Five players have been selected to enter into the Chippewa River Baseball League (CRBL) Hall of Fame from 25 active canidates. As in the past, the formal introduction and ceremony will take place during the CRBL all-star game on July 5th at Cinder City Park in Altoona, WI.
After the 2020 induction, the CRBL will have 77 members of their Hall of Fame.
Ray McIlquham
During a league career that spanned nearly forty years and touched five different decades, Ray McIlquham carved out his place in CRBL lore, first as a solid catcher for 10 seasons and then during a commendable 23 season run as a league umpire.Breaking in to the Chippewa County League in 1946 with the Lafayette team, Ray played 10 seasons as a backstop for eight different teams, with his last year of competition coming with the Cadott Red Sox in 1961.
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Todd Bresina
Todd Bresina’s 26 seasons of competition in the CRBL were shaped as a sure-handed 2nd baseman and steady contact hitter, as well as manager of Tilden’s veteran teams of the late 2000s. More than any other attribute, however, “Breeze” will be remembered as one of the elite pitchers of his era, dominating opponents with pinpoint control and his signature, wipe out slider.
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Mitch Steinmetz
After beginning his CRBL career with the Bloomer Merchants in 1988, the left-handed hitting shortstop became a Tiger in 1989. Combining agile feet with quick, soft hands, Steinmetz was a defensive wizard, lauded for his superior range, arm strength, and sure-handedness. From the middle of the Tilden diamond, Mitch teamed with fellow Tiger and CRBL Hall of Famer Todd Bresina to form the longest tenured and most productive double play combo in CRBL history.
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Rick Baier
After playing briefly with the Cadott Red Sox in 1986, Rick became a full-time CRBL player with Tilden in 1988, immediately giving the Tigers a visible stalwart at the pivotal backstop position. Renowned for his defensive skills behind the plate, Rick had a memorably strong arm and quick release. A catcher’s catcher, he was also adept at working with pitchers, calling a game, blocking balls in the dirt, securing twisting pop-ups, and fearlessly protecting home plate.
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Randy Baier
A right-handed hitter, the slugging first baseman deployed a powerful swing from an upright, slightly closed stance during his 25-year career to amass an incredible cache of offensive accomplishments. In 21 separate seasons, Baier hit over. 300, exceeding .400 in six of those campaigns. Twice the righty eclipsed the .500 mark, leading the CRBL with a .509 (29 for 57) tally in 1992 and a .527 (29 for 55) ledger in 1997.
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2020 Candidates
Hank Ash – Pitcher
Cornell Mill Gang 1935-36; Cornell Hawks 1952-53; Lake Hallie Lakers 1954
Randy Baier – 1st Baseman, Pitcher
Cadott Red Sox 1986; Tilden Tigers 1988-2006, 08-12
Rick Baier – Catcher
Cadott Red Sox 1986; Tilden Tigers 1988-2014
Todd Bohl – Pitcher
Bloomer Merchants 1983-88
Todd Bresina – Pitcher, 2nd Baseman – Manager
Player: Tilden Tigers 1989-2014 | Manager: Tilden Tigers 2004-11
Jerry Dachel – Outfielder, Pitcher
Tilden Tigers 1967-78
Tom Drehmel – Outfielder
Fall Creek Mets 1967, 73; Lafayette Lakers 1968-73; Cadott Red Sox 1974-80
Terry Hartman – Shortstop, 3rd Baseman
Jim Falls Sturgeons 1969-77
P.J. Johnson – Catcher
Eau Claire Pioneers 1990-91; Augusta Athletics 1992-95; Hallie Eagles 1996-98
George Lee – Pitcher
Northern Colony Colonists 1932-38, 40
Ray McIlquham – Catcher – Umpire
Player: Lafayette 1946; Lafayette Badgers 1948; Lafayette Giants 1949-50; Hamilton Chevrolets 1955-56; Lake Hallie Lakers 1957; Chippewa Falls Triangle Sports 1958; Seymour 1959; Cadott Red Sox 1961
Umpire: 1962-84
Mike Pearson – 3rd Baseman
Eau Claire Pioneers 1986; Chippewa Falls Lumberjacks 1987-92; Tilden Tigers 1998
Rich Rosenow – Pitcher
Lafayette Indians 1971-76
Adam Rothenbuhler – Pitcher, Designated Hitter
Chippewa Falls Lumberjacks 2005; Beef River Bullfrogs 2009-11
Gary Rykal – Catcher
Cadott Red Sox 1961, 1965-78
Bill Schoch – Pitcher
Cooks Valley Hayshakers 1979-80; Tilden Tigers 1981-88
Bernie Seichter – Catcher
Boyd Bees 1953-54; Lake Hallie Lakers 1955-57
Jim Spaeth – Shortstop
Chippewa Falls Lumberjacks 1983-94
Mitch Steinmetz – Shortstop
Bloomer Merchants 1988; Tilden Tigers 1989-2012
Gene Vavra – Catcher
Lafayette Braves 1956-70
Marty Webster – Pitcher
Cornell Merchants 1950; Cornell Hawks 1956-57, 60
Bob Wolfe – Outfielder, 3rd Baseman
Lafayette Braves 1953-59
Dennis Zech – Infielder
Lafayette Lakers 1981-93
Jeff Zwiefelhofer – 1st Baseman
Cooks Valley Hayshakers 1977; Tilden Tigers 1979-87
Todd Zwiefelhofer – Pitcher, Infielder
Tilden Tigers 1991-97
25 active candidates
