It has been a long time coming, but the process has now, finally begun. Above is what the New Germany baseball field now looks like after crews brought in several loads of black dirt to the field and dumped it. The sod will be getting put down this fall. So, the next time the Dutchmen take to the field, there will be grass beneath their feet.

New Germany baseball legend Gerald “Beans” Roepke noted that in the early 1900s until 1955, baseball in New Germany was played in Fred Hein’s pasture, which is now Lindstrom Park.

In 1955, a new ballpark was built on District 77 school land, and dugouts and the grandstand were built with the help of volunteers.

In 1956, the New Germany city fathers organized a team, and with manager Harry Zellmann, joined the 7-Hi League, consisting of Excelsior, Hopkins, Hutchinson, Long Lake, Mound, Richfield, Winsted, and New Germany.

The ballpark was dedicated May 6, 1956. Later, the village of New Germany purchased the property.

Changes took place at the ballpark, and in 1970, the grandstand and dugouts were rebuilt.

In 1980, a chain link fence was installed and dedicated in memory of Dean Hensel, son of Loren and Dorothy Hensel, according to the New Germany Centennial Book.

In 1959, New Germany entered the Crow River Valley League with the teams of Glencoe, Green Isle, Hamburg, Lester Prairie, Mayer, Norwood, Plato, and Young America.

In this same year, the New Germany baseball team became known as the “Dutchmen” as its official name, by which it is still known today.

In 1987, the Crow River Valley League (CRVL) was split into two divisions, the North and the South. New Germany was placed in the North Division.

The Dutchmen were Crow River Valley League Champions in 1964, 1967, 1968, and 1971. In the past 15 years, the Dutchmen have been league champions approximately five more times, noted former manager and player Mike Schrupp.

The Dutchmen have made five state tournament appearances; 1967 in Alexandria, 1968 in Springfield, 1970 in St. Cloud, 1971 in Brownton, and most recently in 1997, when they beat Buckman 7-5 in the first game, and lost to Le Sueur, 4-3, in the second game.

In 1971, the Dutchmen had their best showing at state, placing third.

In 1993, New Germany had its first player inducted into the Minnesota Amateur Baseball Hall of Fame, Beans Roepke.

After 29 seasons of playing baseball, and before retiring from the Dutchmen, Roepke posted some impressive accomplishments.

In 1961 and 1980, he was voted the team’s most valuable player; in 1980, 1981, 1982, and 1986, he had the Dutchmen’s highest batting average; in 1981, he won the Crow River Valley League batting title, with a .446 batting average.

That same year, 1981, he was selected the most valuable player in the Crow River Valley League all-star game.

Roepke was also known for making his own bats out of lumber he cut from ash trees.

The 2007 season was a rebuilding one for the Dutchmen as many of long-time veterans either retired or moved on to other teams.

This past season the Dutchmen roster was filled young, talented players that will look to build on the tradition created before them.

The New Germany Dutchmen have always had a loyal crowd that follows their play, and that still continues today.