New Ulm HALL OF FAME Member

Terry Steinbach

Catcher

Selected 1994

Lifetime Baseball Batting Stats Page

Lifetime Baseball Pitching Stats Page

          The Most Valuable Player of the state Legion tournament while playing for the championship team. The MVP of the state amateur tournament also with the championship team. A home run in his first major league at bat. The MVP of the major league all-star game after homering in his first appearance.

          What else can be added to the accomplishments of Terry Steinbach, one of the 1994 New Ulm Amateur Baseball Hall of Fame candidates?

          Yet, there are some added accolades that need to be mentioned for Steinbach, a catcher who played for both the Oakland A's and the Minnesota Twins of major league baseball's American League.

          His .433 career batting average in New Ulm baseball is second best of all players during the first 50 years of recorded stats. Likewise, only one other player ever had a higher slugging percentage than Terry's .721 career mark. Steinbach added 19 home runs in a career that included numerous other extra base hits.

          Terry played five seasons in New Ulm. He hit "only" .391 as a 16-year-old player for the Kaiserhoff in his rookie year. That would be his lowest average for a full season.  A line drive hitter with good bat control, he could hit with authority to all fields. His attitude, ability and leadership made him a great player in the clutch. He was only 18 when he won the amateur tournament MVP award in 1980 when his Kaiserhoff team won the championship.

          That same year he drove in 49 runs, which tied him with his brother Tim for the most RBI's in a season. After his lowly .391 average in 1978, he hit .453, .481 and .413 in the following seasons. He had a memorable five hits including a single-game, record-tying three doubles against Fairfax on July 12, 1981.

          His career highlights also included pitching no-hitter against Fairfax on July 26, 1981 and a two-run homer game against Dundas in the 1980 state championship game. He batted .500 in the tournament to earn the MVP honors.

          As a pitcher he had a 10-3 amateur record with a 3.1 ERA.

          Terry played three years for the University of Minnesota and signed a pro contract with Oakland following his junior year in 1983. One of those season he played in the prestigious Cape Cod College League. He reached the major leagues in September, 1986, and he homered in his very first at bat. He also homered in a major league all-star game as the starting American League catcher.

          Although demands on his time, resources and energy are heavy, he continues to support New Ulm baseball in many ways.