history

.500 Wyatt Ulrich 2017

ALL-AMERICANS

1997 Ryan Roder first team

2007 Jay Kasner third team

2012 Joey Long second team

2014 Justin Thompson third team

2017 Wyatt Ulrich third team

2021 Max Nyrop first team

ALL-MIDWEST REGION

1993 Jon Dold

1994 Dave Furcht

Chris Wanner

1995 Jeremy Loretz

1997 Ryan Roder

1998 Tony Giuliani

Matt Ode

Andy Schneider

Joel Swenson

1999 Tony Giuliani

Chad Krueger

Brent Schloe

Joel Swenson

2000 Brent Schloe

2002 Jed Riegelman

2003 Cole Deibele

Matt Pilon

Jed Riegelman

2004 Cole Deibele

Jed Riegelman

2005 Chris Bell

Jay Kasner

2007 Casey Haugen

Jay Kasner

T.J. Nelson

2008 John Heinbigner

2010 Kyle Henkemeyer

Hayden Zimmerman

2011 Matt Butorac

Brett Kramer

2012 Connor Cline

Dylan Graves

Joey Long

Ryan Spengler

Hayden Zimmerman

2013 Connor Cline

Ryan Spengler

2014 Brett Becker

Joe Lampe

Justin Thompson

2015 Brett Becker

Logan Hershey

Kurt Jantscher

Gabe MacDonald

Aaron Pfaff

Derek Schiebel

2016 Logan Hershey

Alex Kendall

Nick Noack

Derek Schiebel

Patrick Strey

Cole Weaver

2017 Jake Dickmeyer

Ben Etzell

Wyatt Ulrich

2018 Jake Dickmeyer

Max Jackson

Brennan Swan

Jeron Terres

Bennett Wiggins

2019 Jake Dickmeyer

Joey Stock

2021 Max Nyrop

Ethan Roe

2022 Ethan Roe

2023 Jack Haring

Max Nyrop

Jay Kasner

Jed Riegelman

Justin Thompson

Chris Bell

Be a Bennie Be a Johnnie

RECORDS

INDIVIDUAL BATTING-SEASON

Most Hits

70 Logan Hershey 2016

Aaron Pfaff 2015

Most Runs

45 Owen Dauk 2023

Most RBI

52 Ryan Roder 1997

Most Home Runs

13 Ethan Roe 2021

Most Triples

7 Derek Schiebel 2016

Most Doubles

22 Patrick Strey 2016

Best Batting Average

.562 Jon Dold 1993

Best Slugging Pct

.952 Ryan Roder 1997

Stolen Bases

25 Ryan Lieser 2006

Most Walks

34 Casey Haugen 2006

Most Hit-by-Pitch

20 Owen Dauk 2021

INDIVIDUAL PITCHING-SEASON

* (min. 40 innings)

Most Wins

9 Greg Meyer 1993

Dave Furcht 1994

Lowest ERA

1.08 Randy Sieve 1977

Most Strikeouts

73 Casey Trapp 2022

Least Walks

0 Jake Dickmeyer 2017

Least Hits

30 Andy Auger 1993

Least Runs

10 Jake Dickmeyer 2018

Least Earned Runs

9 Nick Noack 2016

Best Winning Percentage

1.000 Dave Furcht 1994

Eric Chandler 1993

Ed Claussen 1942

Chuck Viskocil 1974

Most Saves

10 Justin Thompson 2014

Joey Long 2012

Most Strikeouts in a Game

20 Vedie Himsl 1937

TEAM RECORDS

Most Runs Scored

325 2016

Best Team Batting Average

.357 1993, 1994

Most Doubles

94 2016

Most Triples

20 2016

Most Home Runs

51 2022

Most Walks

199 2019

Most Stolen Bases

90 1994

Most Runs Allowed

234 2009

Most Hits

518 2016

Least Hits Allowed

99 1975

Most Consecutive Wins

15 2021

Most Runs-Game

27 1955 27-8 vs. Augsburg

Most Runs-Game (Both Teams)

36 1939 22-14 vs. SCSU

Best Winning Percentage 1.000 1942

Most Wins

33 2018

Joey Long

Derek Schiebel

Owen Dauk

Patrick Strey

Senior Spotlight

Owen Best

First base/catcher, Regis Jesuit (Colo.) High School

What is your favorite spot on campus and why?

The baseball field and now the clubhouse. We are spoiled and blessed to have the athletic facilities that we have and they’re great spots to go - even just to hang out.

What are your post-graduation plans?

I plan on moving back to Colorado and working for an organization called Gameday, which is a baseball program. I will start on the softball portion of things with this organization.

Kody Dalen

Pitcher, Chanhassen High School

What has been the most memorable part of your time at SJU – in baseball or on campus?

I have to say just playing the game that I love next to my best friends.

What is something about you not everyone would know?

I joined our high school bowling team my senior year and won the conferencebringing the team to state.

Alex Gwost

Pitcher, Little Falls High School

What made you decide to attend SJU?

I decided to attend SJU for multiple reasons. It’s fairly close to home, it has a good community feel and it also has the program I wanted to get into (exercise and health science major).

What are your post-graduation plans?

I’ll be attending chiropractic school at Northwestern Health Sciences University.

Jordan Amundson

Outfield, Eden Prairie High School

What is your favorite spot on campus and why?

Going down to the baseball field. It’s a place where I can clear my mind.

What are some of your hobbies away from baseball?

I like to play Call of Duty and explore nature.

Rodney Erickson

Outfield, Woodbury High School

What made you decide to attend SJU?

I chose to attend SJU because my (older) sister went to CSB. Attending Little Sibs Weekend showed me how great the two campuses are.

What is something about you not everyone would know?

I coded - from scratch - the new website for the The Record, the CSB/SJU student newspaper.

Joe Becker

Infield, New Prague High School

What has been the most memorable part of your time at SJU – in baseball or on campus?

This is a tough question, but if I had to choose, I’d say baseball. I’ve spent a lot of my time on campus making connections and hanging out with friends outside of baseball, but playing baseball at SJU created so many lifelong experiences. What is something about you not everyone would know?

I make a big breakfast every day that consists of about 1,000 calories.

Andrew Mahlke

First base, Chanhassen High School

What are your post-graduation plans? I start a job at C.H. Robinson in Eden Prairie in June.

What is something about you not everyone would know?

I have two dogs named Harper and Louie and they are hilarious.

Senior Spotlight

Owen Dauk

Infield, Eastview High School

What is your favorite spot on campus and why?

My favorite spot on campus is Metten Court, where I lived junior year. It was my favorite spot because of all the memories I made there.

What do you consider your greatest talent?

My greatest talent is being able to fall asleep anywhere.

Jack Schleper

Outfield, Shakopee High School

What made you decide to attend SJU?

SJU has always been a second home. I’ve had many family members attend school and play baseball here. I enjoyed the community feel on campus, the network of Bennies and Johnnies after graduation and the chance to play baseball in the best facilities in the Midwest.

What are your post-graduation plans? I’m taking a trip to Europe for a month with two of my close buddies after graduation. When we return, I’ll start a full-time job as an accountant at UnitedHealth Group in Minnetonka.

Griffin Larson

Pitcher, Edina High School

What are some of your hobbies away from baseball?

Being outside, spending time with friends, cooking and having fun.

What do you consider your greatest talent?

Dancing in St. Joe.

Jeremy Klick

Pitcher, Maple Grove High School

What is your favorite spot on campus and why?

I enjoy going to the new clubhouse because it’s a place where my teammates and I can hang out inside and outside of baseball.

What is something about you not everyone would know?

I recently found out I’ve needed contacts for 20 years.

Wyatt Rudolph

Pitcher, Chanhassen High School

What has been the most memorable part of your time at SJU – in baseball or on campus?

The most memorable part of my time at SJU has definitely been baseball season. Getting to hang out with my friends every day on the baseball field is my ideal way to spend time.

What is your favorite song/musical artist?

My two favorite songs are “Hooked On a Feeling” by Blue Swede and “Mr. Blue Sky” by ELO.

Quinn Krueger

Pitcher, Woodbury High School

What has been the most memorable part of your time at SJU – in baseball or on campus?

The most memorable part of my time at SJU was a two-week trip to Vietnam with the Entrepreneur Scholars 19th Cohort. This is a program dedicated to students starting their own business ventures, meeting with other business owners nationally and internationally and receiving tremendous mentorship.

What is something about you not everyone would know?

One of my greatest talents is the ability to speak the Chinese language. I have taken six years of Chinese in school and would be able to survive in China with what I have learned.

STUDENT SCHOLARSHIPS

Presented by Institutional Advancement Scholarships Provide Opportunities for Miller in Saint John’s Athletics

Graham Miller ’25 has embraced his passion for sports photography during his time at Saint John’s University in ways he feels wouldn’t have been possible otherwise.

As a freshman, the communication major and art minor from Victoria, Minnesota worked in the athletic media relations office at the College of Saint Benedict, and last year he worked as a photographer for Saint John’s athletic media relations director Ryan Klinkner ’04.

“I get the chance to see the action from the sidelines and capture moments most fans don’t get to see,” Miller said. “I love my job and I take my position seriously. I’m getting the chance to explore what I want to do.

“It can be hard getting access to sporting events at bigger schools, or to find a student job on campus that would allow me to do this. I was fortunate when I came to Saint John’s that I was able to find people right away who supported me and wanted to have me on the team creating images for them.”

Miller, the youngest of four siblings, said coming to Saint John’s wouldn’t

have happened if not for scholarships. He receives the Stephen Slaggie Scholarship, the Abbott Baldwin Dworschak Scholarship, the Cyril Pesek Scholarship, the Tse You Kai Scholarship, an academic achievement scholarship, an art scholarship and an alum referral scholarship.

“Scholarships have been a really big help for me,” Miller said. “If it wasn’t for them I wouldn’t have been able to attend Saint John’s. I’m very grateful for the opportunity to receive a great, wellrounded education.”

Klinkner said Miller is a pleasure to work with and his skillset is rare to find in an underclassman.

“Graham has been impressive since day one, both in his abilities as a photographer and his professionalism,” Klinkner said. “Athletic photography typically demands a long learning process, but that was not the case with Graham. I am excited for Graham’s future and to see how he will continue to enhance Johnnie athletics over the next two years.”

Miller also took advantage of the Student Exploration through Alum Mentoring (SEAM) program where students are matched with alum mentors for informational interviews, networking

conversations and an in-person or virtual site visit. It allows student participants to both network and explore the value of their liberal arts degree when it comes to future careers.

Miller was paired with James Slagle ‘09, the director of enterprise accounts at Shift4, a financial services company. Slagle has experience in sports marketing in the athletic departments at the University of Florida, the University of Minnesota and the University of Southern California.

“It’s great to have the chance to connect with an alum and learn from them,” Miller said. “They share their experience and stories about their career and you pick up skills you might not get in other places.”

Miller hopes to work in the work in the sports digital media industry after graduation.

He is so grateful to the donors who have helped make it possible for him to chase that dream.

“I still remember how it felt receiving my acceptance letter in the mail. I knew at that moment that this was the right place for me, and that feeling hasn’t changed. It’s amazing to know there are so many people out there who care about making this possible. The Johnnie and Bennie network is really something remarkable.”

Photos courtesy of Graham Miller

IN THE HALL OF HONOR

He signed with the team, making the decision to forego his senior season at SJU, and spent the summer of 1993 in rookie ball with the Princeton (West Virginia) Reds of the Appalachian League. He recorded 31 hits, including six doubles, and 21 RBI.

Dold then went to spring training with the Reds in 1994, but chose to sign with the Minneapolis Loons of the independent North Central League instead of returning to rookie ball. He played for the Loons one season before bringing his professional career to a close.

But he went on to a stellar 17-year career at the amateur baseball level.

But his career was halted by military service in the Navy during World War II and he never reached the big leagues – at least not as a player. He spent the 1950s as a minor league coach and scout in the Chicago Cubs organization. He was promoted to the parent club in 1960, serving as a coach the next four seasons. That’s how he came to play a key part in one of the more unique experiments in Major League Baseball history.

His .596 average in conference play remains an MIAC record.

Dold actually played both basketball and baseball for the Johnnies for three seasons. He got some playing time on the court, but it was on the diamond where he truly made his mark. After being named the Johnnies’ junior varsity MVP as a freshman in 1991, he won a varsity starting job and went on to earn All-MIAC honors as a sophomore.

That set the stage for his record-breaking performance in 1993.

“He could have hit around .650 that year the way he was hitting the ball,” SJU head coach Jerry Haugen said. “Even with all the hits he had, there were so many more hardhit balls that ended up getting caught. “He hit one of the longest home runs I can remember from one of our guys. I think it was around 493 feet. It ended up landing in a mucky puddle about 106 feet beyond the fence in left centerfield at our old baseball park.”

Dold had already generated some attention from pro scouts. But his performance in 1993 helped persuade the Cincinnati Reds to select him in the 40th round of that year’s MLB Draft – making him the first Johnnie to be drafted at the MLB level.

Vedie Himsl ’38 Inducted 2021

Vedie (real name Avitus) Himsl first made a name for himself playing for the local town team in Plevna, Montana, as well as in high school athletics where he was a four-year letterwinner in football and basketball – leading the basketball team to 23 consecutive home victories beginning in 1931.

That was just a prelude, though, to what he would achieve during his time at SJU. After arriving on campus in the fall of 1934, Himsl went on to star in basketball and baseball – earning All-MIAC honors and serving as team captain in both sports.

It was on the diamond where he really excelled, leading the Johnnies to back-toback MIAC titles in 1936 and ‘37 (he did not play as a senior in 1938 after signing a pro contract).

As a junior, he batted over .500 and dominated on the mound, striking out 20 batters and allowing just four hits in nine innings of work in a 12-0 victory over Augsburg in Collegeville – still a singlegame school strikeout record.

After graduation, he signed with the Cleveland Indians organization and was playing for the St. Paul Saints of the American Association. He spent four seasons with the Saints (1939-42) and compiled a 51-52 pitching record.

During the 1961 season, Cubs owner Phillip Wrigley elected to replace the role of a traditional manager with what became known as a “College of Coaches.” Under the system, a platoon of coaches alternated through the organization, including serving fixed time periods as “head coach” of the big league club. Himsl was first up in the rotation, going 5-6 over the Cubs’ first 11 games before departing to manage the Triple-A team in Wenatchee, Washington. He returned on May 12 and lasted another 18 games before ceding the reins again.

He continued on with the Cubs for more than two decades, retiring in 1985 as director of scouting. He continued to work for the organization off and on during the years that followed.

Jim Lehman ’56 Inducted 2021

Jim Lehman was a standout baseball player at SJU. But it was on the football field where he made his biggest impact. He was so important to the team, in fact, that legendary head coach John Gagliardi pointed to an injury he suffered in 1954 as a big part of why the coach developed his legendary list of No’s – especially no full contact in practice.

He was an All-American as both a junior and senior in 1954 and ‘55, and was

JOHNNIES IN THE HALL OF HONOR

named the 1955 MIAC MVP after scoring 16 touchdowns that season.

Perhaps his most impressive performance came in the season finale against Augustana (S.D.) in 1954 when he rushed for five touchdowns in a 39-7 Saint John’s victory.

Vic Moore ’72

Inducted 2021 (J-Club Distinguished Service Award)

When it came to delivering the sales pitch for Saint John’s University, Vic Moore could not have asked for more legendary persuasion.

Back in 1968, when the high school senior and standout athlete from Montgomery, Minnesota, was considering his college choices, he received a joint visit from SJU football coach John Gagliardi and basketball coach Jim Smith.

Five decades later, Moore - who went on to play football, basketball and baseball at SJU, would be on-hand again as the president of the SJU J-Club, helping enshrine both Gagliardi and Smith as the charter members of the J-Club’s Hall of Honor – a continuation of 50-plus years of commitment and service to the school’s athletic programs.

Jeff Norman ’78

Inducted 2021

Jeff Norman was a four-year starter in baseball who earned All-MIAC honors and boasted a .331 career batting average.

He hit .436 as a sophomore in 1976 and helped lead Saint John’s to an MIAC title as a junior in 1977.

Of course, he was also a standout on the football field who finished his career with a record of 25-3-2 as the Johnnies’ starting quarterback, earning All-MIAC honors twice and All-American distinction once. He led the team to the 1976 Division III national title, even kicking a 19-yard field goal as time expired to lift SJU to a 31-28 victory over Towson State (Maryland) in that season’s national championship game.

“I had been recruited by the University of Minnesota in both football and baseball, but the football coaches didn’t want their quarterbacks playing baseball because of spring practice,” Norman said. “I wanted to play both sports, so that ruled out the Gophers.

Chris Palmer ’96 Inducted 2023

Chris Palmer was an All-MIAC standout in baseball at SJU.

He was also one of the greatest wide receivers in school history, starting three seasons and earning All-American honors as a junior and senior.

During his senior season in 1995, he finished with 71 catches for 1,197 yards and 13 touchdowns – becoming the first SJU player to receive the Gagliardi Trophy honoring the most outstanding player each year at the NCAA Division III level.

The award was named after Palmer’s head coach, the legendary John Gagliardi, and was in just its third season of existence. But perhaps his most impressive achievements have come post-graduation. A biology major, he went on to attend medical school and has spent the past 21 years at North Memorial Health in the Twin Cities. There, he works for Emergency Physicians Professional Association as the emergency department medical director.

Fr. Dunstan Tucker ’25 Inducted 2023 (J-Club Distinguished Service Award)

Fr. Dunstan Tucker made history, both

as an athlete and as a longtime coach, faculty member and administrator at Saint John’s University.

He also lived history, serving his country as a Naval chaplain in the Pacific during World War II.

Then Tucker wrote history, chronicling the story of Johnnie athletics from the very beginning through the late 1970s in the definitive “Scoreboard: A History of Athletics at Saint John’s University,” which he co-wrote with fellow monk Martin Schirber and published in 1979.

He was baseball standout for the Johnnies, playing a key role on the SJU squads of 1921 and ‘22, even drawing a tryout offer from a pro scout.

“I told him I was flattered,” said Tucker in a Feb. 21, 1958 profile story in the Minneapolis Star. “But that I was going to study for the priesthood.”

Indeed, he entered the Saint John’s Benedictine community in 1923 and was ordained in 1929. In 1932, he became chair of the SJU English Department – a role he held through 1952 except when his military duties took him away from campus. He later served as the school’s academic dean from 1958-67.

He also became SJU’s head baseball coach in 1932, then after a one-year hiatus, took over again from 1934-37. He returned to the post from 1939-43 and 1947-50 before coming out of retirement for one last stint from 1968-71.

Along the way his teams won four conference championships – in 1936, ‘37, ‘42 and ‘69.

The star first baseman on Tucker’s early teams was Eugene McCarthy, who went on to serve as one of his assistant coaches before embarking on a political career that led to the U.S. Senate and multiple presidential runs.