The New Ulm American Legion baseball team won the State Championship in 1934. (See photo and two newspaper reports in the side bar.) One aspect of that game particularly captures the spirit and culture of New Ulm’s teams of the day. The host team was Cokato, and their team opposed New Ulm in the championship game. New Ulm’s team rode to the tournament in the back of a truck, no fancy busses in those days. Boys with good German names such as Kusske, Manderfeld, Schweppe, Mueller, Raabe, Spelbrink, and Aufderheide were on the roster. About mid-game the New Ulm boys learned that their hand signals had been stolen by Cokato. So New Ulm switched to audible signals…in German… and won the game 13 to 12 in 10 innings! Another one of those “Only in New Ulm” stories.
EDITOR: George L. Glotzbach
CREDITS: Minneapolis Tribune & New Ulm Daily Journal
