League: Chippewa River Baseball League
Primary League
Chippewa Falls LumberJacks
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Sponsors
Casper Park – Chippewa Falls, WI
Chippewa LumberJacks 2024 Season Schedule
Chippewa Prides
- Years in League – 1974-’77
- 4Seasons
- All-Time Record 10-43 (.189)
Jim Hoepner
Inaugural Class of 2009
Pitcher, Outfielder
Chippewa Prides 1975-77; Lafayette Lakers 1978-83; Chippewa Falls Lumberjacks 1983-97
A right-handed pitcher, Jim Hoepner used pinpoint control, a sharp curveball, and an unrepentant competitive nature to capture a league record 109 wins during a long and very successful 23-year career.
Despite facing batters swinging metal bats in the hitter friendly parks of Lafayette and Chippewa’s Cardinal Field, Hoepner carved out eight seasons with an ERA of under 3.00. His low water mark came in 1984, when he led the league with a stifling 1.13 in 55.2 innings. Set the pace two other years with a 1.73 ERA in 1979 (73 innings) and a 1.98 mark in 1983 (72.1 innings). In addition to leading the league in ERA three times, he was a strikeout champ twice with totals of 77 in 1985 and 60 in 1991. Also posted sub-2.00 ERA’s in 1980 (1.94 in 55.2 innings) and 1981 (1.98 in 54.2 innings). His total of five seasons with an ERA beneath 2.00 is an unmatched league record.
From 1978 to 1991, his seasonal averages were 7 wins, 70 innings thrown, 58 strikeouts, and an accumulative ERA of 2.88. These totals would have made for a great season, let alone for a 14-year period of being a depended upon ace.
Holds the all-time record for shutouts with 19, leading the league or tying for the league lead in shutouts during seven seasons. His career high of 4 shutouts in 1984 is tied for the single season mark.
In becoming one of only two pitchers to break the 1,000 inning barrier, Hoepner led the CRBL in this area in 1986 with 80 innings, 1987 with 69 frames, and in 1991 when he notched 78 innings.
On his way to a seemingly unbreakable mark of 109 league wins, Jim was the leader in that category during four years. His career high of 10 wins against just 1 loss in 1987 tied for the league high. Also tied for the lead with 6 wins in 1985. Led the loop outright in 1984 with 8 victories and in 1991 with 7 wins.
Made a habit of helping himself at the plate, gathering 230 hits in 786 at-bats for a career batting average of .293. Popped out 16 homeruns (high of 4 in 1986) and 51 doubles (high of 6 in 1985). As a regular, Jim hit .300 or better twelve times, hitting a peak of .432 in 1984 (19 for 44).
A member of six division winners, five league champions, 18 WBA qualifiers, and five Final 8 teams, Hoepner was the unquestioned big game pitcher for the Prides, Lakers, and Lumberjacks. In his six championship game appearances for the ‘Jacks, Jim was 4 and 1 in 42 innings with 14 strikeouts, 6 walks, 1 save, and an ERA of 4.50. His complete game shutout in the Lumberjacks’ 12-0 victory over Hallie in the 1987 CRBL title game was an example of his determined pitching style. In that performance, Jim scattered 10 hits, struck out 1, and did not walk an Eagle batter.
One of only three pitchers in CRBL history to throw two no-hitters, Hopener claimed the 17th and 18th in league play while pitching for Lafayette. Notched his first as a Laker in a 9-inning, 12-0 decision in 1979 vs. the Jim Falls Sturgeons. His second came against Tilden in a 1-0, 7-inning gem in 1980. Combined with fellow Lumberjack Steve Nelson in 1986 to throw one of the four shared no-hitters in league history with a 6-inning, 12-0 win vs. the Cadott Red Sox.
Elected All-CRBL as a pitcher eight times (1979, 1981, 1983-1985, 1987, 1991, 1995) and Honorable Mention three times (1986,1988,1989). Participated in five All-Star games (1980,1983,1987,1994,1995).
Phil Gannon
Inaugural Class of 2009
Pitcher, Utility
Lafayette Braves 1955-60; Lafayette Generals 1961-64; Lafayette Indians 1965-74
Known as “The Little Lefty”, Gannon effectively used a straight over the top, windmill style delivery to become one of the winningest southpaws in league history.
Playing his entire 20-year career in the baseball hot bed of Lafayette, the bespectacled Gannon was the go to workhorse in the “one game a week” era of league play.
The pinnacle of his pitching prowess came in 1961, when he paced the league with 118 innings pitched, 10 wins, 2 shutouts, and a 2.06 ERA. 1961 also saw him whiff 140 batters. He had previously K’d over 100 in 1957 with 148 in 108 innings and in 1959 when his tally of 118 sit-downs in 98.1 IP led the league. Gannon’s sub-100 total of 76 K’s in 1956 was his other league leading effort in that category.
From 1956 to 1963, he averaged 93 innings pitched, with his career high coming in that 1961 season. Led the league in innings pitched three times, doing so in 1959 with 98.1 IP, 1961 with 118 IP, and in 1962 with 86.1 IP. Also led the league with a 2.19 ERA in 1962. Tied for the league lead in shutouts with 2 in 1959 and 1 in 1960. Co-holder of the single game mark for innings pitched with 16, doing so against the Lake Hallie Lakers while striking out 15 in a 7-5 Braves’ win in 1959.
A regular in Lafayette line-ups, Phil molded a notable offensive career. In total, he collected 251 hits, 41 doubles, 15 homeruns, 149 RBI’s, 167 runs scored, 160 walks, and 349 total bases in 952 at-bats. His best offensive season also came in his standout 1961 campaign, when he hit .351 (13 for 37), with league high totals in stolen bases (10) and walks (13). Tied for the league lead in triples with 2 in 1963. Led the league with 21 RBI’s in 1971.
Gannon’s stalwart 1961 effort boosted the 10 and 1 Generals to an Eastern Division Crown, a WBA birth, and a spot in the Final 8. In 1963, his 10 and 4 record accounted for each of the Generals’ decisions, as the crew from Lafayette duplicated their team achievements of 1961.
Provided a veteran presence and a solid stick for the upstart Indians when they won the East Division in 1966, as well as for the Indians’ WBA qualifiers of 1966, 1971, 1972, 1973, and 1974. Participated in nine consecutive All-Star games (1955 to 1963). A memorable performer, Gannon played the first 17 years of his career prior to the annual tradition of All-CRBL awards.
Jeff Couey
Inaugural Class of 2009
1st Basemen, Pitcher
Cadott Red Sox 1972-73, 78-83
Often recalled as the “Babe Ruth” of CRBL play, Jeff Couey was an imposing left-handed masher and a shut-down right-handed closer during his eight seasons for the Cadott Red Sox.
His first two years in the league were of modest beginnings, as he hit a combined .287 (25 for 87) with 1 homerun and 18 RBI’s. As a pitcher in 1972 he threw only 6 innings, but in 1973 he emerged as a #1, going 4 and 0 with a 2.80 ERA in 35.1 innings and striking out 52 of the opposition.
In Cadott‘s 5-4 championship game win vs. the Jim Falls Sturgeons in 1973, Couey hit a key two-run double and struck out 15 in a complete game effort that should have served as a warning shot for what was to come.
After spending several seasons with the Eau Claire Cavaliers, Couey returned in 1978 to wreak havoc on league competition. At the plate, he won the triple crown (.483 AVG, 6 HR, 26 RBI) and from the hill he was the ERA champ with a mark of 1.43 (5 ER/31.2 IP) while winning 4 games and losing 1. In 1979, Couey became the first person in league history to win two triple crowns — and still is the only batter to claim them back to back — leading hitters with a .420 AVG, 8 HR, and 31 RBI. He went on to lead the league in homeruns and RBI’s the next three years — 8 HR’s and a since broken league record of 38 RBI’s in 1980, 5 HR’s and 26 RBI’s in 1981, and 6 HR’s (tied) and 37 RBI’s in 1982. Out of this five season rampage, Couey set league marks for most seasons as a home run leader (5), RBI leader (5), and most consecutive seasons leading in each category (5).
Also led the league in hits with 29 in 1979, and runs scored twice with 24 in 1978 and 25 in 1979. The respect he was shown as a hitter was evident in that he led the league in walks four times — 18 in 1978, 20 in 1979, 18 (tied) in 1981, and 16 in 1982. Received over one walk per game in his career. Reportedly, he was once intentionally walked with the bases loaded.
From the bullpen, Couey acted as the late-inning hammer for the championship Cadott Red Sox teams. In addition to winning the ERA title in 1978, Couey did the same in 1982 at 1.02 (9 ER/26.2 IP). From his closing role, Jeff tied for the league lead in saves with 2 in 1979 and 1 in 1980, before setting a yet to be broken league record of 7 lockdowns in 1981.
During that 1978 to 1982 run, the Couey fueled Cadott Red Sox went an accumulative 81 and 9 in CRBL play, won four South Division crowns, three league championships, qualified for the WBA each year, and made the Final 8 in 1981. His legend began to grow when he clubbed 3 homers and knocked in 5 runs during Cadott’s 8-2 South Division playoff win against the Lafayette Lakers in 1979 . In Cadott’s 8-5 title loss vs. Tilden that year, he was walked 4 times, twice intentionally. He hit 2 bombs against the Lafayette Lakers in Cadott’s 5-3 Southern Divison playoff victory in 1980, propelling the Sox to their first of three consecutive championships. In five total championship games, he went 6 for 12 with a double, 2 homeruns, 10 base on balls, and 5 RBI’s while earning a save, a win, and whiffing 31 men in 18 innings of work with an ERA of 1.16.
Elected All-CRBL from 1978 to 1982. Participated in three All-Star games (1973, 1980, 1981). A full-time player in six of his eight league seasons, a longer stay would have enabled Couey to make even more immovable marks on the record books. As it stands, his 37 homeruns rank him tied for 10th all-time while his save total of 12 puts him alone in 5th place. Whatever his numbers may be, Jeff Couey indisputably etched his name as one of the more memorable players to ever don a uniform in the CRBL.
Bloomer Pines
- Years in League – 1934-’37; ’39-41; ’46; ’50; ’53-’66
- 23Seasons
- All-Time Record 146-150 (.493)