Schmidt, James
A lifelong Dell Rapids resident, Schmidt was a three-time all-North Central Conference basketball player for South Dakota State and twice led the league in scoring. The 6-foot-2 Schmidt was known as the “underhanded shooting wizard” for his abilities in dropping in layups and drawing fouls. “In my sophomore year at State I played varsity basketball […]
McKee, Vern
Vern McKee was born on April 28, 1930. He grew up in Huron and was a 1948 Browns Valley (Minn.) High School and a 1956 Huron College graduate. McKee is among the few South Dakotans to sign pro contracts in two sports. McKee played three years as a centerfielder in the St. Louis Browns and […]
Mydland, David
One of the iron men of South Dakota baseball, David “Mydie” Mydland was an outstanding baseball player at SDSU and in the amateur ranks. He was an all-conference speedy shortstop for the Jackrabbits. He helped SDSU win a share of the North Central Conference title in 1973. The Minnesota Twins drafted and signed him in […]
Phillippe, Charles
Born May 23, 1872 in Rural Retreat, Va. As an infant, his family moved to South Dakota, to Ashton, north of Redfield. The winning pitcher in the first World Series game ever played, on Oct. 1, 1903, Phillippe pitched a six-hitter and struck out 10 as Pittsburgh defeated Boston 7-3. The losing pitcher that day […]
Potts, Grover
Chosen as the outstanding football player in South Dakota for the 1900s by the Argus Leader during the state’s centennial in 1989, Potts grew up near Hooker, S.D., in Turner County. He was a center on offense and tackle on defense from 1912-14 at the University of South Dakota, where he also lettered in basketball, […]
Langer, Jim
Born May 16, 1948 in Little Falls, Minn. Royalton, Minn., H.S. SDSU. Only athlete from a South Dakota college in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Langer was the center for the 1972 unbeaten Miami Dolphins, snapping every offensive play that season. Undrafted out of college, Langer was signed as a free agent in 1970 […]
Leighton, Kevin
Kevin Leighton logged numerous records during a 34-year South Dakota amateur baseball career with Madison and Canova. where he hit a state tournament record 24 home runs. His career stats include a .480 batting average and a state record 501 home runs. Each year he helped his teams to the state tournament, . He played […]
Loecker, Romain
Born Oct. 13, 1945. 1964 Yankton HS grad. Yankton College. One of South Dakota’s greatest amateur baseball players, Loecker was the MVP of the 1969 state tourney and the batting champ in three tourneys (1969, ’70 and ’76). A slick-fielding, hard-hitting shortstop, the 5-foot-11, 170-pound Loecker competed in 18 straight state tournaments and led the […]
Marso, Lien
Lien Marso graduated from Harrold High School in 1951. That same year he led Harrold to a 33-2 record and the State B basketball title. He was an all?state center known for his ferocious defense and shutting down centers much taller than himself. Harrold became the smallest high school in state history to win the […]
McCormick, Frank
Born Nov. 5, 1894, in Genoa, Neb. Family moved to Wagner in 1905. Wagner High School. University of South Dakota. The 5-11, 190-pounder was the first South Dakotan to play pro football, signing with the Akron Indians of the early NFL in 1920, and playing on a team that beat out Jim Thorpe’s Canton Bulldogs […]