On Thursday, August 9, 2012, the La Crosse Loggers management team officially retired the first number in Loggers history when they retired the #6 that was worn by their former field manager Andy McKay.
McKay changed the landscape of the Loggers on-field product for good when he took the reigns in preparation for his first season in 2008. Five years later, when McKay would depart La Crosse to become the Coordinator of Mental Skills for the Colorado Rockies, the Logger organization would be known as the winningest franchise in summer collegiate baseball over the five years he was at the helm.
“Cap” certainly went out on top in his final season at the help of the Loggers in 2012. La Crosse posted a 53-21 record that summer, the second best record in Northwoods League history, en route to capturing the 2012 Northwoods League title. The Loggers won more games than any other team in summer collegiate baseball during the five seasons under McKay’s guidance, posting a record of 213-142 (.600) during that span (2008-2012, including post-season). La Crosse made two post-season appearances, advancing to the Championship both times (2009 & 2012), and never won less than 38 games in a season. He ended his Logger career sixth all-time victories and fourth all-time in winning percentage in the NWL and is Loggers all-time winningest manager. 45 former Loggers were also drafted during McKay’s tenure, including current big league pitcher Chris Sale (Red Sox).
On Saturday, August 12, 2023, the La Crosse Loggers management team officially retired the #23 that was worn by former player Derek Melton.
Derek Melton was a standout member of our 2008 La Crosse Loggers club who was named our 2008 Team MVP after leading our team in all three Triple Crown Categories when he hit .308 with eight home runs and 45 RBI’s en route to being named a 2008 NWL All-Star selection and was later named to our All-Decade Team. During that summer of 2008, Derek suffered a neck injury from a swimming accident here in La Crosse at Pettibone Park and became paralyzed. For as much as Derek had accomplished on the baseball field, his greatest accomplishments came after his accident. Derek overcame impossible situations with strength and dignity and inspired others with his unstoppable resolve. After years of adversity, Derek went back to school with unmatched dedication and graduated with honors from Miami University. Derek was also inducted into the Edgewood, Ohio Hall of Fame. And, with great determination, again, became a licensed driver in 2021. He taught at Edgewood High School in 2021 and 2022, and accepted a position just last year with Talawanda Schools, as a senior Government teacher, in a field he loved. In June of last year Derek found out that he had Undifferentiated Pleomorphic Sarcoma, a very aggressive form of cancer that he was not eligible for treatment and on September 9, 2022 Derek passed away at his home surrounded by his family.