2018 Class of Inductees GARY GLASSCOCK (65) – A good-fielding shortstop,

Glasscock played for Central High School from 1968 to

DOUGLAS DIETZ (59) – Dietz has been involved with amateur baseball in 1971, and Harris-Stowe College from 1972 to 1975. In
the St. Louis area for over 45 years as a player, coach, and manager. 1974, he was named an All-American by the National
A right-handed pitcher and first baseman, he played for Francis Howell
Association of Intercollegiate Athletics.
High School from 1974 to 1977. In 1976 and 1977, he was named All-
Conference and All-District. He was team captain in 1977 when Francis Howell Glasscock was a shortstop for the Mathews-Dickey
won both the conference and district championships. He was a standout pitcher Knights for over ten years, playing in the Tandy League
for Francis Howell. In 1977, he tied the school record for most wins in a season. and the CYC Major League. He also coached the Mathews-
Dietz received a baseball scholarship to East Central Junior College where
Dickey Knights.
he played from 1977 to 1979.
Later, he received a baseball scholarship to Lindenwood College where Glasscock coached at several St. Louis area high
he pitched from 1979 to 1981. It was one of the first baseball scholarships ever schools. He was the Athletic Director at Metro High School
offered by Lindenwood. In 1980, as team captain, he pitched his Lindenwood for four years, creating a solid baseball program.
team to the conference championship. He received All-League honors while
setting school records for most games pitched, most wins, and most strikeouts.
In 1978, he played in the Four Rivers Independent League for Sullivan,
Missouri. He was selected to pitch in the Four Rivers all-star game. In 1979, Dietz pitched for the St. Charles
Travelers in the Metro-Collegiate League.
From 1976 to 1991, he played for Cottleville & Harvester in the Eastern Missouri Baseball Association.
During those 16 years, he won 62 games while only losing eleven games. His composite batting average was
.322. His C&H teams made twelve playoff appearances, winning nine East League championships and seven
EMBA championships. He played in five EMBA all-star games and was chosen as the MVP of the 1980 all-star
game. In 1980, the C&H Athletic Association presented him with the Fred Banze Award. In 1977, Dietz played HAROLD GRICE (67) – He was a second baseman for
American Legion baseball for St. Peters Post 313. The manager of the team was former Major League pitcher Ken the Mathews-Dickey Knights from 1973 to 1982. During
Heintzelman. In 1982 and 1983, Dietz was the pitching coach for the C&H Post 462 American Legion baseball that time, the Knights won several Cool Papa Bell League
team. From 2008 to 2014, he was the pitching coach of the Elsberry Post 226 American Legion team. This team
made the state playoffs in 2012 and 2013. championships.
Dietz has coached little league baseball for many years, and he has provided pitching lessons to young players. Grice was also a Khoury League coach for the
In 2017, he was inducted into the St. Charles County Amateur Sports Hall of Fame. Mathews-Dickey Knights from 1970 to 1979, and then
again in 1996 and 1997. His teams won numerous Khoury
JOSEPH GEGG (75) – He was a hard-hitting catcher who signed
League championships.
a professional contract with the St. Louis Cardinals in 1965. In 1966, In 1972, he was an infielder for the St. Louis Dodgers
he played in the minor leagues for the Cedar Rapids Cardinals and the in the Cool Papa Bell League.
Gulf Coast League Cardinals. George Kissell was his manager on the Grice was an infielder for Sumner High School from
Gulf Coast League Cardinals in Sarasota, Florida. 1965 to 1968. He played second base for Culver-Stockton
Gegg played for St. Louis University from 1962 to 1965. As his
College from 1968 to 1972
team’s starting catcher, he helped the Billikens win three consecutive
Missouri Valley Conference championships in 1963, 1964, and Grice was the head baseball coach at Soldan High
1965. His team reached the semifinals of the College World Series in School from 1982 to 1988. He was an umpire in the St.
1965. He was selected to the all-conference team as a catcher every Louis area from 1990 to 1993.
year from 1963 to 1965. He received honorable mention as an All- Grice is a member of the Mathews-Dickey Knights Alumni Association.
American in 1965.
Gegg was the head coach of the St. Louis University baseball
team from 1970 to 1973. He was the player-manager of the St. Louis
University Club team from 1971 to 1974. Through his efforts, this
team competed in the St. Louis County League in the early 1970s.
In 1975, Gegg was the player-manager of the American National
Insurance team that won the St. Louis County League championship.
He was a player-coach for American National in 1976, helping his A special thank you to

team finish second in the St. Louis County League.
Gegg was a catcher for St. Louis University High School from 1958 to 1961. In 1962, he was a CLINT HOFER
catcher on the Kutis team that won the Ban Johnson League championship. Gegg played in the St. Louis for his written contributions in tonight’s program book
Semi-Pro League for Kimacks in 1963 and the Red Villas in 1965. Both teams won the St. Louis Semi-Pro
championship. In 1964, he was a catcher for the Springfield Capitals in the Central Illinois Collegiate League. ~ ABHOF Board of Directors
Gegg served in the United States Army from 1967 to 1969, including a tour of duty in Vietnam.
In 1988 and 1989, he was the hitting coach at Gonzaga College High School in Washington D.C. In
1996, Gegg was inducted into the St. Louis University Billiken Hall of Fame.

Inductees are listed in same order as seen on Page 2

24 25

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 MIKE KRAFT (52) – Kraft was a right-handed
outfielder and first baseman who played two seasons
in the farm system of the St. Louis Cardinals. He was
with the Johnson City Cardinals in 1989. He was team
captain of the Springfield, Illinois Cardinals in 1990.
Kraft played for Lindbergh High School from 1981
to 1984. He was selected to the Missouri All-State
team in 1984. He was captain of his Lindbergh team
that year. He was also an all-conference football player
at Lindbergh. He is a member of the Lindbergh High
School Hall of Fame.
From 1985 to 1988, Kraft was an outfielder and
first baseman for Delta State University in Cleveland,
Mississippi. He was Freshman of the Year at Delta
State. His Delta team won the Gulf Coast Conference
Championship in 1985 and 1988. He was named to the
All-South Central Region team in 1987.
Kraft played for Schnucks in the St. Louis Metro League in 1985.The following year,
he was with the Decatur Blues in the Central Illinois Collegiate League.
In 1987 and 1988, Kraft was an outfielder and first baseman for the Red Oak Red Sox
in Iowa. From 1991 to1996, he played in the CYC Major League for the Sotolar Pointers.
Kraft was an assistant baseball coach at Meramec Community College from 1993 to 1998.
He coached amateur baseball in the St. Louis area from 2002 to 2014.
DON MANA (70) – A good-hitting catcher, Mana played
in the Minnesota Twins farm system in 1969. He was with
the Gulf Coast League Twins in Sarasota, Florida. Bert
Blyleven was also on the team and Mana caught the games
that Blyleven pitched.
In 1966, Mana was an All-Metro third baseman for
Augustinian Academy. His batting average was .410. His
team finished second at the Missouri High School State
Tournament. Mana was captain of his Augustinian team for
three years.
He was a catcher and third baseman for the Gardenville-
Affton Post 300 team that won the American Legion city
championship in 1966. From 1967 to 1969, Mana played for
Washington University and was named an All-Conference
Catcher in 1969. He was team captain for two years.
From 1968 to 1971, he was a catcher for L&P Sales in the Heine Meine Semi-Pro League.
In 1970, his team won the Heine Meine city championship.
In 1972, he caught for Kutis in the Heine Meine Semi-Pro League. He played in the CYC
League for St. Catherine Catholic Church in 1975 and 1976.
Mana coached varsity baseball at Augustinian Academy in 1971 and 1972. Those were
the last two years the school was in existence. He secured funds to build a baseball field on the
campus. He managed the baseball team at Assumption Catholic Church for ten years. He was
also the manager of the softball, soccer, and basketball teams. He helped raise money to support
the church’s athletic department. He managed the St. Louis Braves team at Heine Meine Field.
For several years, Mana coached the baseball team at St. Andrew Catholic Church, winning
one CYC city championship.
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2018 Program book.indd 26-27
JOHN MCDERMOTT (66) – He was the starting second
baseman for St. Louis University from 1971 to 1974. During
those four years, his On Base Percentage was .380 and his
Fielding Percentage was .962. In 1971, he batted .333 as
a freshman. In 1972, he only committed one error as a
sophomore. He had a perfect Stolen Base Percentage while
playing for the Billikens. In 1974, he stole 21 bases out of 21
attempts. That year, he was the co-captain of his team. He
received a four-year scholarship to St. Louis University for
baseball and basketball. McDermott set career records at St.
Louis University for Most At Bats, Most Runs, Most Walks,
and Most Games.
From 1971 to 1974, he also played during the summer for
the St. Louis University Club team. His batting average was
over .300 each year. In 1973, his average was .378. He was
selected to the St. Louis County League all-star team in 1972
and 1974.
McDermott lettered all four years in varsity baseball at Northwest High School, playing from 1967
to 1970. In 1970, he was selected as an All-Public High League Shortstop, and he received honorable
mention as an All-Metro Shortstop. That same year, he was the Post-Dispatch scholar-athlete for
Northwest High School. He received his award from Stan Musial at the scholar-athlete banquet.
In the late 1960s, McDermott was the starting second baseman for the Stockham Post 245 American
Legion team. In 1975, he was the starting second baseman for the American National Insurance team that
won the St. Louis County League championship. The following year, he was the player-manager of the
team, guiding American National to a second place finish in the St. Louis County League playoffs.
McDermott was the manager of youth baseball teams in the Bridgeton Athletic Association and the
Ballwin Athletic Association.
TOM MCDERMOTT (67) – A power-hitting
shortstop and third baseman, McDermott was drafted
by the Chicago Cubs right after he graduated from
high school.
From 1970 to 1972, he was the starting shortstop
for the University of Missouri at Columbia. In 1972,
he led the Big Eight Conference in home runs with six
in twenty games.
From 1969 to 1974, McDermott played for the
Northside Buds in the St. Louis County League.
In 1972, he received All-State honors at the NBC
tournament.
In 1975, he was a shortstop on the American
National Insurance team that won the St. Louis County
League championship.
He was a shortstop and third baseman for
Stockham American Legion Post 245, and was named
Most Valuable Player in 1967.
McDermott played shortstop for Northwest High
School in the late 1960s. In 1968, he was named to the All-Public High League team, and
received honorable mention on the All-Metro team.
In 1968, he also played for St. Adalbert Catholic Church in the CYC League. McDermott
coached little league baseball in South St. Louis County for ten years.
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 ANDREW RUNZI (47) – A strong right-handed pitcher, Runzi played in
the farm system of the California Angels in 1993. He helped the Boise Hawks
win the Northwest League championship. He also played for the Cedar Rapids
Kernels in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
Runzi pitched for the University of Missouri at St. Louis from 1990 to
1993, helping his team advance to the College World Series in 1993. The UMSL
Rivermen won the MIAA tournament in 1993 and Runzi was named MIAA
Pitcher of the Year. His team won the Central Region Championship in 1993 and
finished second in 1992. Runzi was named Central Region Pitcher of the Year in
1993. He was an All-American in 1992 and 1993, and he was also named to the
All-Conference and All-Region teams. He holds the UMSL records for career
wins, total innings pitched, and career shutouts. Twice, he struck out eleven
batters in a game, and ranks fourth in career strikeouts at UMSL. Inducted in
2001, Runzi is one of the twelve original members of the UMSL Sports Hall of
Fame.
He played for Herculaneum High School and later became the head
baseball coach at that school. He was a pitcher, infielder, and outfielder for
Herculaneum High from 1986 to 1989. His team won the Class 3 Missouri State
Championship in 1986. He played on two conference championship teams and two district championship teams. He was named
All-Conference three times and All-District three times. He was chosen for two All-Metro teams, and two J98 Dream Teams. He
was named All-State in 1989. That same year, he played in the East-West All-Star Game.
Runzi was the head baseball coach at Herculaneum High School from 1996 to 2006. In 1999, his team won the Class 3 Missouri
State tournament and he was named Coach of the Year. As head baseball coach, he won eight conference championships, five district
championships, and two sectional championships. The Jefferson County Athletics Association named him Coach of the Year seven
times. Twice, he was chosen as the J98 Dream Coach of the Year. In 1998 and 1999, he was selected as a coach for the East-West
All-Star game.
In 1995, Runzi was the assistant baseball coach at Herculaneum High School. His team finished second at the Class 3 Missouri
State Tournament Runzi is a past vice president of the Missouri State High School Baseball Coaches Association. He pitched for
Mineral Area Junior College from 1989 to 1990. From 1987 to 1989, he played for Festus American Legion Post 253, helping his
team win the district championship all three years. In 1987, Festus won the Zone Championship and finished fourth at the Missouri
State American Legion tournament. From 1994 to 1996, he was the assistant baseball coach of the Festus American Legion team.
Runzi played in the CYC League for the Condair Royals in 1989, and the St. Louis Indians in 1990 and 1991. He was selected
to the CYC all-star team as an outfielder in 1991. In 1992, he pitched for the Fairview Heights Mets in the Central Illinois Collegiate
League. In 1994 and 1995, Runzi was a pitcher for the St. Louis Union Printers. In 1994, he received the “Grit Award” for being one
of the top pitchers at the Printers national tournament.
RON SNIDER (61) – A left-handed first baseman and pitcher, Snider
played in the farm system of the Kansas City Royals in 1979. He was
on the Royals Gold Team in the Gulf Coast League in Sarasota, Florida.
He was selected to the Gulf Coast League all-star team.
He signed with the Royals after starring for Southwest Missouri
State University, now called Missouri State University. He played
for Southwest Missouri State from 1976 to 1979, and was named All-
Conference each year. Snider was the starting first baseman in all 156
games of a four-year career with the Baseball Bears. He was Rookie of
the Year in 1976. In 1978, his team advanced to the NCAA Division
Two World Series in Springfield, Illinois. He was selected to the World
Series all-star team which toured Mexico. In 1979, he was the MIAA
Player of the Year. He was also the Most Valuable Player on his team.
As team captain, he guided the Bears to the league championship. He
was honored as an All-American. Upon graduation, he received the
Virgil Cheek Athletic Achievement Award for scholar-athletes. Snider
holds ten career records at Southwest Missouri State, and is second
in four categories. In 2000, Snider was inducted into the Southwest
Missouri State University Athletic Hall of Fame.
He played for St. Charles High School and received All-Conference honors in 1974 and 1975. He was
captain of his team in 1975. He is a member of the St. Charles High School Hall of Fame.
Snider played American Legion ball for St. Charles Post 312 and was selected to the District 10 all-star
team twice. He later coached the Post 312 team for five years from 1984 to 1989. In 1988, his Post 312 team
won the American Legion State Championship. In 1978 and 1979, Snider was a first baseman and pitcher
for the St. Charles Caps. From 1980 to 1984, he played for Cottleville & Harvester in the Eastern Missouri
Baseball Association. Snider served on the Board of Directors of the St. Charles Boys and Girls Club for ten
years.
In 2011, he was inducted into the St. Charles County Amateur Sports Hall of Fame.
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2018 Program book.indd 28-29
DENNIS SPITZER (66) – An outstanding right-hand
pitcher, Spitzer played for the University of Missouri
at St. Louis from 1970 to 1973. He helped UMSL
advance to the NCAA Division Two College World
Series in 1972 and 1973. As a senior in 1973, he was
named to the All-Region team, finishing the year with
a then single season record of 68 strikeouts which still
ranks fifth in UMSL history. In 1972, he recorded 67
strikeouts which still ranks sixth on the UMSL single
season charts. He received All-District honors in 1972
and 1973. He has the fourth lowest ERA in UMSL
history. Spitzer ranks second in career strikeouts, fifth
in wins, and seventh in total innings pitched. In 1973,
he pitched twelve consecutive innings during the NCAA
regional playoffs. In 2016, Spitzer was inducted into the
UMSL Sports Hall of Fame.
He pitched for Hazelwood High School in the late 1960s. In 1969, he was the leading
pitcher on the Hazelwood American Legion team that won the District 10 title. He was the
winning pitcher of the championship game against Maplewood. He was selected to the
American Legion District 10 all-star team in 1969.
Spitzer pitched in the St. Louis County League from 1970 to 1976. He was with the
CHASA Jets from 1970 to 1973, and the Geigher Collegians from 1974 to 1976.
TYLER STEINBACH (60) – An overpowering left-
handed pitcher, Steinbach played for the Sotolar Pointers
from 1984 to 1992, helping his team win the CYC Senior
Major League Championship every year. During that time,
he was annually ranked as one of the best pitchers in the
State of Missouri. Every year, the Pointers advanced to the
NBC tournament in Wichita, Kansas. In 1990, Steinbach
was the top pitcher in the nation for several weeks during
the NBC tournament.
Steinbach was scouted by the California Angels while
he was playing high school and college baseball in Utah.
He was given a tryout with the Angels.
From 1972 to 1975, he pitched for Viewmont High
School in Centerville, Utah. His team won the Utah State
Championship in 1975, and he was named to the All-State
team. He finished second in the voting for Most Valuable
Player.
From 1975 to 1979, Steinbach was a pitcher for Brigham Young University, helping his team
win the Western Athletic Conference Championship in 1979.
In 1986, he pitched for the Waterloo Buds in the Mon-Clair League. From 1993 to 2016,
Steinbach was a pitcher for the St. Louis Game Face team in the Men’s Senior Baseball League.
During those 24 years, the Game Face team won two MSBL World Series championships, and
Steinbach won a World Series Most Valuable Player Award.
He has recruited many players for the Men’s Senior Baseball League. He has also been a
coach and batting practice pitcher for several St. Louis area teams.
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 TOM TWELLMAN (66) – Twellman played second
base in the Houston Astros farm system from 1974 to
1976. He played in Iowa for the Cedar Rapids Astros
and the Dubuque Astros before joining the Double A
Columbus Astros in Columbus, Georgia.
Twellman was an All-Metro second baseman at St.
Louis University High School. He also starred in football
and soccer at St. Louis University High School.
He was the starting second baseman at SIU-
Edwardsville from 1971 to 1974. He was the leading
hitter on his team in 1973 with a .352 average. That
year, the Cougar baseball team captured third place in
the NCAA national tournament. In 1974, he led his team
in hitting with a .367 average while striking out only
once in 156 times at bat. He was captain of his team.
Twellman was named an All-American in both baseball
and soccer at SIU-Edwardsville. In 1972, he helped the
Cougar soccer team win the national college division championship. He was twice named The
Most Valuable Athlete at SIU-Edwardsville. In 2007, Twellman was inducted into the SIU-
Edwardsville Athletics Hall of Fame as an individual for baseball and soccer, and as a member of
three different championship teams.
Twellman played second base for two years with the Springfield Capitals in the Central
Illinois Collegiate League. He played in the St. Louis County Senior League for the Geigher
Collegians and the Kutis Collegians. Twellman coached parish baseball for his church for ten
years. He served as parish athletic director for six years. He also coached three other amateur
baseball teams for over ten years.
DALE WESTERHOLT (66) – He was
a powerful right-handed pitcher who played
for the University of Missouri at St. Louis
from 1970 to 1973. In 1972, the UMSL
Rivermen advanced to the NCAA Division
Two College World Series for the first
time in school history. They returned the
following year, and Westerholt had the first
World Series win in UMSL history, pitching
a complete 2-1 victory against Jacksonville
State. In 1972, Westerholt had a 4-3 record
with a 2.66 ERA. He ranked second on the
UMSL team in strikeouts. During the 1972
NCAA regional playoffs, he pitched in
three games on the same day for a total of 14
innings. His ERA was 1.10. In 1973, he had
eight wins which was then a single season
record and still ranks fourth on the UMSL
list. He had five complete games, including
two shutouts. His ERA was 2.25. On the UMSL career charts, he ranks third in ERA,
seventh in wins, and tenth in strikeouts. Westerholt was inducted into the UMSL Sports Hall
of Fame in 2016. His 1972 team was inducted in 2010.
Westerholt pitched for Bishop DuBourg High School from 1966 to 1969. From 1970 to
1974, he was a pitcher in the St. Louis County League for the Aalco Tigers.
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2018 Program book.indd 30-31
WILLIAM RADERMACHER III (60) – He has been an umpire in
the St. Louis area for over 35 years.
Radermacher was a member of the Greater St. Louis Association
of Umpires from 1983 to 1988. He was with the Midwest Umpires
Association from 1989 to 2000. He has been an independent umpire
for the past 18 years. Radermacher is a fixture at many high school,
American Legion, and Metro Collegiate games in the St. Louis area.
He was on the Missouri Valley Conference umpire staff and
worked NCAA Division One games for St. Louis University. In 1994,
he umpired the Missouri Valley championship tournament. In 1995,
he umpired the Conference USA championship tournament. He was
on the Big 8 Conference umpire staff. He umpired NCAA Division II
games for SIU-Edwardsville, and NCAA Division Three games for
Washington University.
Radermacher umpired in the NAIA Conference for Missouri
Baptist College, McKendree College, Greenville College, Principia, and
MacMurray. He worked junior college games for Jefferson College, Florissant Valley, Forest Park, Mineral
Area, and St. Charles. He also umpired junior college district tournaments and super regional tournaments.
In 1991, he was an umpire at the Missouri High School State tournament. He has umpired many high
school games, including district, sectional, and quarterfinal games. He was an American Legion umpire in
District 9 and District 10. He also worked American Legion State tournaments and zone tournaments.
He has umpired many games in the St. Louis Metro Collegiate League, including playoff and
championship games. He was an umpire in the CYC Senior Men’s League. He umpired games during the
United States Olympic Festival at Busch Stadium.
Radermacher graduated from St. Louis University High School in 1975, and then attended St. Louis
University. After graduating from St. Louis University, he attended Southwest Missouri State University
for three years.
BOB BUNTON (57) – Bunton was the head baseball coach
at Parkway North High School from 2002 to 2007. He was
named Suburban South Coach of the Year three times in 2002,
2003, and 2007. In 2003, his team reached the Final Four of the
Missouri State Tournament. Parkway North won the conference
championship in 2002 and 2007, and the district title in 2003.
Bunton holds the Parkway North record for most wins in a single
season. He attended Parkway North from 1974 to 1978, and was
captain of the baseball team. He was a catcher and first baseman.
He was named to the All-Conference team in 1978.
Bunton played for Creve Coeur American Legion Post 397
and later became head coach of the team. In 1978, he was named
the Most Valuable Player on the Creve Coeur team. He was a second baseman, catcher, and third
baseman. He was head coach of the team from 1982 to 1987. In 1987, he was named District 10
Coach of the Year after his team won the District 10 title. Creve Coeur won the District 10 South
Division Championship in 1983, 1985, and 1987. In 1987, Bunton set the Creve Coeur record for
most wins in a single season.
From 1979 to 1982, Bunton played second base for Southeast Missouri State University,
helping his team win the MIAA South Division championship in 1982. He was named to the All-
MIAA team in 1982, and he was also selected to the All-NCAA regional second team. The 1982
team had 30 wins and only nine losses which is the third-best winning percentage in the history
of Southeast Missouri State University. Bunton later became the assistant baseball coach at that
school.
From 1979 to 1983, Bunton played for the St. Louis Metro Collegians. He was with the St.
Louis Browns semi-pro team in 1982 and 1983. Bunton has coached amateur baseball teams in the
St. Louis area for many years.
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 ARNOLD COPELAND (84) – He was the head baseball
coach at the University of Missouri at St. Louis from 1967
to 1972. He was the first baseball coach at UMSL. He
founded the baseball program in 1967, and coached the
team for six seasons. In 1972, the Rivermen won the
Midwest Regional title, advancing to the NCAA Division
Two College World Series for the first time in UMSL
history. The Rivermen were ranked Number 3 in the nation
in 1972, and Copeland was named District Coach of the
Year and Regional Coach of the Year. He was inducted
into the UMSL Sports Hall of Fame in 2003, and his ‘72
team was inducted in 2010.
From 1973 to 1983, Copeland was the athletic director
and head baseball coach at Lewis and Clark Community
College. In 1979, his Bucks baseball team advanced to
the semi-finals of the Illinois State Community College
tournament.
In 1957 and 1958, he was the head baseball coach at
Willow Springs High School in Willow Springs, Missouri. In 1958, his team advanced to the semi-
finals of the Missouri State tournament.
In 1952, Copeland graduated from Dixon High School in Dixon, Missouri. He was the regular
first baseman on the Dixon team during all four years he attended the school. The 1952 team played
Beaumont High School in the state tournament He also played for the Dixon American Legion team.
Copeland played “town team” baseball for Dixon and Willow Springs from 1955 to 1960 while
teaching and coaching. He continued “town team” baseball while attending Central Missouri State
University at Warrensburg.
FRED WILKE (70) – He is currently the president of
the St. Louis Amateur Baseball Association, a position
he has held since 2011. He has been on the SLABA
Board of Directors since 1992.
From 1991 to 2012, Wilke was the head coach of
the SLABA American National West team. In 1992, he
coached his team to the Missouri AABC championship.
He started the American National West program in St.
Charles that developed into 17 teams for high school age
players. From 1992 to 2007, he was the assistant director
of the American National West program, and he was the
director from 2007 to 2012.
Wilke received the Muskopf-Sears Distinguished
Service Award presented by the St. Louis Amateur Baseball Association.
From 1979 to 1986, he was the Baseball Commissioner at the Bridgeton Athletic
Association.
In 1978, Wilke founded Sports Stats which serves over 200 high schools in the St.
Louis area by providing box scores, photos, stories, and data to the Post-Dispatch and
STLtoday. He managed Sports Stats for over 35 years, writing some of the first baseball
statistic computer programs. In 1995, he created one of the first high school websites in
America for baseball and other sports.
Wilke played baseball at Duchesne High School from 1963 to 1966. He was a
baseball and basketball player at SIU-Edwardsville from 1968 to 1970.

BUCK SMITH (58) —He is president of the St. Louis

Challenger Baseball League which he founded in 1994
to give disabled children and young adults the chance to

The Greater
play baseball. Under Smith’s guidance, the Challenger
baseball program has grown from one field and one
team in 1994 to 66 teams and over 800 players in the St.
Louis area today.
In 2016, he received the Musial Award for his work
St. Louis
in providing physically and mentally challenged youth
the opportunity to play baseball. Smith also received Amateur Baseball
Hall of Fame’s Board of
the Martin Luther King Drum Major Award. The
Recreation Council of Greater St. Louis presented him
with the Volunteer of the Year Award. He was honored
with the Heroes Award presented by the Sporting
Directors wishes to thank

Anheuser-Busch
Goods Manufacturers Association.
Challenger, a division of Little League Baseball,
is open to anyone with a developmental disability, regardless of age. The main goal of
Challenger is to make friends while having fun playing baseball.
Challenger players wear the same full uniforms as traditional teams. Members of local
teams volunteer as buddies to instruct Challenger players. Many of the games are played at
the Mike Matheny Catch 22 Miracle Field at the Chesterfield Valley Athletic Complex. Other
and all our generous sponsors for their
athletic fields that are used include: Berra Park, Pacific Community Park, Tilles Park, and
T.R. Hughes Stadium where the River City Rascals play. generous contributions to our program
The Challenger program continues to grow under Smith’s supervision with the help of
volunteers and sponsors. and organization throughout the year.
Smith graduated from Hazelwood West High School in 1977, and then attended
Florissant Valley Community College and the University of Missouri at Columbia.

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