New Ulm HALL OF FAME Member

Joseph (Joe) Keckeisen

Non-Player (Board Member)

Selected 1997

            One of New Ulm’s best baseball boosters was the late Joe Keckeisen, who served on the board of the New Ulm Baseball Association (NUBA) for nine years. In five of those years he was an officer.

            Joe was one of the very few individuals who were involved in New Ulm baseball throughout all the different amateur classes, as he served at a time when the city went from having lofty double A teams down to struggling and strictly hometown amateur teams.

            Keckeisen joined the baseball board in 1956 when the Brewers were in the AA Western Minnesota League, the last league in Minnesota to field modified double A teams. He was president of NUBA from 1958 through 1959, and he later served three more years as secretary from 1961 to 1963.

            Joe was an officer of the Minnesota River League for several years and was noted for his unyielding support of local players. He was particularly passionate in defense of the players at the state board level, where he represented either New Ulm or the Minnesota River League, in which he served as secretary and vice president.

            Keckeisen also chaired a committee for the 1958 state tournament when it was held in New Ulm and was involved in other community activities.