League: Chippewa River Baseball League

Primary League

Jim Falls Mobile

  • Years in League – 1969-’70
  • 2 Seasons
  • All-Time Record 8-24 (.281)

Jim Falls Cadets

  • Years in League – 1961-’64
  • 4 Seasons
  • All-Time Record 23-28 (.451)

Hallie Eagles

  • Years in League – 1978-2016
  • 39 Seasons
  • All-Time Record 330-359 (.479)
  • The Eagles folded in 2016

Dave Hepfler

Pitcher, 3rd Baseman

Jim Falls Sturgeons 1967-74, 76-78, 89; Hallie Eagles 1979-80, 84, 86-88, 96

During a league career that touched four decades, Hepfler was known from start to finish as a powerful, hard-throwing righty who possessed an electric curveball to compliment a hissing fastball.

In 1968 — his second year in the league — Hepfler became the fourth pitcher in league history to win the pitching triple crown, leading the league with 9 wins, 144 strikeouts, and an ERA of 1.38 in a league high 85 innings pitched.  In the 1968 All-Star game, Hepfler’s Sturgeons whipped the League All-Stars 10-2, as he was named MVP for his 3-hit complete game performance in which he notched 14 K’s and retired 21 of the first 22 batters in the game.  At the plate, Dave was 2-for-4 with 2 doubles and 3 RBI’s.

From 1967 to 1969, Hepfler went a combined 18 and 2 with 287 strikeouts in 165 innings and an ERA of 1.59.  Then from 1986 to 1989 — in a testament to his longevity — he went 9 and 0 with 102 strikeouts in 73.2 innings and an ERA of 2.08.  Within this qualitative span, the righty grabbed an ERA title in 1988 with a 1.57 mark and then led the league in saves with 3 in 1989.

In 1987, hurled the league’s 24th no-hitter, a five-inning 15-0 win vs. the Lafayette Lakers.  Led the league in saves with 3 in 1989.  Came out of retirement in 1996 to help the Hallie Eagles win the CRBL title game over Tilden, pitching two innings of scoreless relief.

Possessed power at the plate as well, driving out 31 homeruns and driving in 168 runs during league career.  Attained season high of 5 homeruns twice (1979 and 1987) and 18 RBI’s twice (1971 and 1979).  Hit over .300 in seven of his 18 league seasons, with a high of .390 (16 for 41) in 1969.  Led the league with 20 RBI’s in 1971.

The dual threat that Hepfler provided helped his teams claim seven division titles, two league championships, qualify for 10 WBA tournaments, and survive to play three Final 8’s.

Elected All-CRBL four times (1972, 1979, 1988, 1989) and appeared in five All-Star games (1968, 1970, 1971, 1980, 1984).

Upon induction, his highest rankings as a pitcher include being 2nd all-time in strikeouts per 9 innings, tied for 10th in saves, 11th in total strikeouts, and tied for 13th in wins.  Offensively, his highest level is in homeruns where he is tied for 15th all-time.

George Gannon

Shortstop, 3rd Baseman, Umpire

Lafayette Badgers 1948; Lafayette Braves 1951-55,57-59; Bloomer Pines 1956; Lafayette Generals 1962-64;

Lafayette Indians 1965-70; CRBL Umpire 1970-95

One of the most well-known, well-liked, and well-respected figures in league history, the knowledgeable and personable Gannon was a fixture in league play for nearly fifty years.

Forgotten by many is that Gannon was a hard-nosed and formidable player for 19 seasons.  Upon retiring in 1970, he was the league’s all-time leader in games played, at-bats, hits, singles, doubles, RBI’s, runs scored, stolen bases, walks, and total bases.

Hitting primarily out of the lead-off spot, Gannon led the league in runs scored with 20 in 1963, 18 in 1964, 15 in 1966, and 16 in 1968.  Led the league with 16 walks in 1965 and 12 free passes in 1966.  His hit totals of 24 in 1964 and 25 in 1965 both set the pace among league hitters for those seasons.  Had over 20 hits in a season four times, with his career high of 25 in 1965.  Won two batting titles, hitting .414 in 1964 (24 for 58) and .397 in 1965 (25 for 63).  Hit over .300 eight times, with his .414 mark in 1964 being a personal high.

A key figure on the highly competitive Lafayette teams of the 1950’s and 1960’s, he helped the Generals win a division title, qualify for the WBA, and make the Final 8 in 1963.  In 1966, he hit .300 for an Indians team that won their first Eastern Division title and qualified for their first WBA tournament.

A participant in eight All-Star games, (1951, 1952, 1954, 1957, 1958, 1963, 1964, 1965) George played in the era before the All-CRBL awards became a yearly institution.

A highly respected official, George umpired admirably in league play for over 25 years, capping off an involvement in the CRBL that stretched across seven decades.

Tom Dachel

Pitcher, Outfielder

Tilden Tigers 1969-80,82

During his 13-year career, Tom Dachel was without question the winningest and most dominant pitcher of his time.  A closer look at his career shows that he may have been the most dominant pitcher in CRBL history.

With the right-handed Dachel as their ace, the Tilden Tigers were able to win eight North Division championships, seven CRBL championships, qualify for the WBA in all but one (1969) of Dachel’s seasons, and make the Final 8 five times.  In 10 championship game appearances, Dachel sported a record 6 and 3 with 1 shutout, 67 strikeouts, 66.2 innings pitched, and an ERA of 2.70.  No pitcher in league history has more wins, strikeouts, or innings pitched in championship game play.

Led the league in wins seven times and tied for that lead another year, winning 8 or more games eight times, with a high of 13 in 1972.  Won the pitching triple crown in 1977 (9 wins, 94 K’s, 2.67 ERA) and again in 1980 (9 wins, 72 strikeouts, 1.34 ERA).  Led the league in ERA a total of three times (1975,1977,1980), crafting seven seasons of sub-3.00 ERA twirling, along with three seasons below the 2.00 ERA mark (1.35 in 1975, 1.85 in 1978, and 1.34 in 1980).

Had two seasons of over 100 strikeouts (109 in 1972 and 107 in 1974), leading the league in that category four times (1974,1977,1979,1980).  Led the league or tied for the lead in shutouts seven times, doing so six years in a row (1973-1978).  His career high of 4 shutouts in 1974 is tied for the single season league mark.

Exceeded 100 innings three times, with a peak of 125.1 in 1972.  Led the league in innings thrown five times (1974,1975, 1977, 1979,1980).

Dachel’s sterling pitching is that much more remarkable when one considers that a large percentage of it was accomplished facing metal wielding hitters within the offensively conducive confines of Tilden’s home park.

Tom had his highlights as a hitter.  Led the league in doubles with 7 in 1972 and 6 in 1982.  Also led the league in at-bats with 71 in in 1982.  Hit over .300 twice, doing so at .351 in 1972 (20 for 57) and .310 in 1982 (22 for 71).

With All-CRBL becoming an annual award in 1978, he was recognized as such in 1978 and 1980.  Appeared in two All-Star games (1972 and 1973).  Retired in 1982 as the all-time leader in ERA, wins, and shutouts.  Still has all-time rankings of 2nd in wins, 3rd in winning percentage, 3rd in innings pitched, 6th in strikeouts, and 2nd in shutouts.