New Ulm HALL OF FAME Member

Karl Preuss

Outfielder

Selected 1994

Lifetime Baseball Batting Stats Page

Lifetime Baseball Pitching Stats Page

           Eight seasons of excellence and dedication to the program added Karl Preuss to the New Ulm Amateur Baseball Hall of Fame.

          A career batting average of .332 and a season record for stolen bases added to his credentials.

          Karl began his career with the old Millers in 1959 and played through 1966, mostly as an excellent centerfielder with great speed and range. He was a model of consistency and a 100% effort player.

          He stole 23 bases for the 1961 Brewers, one of the all-time records, stealing five bases in a July 6 game with Sleepy Eye. He had two or more hits in half of the games he played for the 1960 Millers, when he batted .429. He played with three Tomahawk season and playoff champions.

          Preuss played three years with both the New Ulm High school and Legion teams. He batted .565 for the 1960 Legion, for whom he had a career average of .421. Only 17 players have had a higher career average than Karl.

          "Al lot of people gave a lot to make (amateur) baseball what it was back then," he said. "People gave of themselves and gave their time and that I think is what really sets it apart because you just don't put a team on the field. You have to have the organization behind it."

          A class act on the field, Preuss also displayed class off the field in his comments on his induction.

          "I was very honored when I received the letter," he said. "And the more I thought about it and looked at the other people on the list, it's even a greater honor. I'm deeply honored, very surprised and touched. It was a great surprise," he commented.