The clink of the bat and the warm summer wind mixed with the smell of barbecue chicken and hot dogs to fill the evening air on Thursday, June 25, at Stan “Lefty” Cyson Field.
“This kid right here, Northeast kid,” Billy Menz said while pointing to Shane Martindale, the teams first and third baseman. “We went up to Ely last weekend and he hit a home run to win the game.”
The American Legion Post 555 team, known as Minneapolis Northside, were facing off against Ely in a baseball game at Northeast Athletic Park, 1615 Pierce St. NE. This was their second game against the northern Minnesota city in the past week.
Menz is the manager of the Northside team and helped to run everything from the game on the field to the volunteers at the concessions stand. A crowd of about 50 people were out to see the American Legion game.
“We get donations from some of the posts,” Menz said. “The American Legions groups, they give a lot of money to youth.”
The pitcher for Northside throws some practices pitches before the official start of the game between the Minneapolis metro-based American Legion team and Ely. (Davis Steen)
American Legion for baseball
In 1925, the national American Legion was in the midst of creating more ways to serve the communities. A baseball program was one of its first initiatives.
“American Legion Baseball is a national institution, having thrived through a world war, several national tragedies, and times of great prosperity as well as great despair,” the American Legion website states.
Young people ages 13 to 19 are able to participate in the summer program. Each player’s area of residence determines which post they play for.
“For Minnesota for decades, (American Legion) was just how you played baseball,” Menz said.
Players after the game, regardless of the outcome, shake hands with their opponents in a sign of good sportsmanship. (Davis Steen)
A community affair
Karen Moeller was attending the game to see some baseball and watch a Mt. Carmel attendee in the game.
“They’re good players,” Moeller said. “I grew up in Nebraska. Our little town even had a Legion team.”
Apart from watching the game, the fans in attendance, as well as quite a few of the players, rushed to the conecessions stand to eat the hot dogs and barbecue chicken.
“(Menz) purchased the food and just got donations to make up for it,” Lynnisha Grigsby said.
Grigsby and her husband own Bib & Spuds Smokehouse. They met Menz through baseball and now make food for the American Legion games, as well as have their kids run the concessions stand.
The barbecue chicken, kale salad and Mac & Cheese didn’t last past the fifith inning of the game.
Makhi and Mianna Sledge serve barbecue chicken, kale salad and mac & cheese from Bib & Spuds Smokehouse. (Davis Steen)
More than just a baseball game
While the match ended with the Minneapolis Northside team losing 4 to 2, the fans and the players didn’t seem to mind much.
“American Legion Baseball has taught hundreds of thousands of young Americans the importance of sportsmanship, good health and active citizenship,” the American Legion website writes.
The players shook hands, helped to clean up and prepare the field for the next game. The youth participants were helping to uphold those values.
They were also quick to let the fans know that they had won the prior game and that Minneapolis was a great spot for baseball.
“It means a lot to me (to play for the American Legion team) because baseball in Minneapolis isn’t as prominent anymore,” Martindale said. “I like to play good and show what we have.”