Ginger Beaumont monument unveiled, three to be inducted Sunday
By Mike Ramczyk
Sports Editor
It will be an induction ceremony like no other in the Burlington Baseball Hall of Fame’s six-year history.
Along with the unveiling of the Ginger Beaumont Monument, which was erected at Ginger Beaumont Field this week, three Burlington area baseball legends will be honored Sunday, July 19, at the sixth annual Burlington Baseball Hall of Fame ceremony.
The late Beaumont, a Rochester native, had a spectacular 12-year Major League Baseball career in the early 20th century.
During his time, he hit .311 for his career with 254 stolen bases and led all of baseball in hitting in 1902 with a .357 batting average.
Beaumont lived in Honey Creek during his retirement.
While Beaumont’s granddaughter and her daughter are flying into town Friday to honor the baseball great, three more players with ties to the Burlington area will enter the Hall of Fame.
This year’s candidates include John Haas, Andy Epping and Richard “Smitty” Kerkhoff.
Each year, the Hall of Fame committee honors former Burlington area baseball players that played, coached, managed or contributed in some way to Burlington area baseball. This can include contributions to youth baseball, high school, college or semi-pro.
Following the ceremony, the Burlington Barons will host the Oconomowoc Titans at 1:30 p.m.
Here’s a rundown of the inductees:
John Haas (Aug. 17, 1932-Sept. 3, 2014)
Born in Burlington to Raymond and Esther Haas, John grew up on the east side of the Fox River and was known as one of the neighborhood “River Rats.”
One of five kids (four boys, one girl), John married Shirley Beller and they had two children.
After Shirley passed away in the 1980s, John re-married Annette Newton, whose three sports fanatic sons watched plenty of baseball with the couple. The family called John the “armchair ump.”
A Burlington High School grad, John was a quarterback on the high school football team in the mid-1950s. During high school, John had a tryout with the St. Louis Cardinals.
John went on to deliver mail for the U.S. Postal Service in Burlington for 37 years.
John and Dave Umnus became umpires of high school baseball and would umpire “beer league” softball at Congress Street Softball Diamond in the 1970s. Throughout the ‘70s and ‘80s, John umpired softball tournaments all over the area and even dabbled in the early days of Little League baseball.
“John was known as a ‘good umpire’ who you could have a ‘good time’ with during his days,” said Burlington Baseball Hall of Fame Chairman Bill “Tiny” Milatz. “I have fond memories of John during his umpiring days and am honored that he is now a member of the Burlington Baseball Hall of Fame.”
Andy Epping
Born and raised in Burlington, this Hilltopper played Little League baseball and fell in love with the game.
A baseball and football star from 1974 to 1977, Epping was one of the better pitchers in the area. In 1976, St. Mary’s reached the state title game but lost, 1-0.
Andy fired three no-hitters in high school career and was all-state in 1976.
Unfortunately, during his senior year, Andy tore his rotator cuff and didn’t pitch again in high school.
Andy returned to the diamond in 1978 for the Waukesha Americans.
Through encouragement from family and friends, Andy played competitively for Indian Trails junior college in Iowa for two years.
Then, in 1983, he was drafted by the San Francisco Giants in the seventh round of the Major League Baseball draft.
In early 1983, Andy was offered a full baseball scholarship to the University of New Orleans as a starting pitcher. In 1985, at the age of 25, Andy, also known as “Pops” by his teammates, helped the squad advance to the College World Series.
Along the way, he pitched against future major leaguers Will Clark, Rafael Palmeiro, Pete Incaviglia and Bobby Thigpen.
After splitting the first two game of the World Series, Andy gave up a walk-off double to Incaviglia of Oklahoma State, and it was Andy’s last college appearance.
Andy graduated from New Orleans in 1986 and turned his competitive sights to slow-pitch softball.
He resides in Duluth, Ga., a suburb of Atlanta.
Richard “Smitty” Kerkhoff
The late Kerkhoff was born and raised in New Munster, better known to players of his day as “Whiskey Hill.”
Kerkhoff attended St. Mary’s grade and high schools, and he played quarterback alongside guys like Ken Heck, Rich Lois, Ed Impens, John Block and Paul Krien in the early 1950s.
Smitty’s game of choice, however, was baseball, where he excelled as a right-handed pitcher.
During his high school career, Smitty threw two no-hitters, one game striking out 19 of 21 batters.
In the summers, Smitty played American Legion baseball and some early semi-pro baseball with the Burlington White Foxes.
It may only be a rumor, but it’s said Smitty was offered a $5,000 bonus with the Chicago Cubs in the early 1950s. A shoulder injury prevented him from signing, an accident caused while learning his work trade of butcher/meat cutter.
Smitty cut meat at Rudolph’s in Kansasville, Twin Lakes Sentry and Kolm’s Super Valu of Burlington.
After high school, Smitty married Agnes “Mickey” Jackley. They purchased a two-story home on South Perkins Boulevard, and their family included six children, Linda Ehlen, Kathy Vos, Dave, Pat, Steve and Tom.
Smitty also was a member of the City of Burlington Volunteer fire department from 1970 to 1987.
Smitty played “beer league” softball with Log Cabin Tavern with teammates such as Milatz, Bill Spiegelhoff, Jr., Jim Way, Harry Koenen, Bob Herauf, Rick Scherrer, Steve “Mr. Howie” Thuemmler, Jim Steffens and Norb Tenhagen.
Smitty was a pitcher who mastered a high “rainbow” arch pitch. He played until the mid-70s.
“Smitty was a joy to be around,” Milatz said. “He always made everyone smile.”
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