Position: Third base

Randy Rubenzer

Outfielder, 3rd Basemen

Jim Falls Sturgeons 1979-2001

During his 23-year career with the Jim Falls Sturgeons, the heavy hitting Randy Rubenzer established himself as one of the toughest outs to ever set foot in a CRBL batter’s box.

A left-handed stick, Rubenzer was a respected and recognized offensive force, playing in 15 All-Star games (1983-1985, 1987-1992, 1994-1998, 2000) and getting elected to a league record 10 All-CRBL teams (1983-1986, 1988,1990,1991,1995-1997).  He hit .300 or better in 17 seasons, doing so consecutively from 1983 to 1997.  Exceeded the .400 mark in seven of those seasons — .468 in 1984 (22 for 47), .433 in 1986 (29 for 67), .674 in 1988 (29 for 43), .489 in 1990 (23 for 47), .481 in 1991 (26 for 54), .426 in 1997 (26 for 61), and .419 in 2000 (18 for 43).  His stratospheric mark of .674 in 1988 led the league and set a single season record that may never be reached.  He also led the league in hits that year with 29, doubles with 11, runs scored with 27, and walks with 21 while driving in 23 runs during what could be considered one of the handful of greatest seasons ever in league play.  His other league leading outputs were in 1985 when he tied for the top mark with 7 doubles, in 1986 when he was alone in first with 10 doubles, and in 1990 with 22 walks.  Reached 20 or more hits in a season a league record 13 times.

Randy’s standout play coincided with the emergence of the Sturgeons in the late 1980’s and early 1990’s as an offensively explosive and formidable foe.  From 1986 to 1993, Jim Falls was 86 and 49 (.637 %), winning a North Division title and playing for a league championship in 1989, qualifying for the WBA from 1986 to 1992, and making it to the Final 8 in 1991.  Rubenzer’s other WBA appearance with the Sturgeons came in 1983.

An all-around player, Randy was equally adept at picking the hot corner as he was shrinking the gaps in Jim Falls’ outfield.  In the mid-1980‘s, he also served as a useful right-handed pitcher for the Sturgeons, grabbing an ERA title in 1985 with a mark of 1.96 (4 ER/18.1 IP).  In 1986, he went 7 and 1 with a 2.96 ERA in 54.2 innings pitched while lacing his .433 average at the dish.  1987 saw Randy eat up another 53.2 innings in collecting a 5 and 4 record for the WBA bound Sturgeons.

Upon induction, he ranks 4th in batting average, 9th in games played, 6th in singles, 2nd in doubles, tied for 2nd in triples, 9th in homeruns, tied for 3rd in RBI’s, 5th in runs scored, 3rd in total bases, 8th in slugging percentage, tied for 11th in stolen bases, and 6th in walks.

Fittingly, Rubenzer was the first league hitter to surpass the 400 hit mark for a career, reaching this milestone in 1999.

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.

Roger Bergeron

3rd Baseman, Outfielder, Manager

Jim Falls Nosal 1958; Jim Falls Dairymen 1959-60; Jim Falls Cadets 1961-64; Jim Falls Sturgeons 1965-81

Roger “The Duke” Bergeron spent his entire 24-year league career in Jim Falls, using his left-handed stroke to amass one of the more impressive offensive careers in CRBL history.

Piled up 366 hits in 1,257 at-bats for a career average of .291.  Holds league records for career triples with 14 and single-season triples with 5, set in 1968.  Hit over .300 for eight consecutive seasons, starting his tear at a clip of .362 in 1967 and concluding it at .311 in 1974.  Other .300+ season came in 1965, when he hit .333 (20 for 60).  Had 20 or more hits in a season five times, doing so four years in a row from 1967 to 1970.

In 1968, led the newly named CRBL with 72 at-bats, 22 hits, 5 triples, and tied for the lead in RBI’s with 15 for the 14 and 4 WBA qualifying Sturgeons.  Followed that in 1969 with possibly his finest season when he led the league in batting average at .378 (28 for 74), hits with 28, triples with 3, RBI’s with 22, and runs scored with 19.

Steered the ship as manager of the Jim Falls Sturgeons from 1971 to 1979, a nine season period considered to be one of the best eras in franchise history.  Playing at Jim Falls‘ famous field, Roger and the Sturgeons captured a division title and played for the league championship in 1973.  The Bergeron led Jim Falls squad qualified for the WBA three times (1972, 1973, 1975), and made the Final 8 twice (1972 & 1975).

Appeared in eight All-Star games (1961-1965, 1968, 1970,1971).  Elected All-CRBL in 1972.  First player in league history to reach 50 doubles, 300 hits, and 1,000 at-bats in a career.  Retired as the all-time leader in games played, at-bats, hits, singles, doubles, triples, RBI’s, runs scored, walks, and total bases.