Sports Memories: Hayek Field memories
Published 8:53 pm Friday, July 4, 2025
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Sports Memories by Tom Jones
Like the Albert Lea Magazine that the Tribune publishes today, there once was a magazine published monthly in town that was called the Albert Lea Community Magazine.
The masthead noted that it was published monthly in the interest of a better community.
The October 1946 issue had Albert Lea Packers Manager Shanty Dolan on the cover, noting the Albert Lea team had been Double “A” state champions in 1940, 1944, 1945 and 1946 and took a look back at those championship years.
An article in the magazine noted it took many businesses of the past contributing to make the teams successful for local baseball fans, many of which are still remembered today.
Johnson Laundry took care of dry cleaning the uniforms of the team for many years, which accounted for the spic and span appearance of the Albert Lea players.
The Elks Club of Albert Lea made sure the players were properly hydrated at Hayek Field when they donated a drinking fountain.
The Albert Lea Chamber of Commerce, along with the Albert Lea Junior Chamber of Commerce, hooked up by putting on an appreciation dinner for the team for many years.
After the 1946 season, the event was held at the Spanish Dining Room at the Hotel Albert, which was attended by 200 fans. Clayton Clausin of the Lakeshore Greenhouse donated a huge bouquet of flowers for the event.
Groundskeeper Charlie Johnson was praised for his work for over 40 years of keeping Hayek Field in such excellent condition.
Hayek Field had another unique feature in a modern electric neon scoreboard, which was donated by the Midway Motor Co., with the phrase “make it a hit with Midway Motor Co.” on the top, along with their phone number 2222.
The team drew thousands of fans for their home games. For those not able to make it, the games were on KATE Radio with special thanks given to Charles Upin, owner of St. Paul Clothing House for their sponsorship of the games on air. The golden voice of Bob Paulson brought the games to all the radios in the area.
The 1946 team welcomed home GI’s to the team for that championship season including Stan Sevaldson, Johnny Menke, Lars White, Herb Terharr, Leo Lenninger and Tony Schneider. The article noted it was no wonder they put the enemies on the run. When the Packers played at Bancroft, Iowa, where Menke was from, the team members were welcomed with a free chicken dinner with all the trimmings.
There was also talk at the end of the 1946 season that Hayek Field would have to be moved to make room for the Minnesota State Highway Department to continue with plans for a new highway in town.
The magazine had congratulatory ads from Johnson Furriers, Johnsrud’s Food Market, Turbetts Cafe, Simonsons Sporting Goods, Gildner-Lageson Clothing Co., Albert Lea Milk Co., Palm Garden, Freeborn Hotel, Wayne’s Grocery and many others.
I hope you’ve enjoyed a look back at the time of great summer baseball from the past in Albert Lea.
NHL draftee
Charlie Cerrato, son of 1977 ALHS graduate Vinny Cerrato was drafted in the second round with the 49th overall pick by the Carolina Hurricanes in the recent NHL draft. This past spring the freshman was part of the Penn State hockey team that made it to the NCAA Frozen Four, where they lost 3-1 to Boston University in the semi-final game. He is the 18th player in Penn State history to be selected in the draft.