New Ulm HALL OF FAME Member

Donald Brand

Non-Player (Media, Umpire)

Selected 1992

          The love affair between amateur baseball and Don Brand has been going for over 40 years and shows no signs of stopping.

          Brand contributed heavily to amateur ball in the New Ulm area as the sports writer and sports editor for the Journal. He was a writer from 1949 through 1959, and he then became the sports editor from 1959 through 1976.

          During those years time he worked hard to keep interest in local baseball alive by personally covering many games on the local league levels. From 1959 to 1976 he covered every state tournament.

          Another major contribution he made to baseball history was to continue the sports photo file while he was sports editor. During those years his diligence helped expand the unique library of sports pictures that still remains available to history.

          Brand also saw limited action as a player for the Millers and Brewers before he began to concentrate on umpiring, which he has done for over 25 years including six state tournaments. He also umpires Legion and High School baseball.

          Don played four years for Trinity High School and three seasons of American Legion ball. One of his biggest moments in amateur ball came in 1959. He was called up from the Millers to pitch for the Brewers' opening game because both regular pitchers (Ron Hauer and Glen Stabelfeld) were unavailable.