Madison, WI – July 27, 2012. The Madison Mallards inducted Greg Dahmen into the Mallards Wall of Fame at the game tonight at the “Duck Pond.” Dahmen has been involved in baseball in the Madison area for more than 65 years.
He began playing in the Home Talent League at the age of 19 and was a member of the first Springfield Home Talent team when their franchise was granted on May 10, 1944 and played until 1972. He continues to hold the franchise rights to the currently in-active team. The team was owned by Greg’s mother in-law, Emma Simon, the owner of Simon’s Store, Tavern, and Dance Hall. Mrs. Simon donated the land for a baseball field in Springfield Corners and Greg helped to build the new ballpark in 1948.
A first baseman, Greg played against future major league players such as Ryne Duren, a 3-time All-Star who pitched for the New York Yankees as well as 6 other teams during his 10 year career, and Connie Grob who pitched for the Washington Senators in the mid 1950’s. A solid hitter, one of the highlights of his career was a 340-foot home run to help Springfield defeat Middleton 8-7 on July 27, 1958. During his HTL career, Greg played in numerous HTL All-Star Games at Beese Stevens Field. He was the Springfield team’s business manager, while LaVerne Hellenbrand was the manager on the field. Greg was also the franchise’s representative at the HTL Central Section meetings starting in 1955.
Greg’s last Springfield HTL uniform is on display at Rookies Food & Spirits in Black Earth as part of their extensive collection of sports memorabilia. That uniform was purchased at Badger Sporting Goods in 1959 for $20.70. At that time bats sold for $3.45. Greg also coached youth baseball from 1955 through the mid-1980’s and announced State Babe Ruth and Wisconsin NBC tournament games for many years.
Greg’s contributions have been recognized at both a State and local level. He received the Dennis Morgan Memorial Award from the Wisconsin State Baseball Commission in 1994, the Henry Busch Award from the National Baseball Congress in 2002 and Middleton Good Neighbor Award in 1998. Greg worked at Fish Building Supply and Madison Newspapers and is now employed part-time at Gunderson Funeral Home. He still finds time to play his German Button-Box accordion at more than 25 assisted-living facilities around Dane County. Greg still enjoys watching Home Talent League baseball on Sunday afternoons as one of the greatest entities in the world – The American Baseball Fan!
The Mallards continue their four game home stand tomorrow, July 28th, with the series finale against the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters. That night will be Great Dane Summertime St. Patty’s Night with the Kissers, Cost Cutters Mini Bat Night, and Hy-Vee Post-Game Fireworks.
The 2012 season is upon us! Single-game tickets are on-sale for all Mallards home games!
The Madison Mallards are part of the 16-team Northwoods League. The Northwoods League has more teams, plays more games, and draws more fans than any other Summer Collegiate League in North America.
