{"id":3936,"date":"2010-03-26T00:09:19","date_gmt":"2010-03-26T07:09:19","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.fastpitchwest.com\/morningbrief\/?p=3936"},"modified":"2010-03-26T00:13:45","modified_gmt":"2010-03-26T07:13:45","slug":"jim-rubbelke-put-minnesota-on-the-fastpitch-map","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.fastpitchwest.com\/morningbrief\/?p=3936","title":{"rendered":"Jim Rubbelke put Minnesota on the fastpitch map"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>
\n(click banner for original news story)<\/em><\/p>\n

Another from fastpitch’s most prolific writer, Bob Otto. I remember this one well, with the ISC World Tournament coming to my hometown of Long Beach, California, in 1976. I was a young man of 21, rooting for the Long Beach Nitehawks….<\/em>
\n
\nWritten by Bob Otto on March 25th, 2010<\/em><\/p>\n

St. Paul All American Bar entered the 1976 ISC World Tournament in Long Beach, Calif. for the very first time, and won the only World Tournament in Minnesota men\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s fastpitch history with a double-knockout of the Lakewood, Calif. Jets. But if not for manager, Jim Rubbelke, it never would have happened. Rubbelke pictured third from right, second row in St. Paul team photo.<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153We came ready to play for Jim. We were dedicated to him, reluctant to let him down\u00e2\u20ac\u00a6\u00e2\u20ac\u009d \u00e2\u20ac\u201c Jerry O\u00e2\u20ac\u2122Conner, 1976 ISC World Tournament Most Valuable Player<\/p>\n

ST. PAUL, MN – For Jim Rubbelke the memory remains crystal clear. Shiny new Buicks lined up with ball players behind the wheel ready to begin another long distance softball road trip.<\/p>\n

From St. Paul the motorcade wound its way to the softball diamonds of the Clearwater, Florida Bombers, Aurora, Illinois Sealmasters, and ASA National Tournaments.<\/p>\n

Those memorable road trips ended 40-some years a go. But August of 2003, Rubbelke made one final road trip \u00e2\u20ac\u201c right into the International Softball Congress Hall of Fame in Kimberly, Wisconsin, where he took his place among the greatest in men\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s fastpitch softball history.<\/p>\n

The 71-year-old Rubbelke along with Johnny Appell, Bill Boyer, and Mark Smith, comprised the 2003 class of ISC Hall of Famers. Rubbelke was inducted in the Managers category. In the 63-year history of the ISC, only 12 managers have been so honored.<\/p>\n

TWO-CAREER MAN
\nRubbelke really has two chapters in his 32-year fastpitch career. In chapter one (1957-1970), he played the hardnosed third baseman and lead off batter. His St. Paul clubs included the Clover Softball Club, 7-Up Softball Club, and Whitaker Buick.<\/p>\n

In 1964 he was lured away by the Raybestos Cardinals of Stratford, Conn. where he spent the next four years earning ASA All American honors in 1963.<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153He could run like a deer, good bunter, good defense,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d said Mike Payton who played with and for Rubbelke from 1961 to 1975. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153He had amazing power for a little guy. He would bunt and run during the season, but somehow he hit the long ball in the (ASA Regional Playoffs). There was seldom a regional where he didn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t hit a home run.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

In chapter two (1971-1990), Rubbelke shed his uniform for the manager\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s cap. And that\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s when his career reached new heights. His teams soon joined the elite class of ball clubs in North America. Under the banners of Whitaker Buick, Arctic Cat, All American Bar, and Stroh\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s Gatsby, St. Paul fastpitch rose to new heights.<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Jim was the backbone of fastpitch softball in the St. Paul area for more than 30 years, \u00e2\u20ac\u009d said Tom Rubbelke who pitched for his brother from the late 1970s through the final 1990 season. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153It never would have happened without him.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

TIRELESS WORKER
\nRubbelke worked hard for his teams \u00e2\u20ac\u201c scheduling, organizing, making hotel accommodations \u00e2\u20ac\u201c even the family barbeques, fell on his willing shoulders. On top of that, he raised over $60,000 yearly to keep the team a float. His teams played the best. He scheduled games with clubs from Florida to California, and brought top-flight teams to St. Paul.<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153We had home and aways with Aurora and Decatur,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d said Jim Rubbelke. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153We got involved with (Ty) Stofflet and Reading, Pennsylvania. He was getting the ink around the country then. As soon as we brought him in here we had big crowds of 3,000.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d
\n\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Rube arranged the home and aways,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d said Payton. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153All of a sudden that put us on a different level, way up there.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

After taking the reins of Whitaker in 1971, Rubbelke never let go. But arguably, his St. Paul All American club stood above the rest. Only because it claimed Minnesota\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s one and only ISC World Tournament title in 1976 (along with several top-ten finishes) in its first-ever appearance at the World Tournament in Long Beach, California.<\/p>\n

ST. PAUL CLAIMS ISC TITLE
\nIn the 30-team double elimination format, St. Paul won its first three games before being knocked off by Prescott, AZ, 3-0. But All American marched through the losers bracket, knocking off Nevada, 9-1, and Oshkosh, WI, 6-3.<\/p>\n

And then St. Paul avenged its loss to Prescott with a 4-0 victory on Al DeWall\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s two-hit shutout. That set up a showdown with the undefeated Lakewood, Calif. Jets. The All American squad would need to knock off the Jets twice to claim the title.<\/p>\n

In the first game, Darwin Tolzin, a Jet the prior season, relieved DeWall and threw six scoreless innings to win the opener, 5-2. But Tolzin wasn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t finished. He came right back, scattering nine hits as All American pulled off a 6-0 victory \u00e2\u20ac\u201c claiming the only ISC World Tournament championship to date in Minnesota fastpitch history.<\/p>\n

But if not for an ASA residency dispute involving Tolzin, the ISC championship may never have come about.<\/p>\n

FROM ASA TO ISC
\nTolzin worked for the National Weather Service and was transferred to Minnesota in 1975 from Southern California where he had played for the Jets. His Minnesota residency came under scrutiny of the ASA and it ruled him ineligible for post-season play.<\/p>\n

After the ASA ruling, Rubbelke turned to his team. Should we fold up the season or search for alternatives?<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153We had a team meeting,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d said Jim Rubbelke. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153We said, \u00e2\u20ac\u02dcwe\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re all going together, or we\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re not going at all.\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 Is there another option?\u00e2\u20ac\u2122\u00e2\u20ac\u009d
\nRubbelke made some calls and reached an agreement with the ISC to play in the World Tournament. And St. Paul pulled off the shocker \u00e2\u20ac\u201c at least in the eyes of established ISC teams.<\/p>\n

The reaction among many Minnesota fastpitch folks: \u00e2\u20ac\u0153What is the ISC?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

ISC TAKES ROOT IN MINNESOTA<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153There was no ISC around here,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d said Jim Rubbelke. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153No one had ever heard of the ISC. We got a one-year bye into that tournament with the idea of starting an ISC league the following year. That winter we got six teams and Dutch (Elbers) became our commissioner.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d
\nSoon other teams followed Rubbelke\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s lead. The ISC spread like a wildfire throughout the state. Open-level teams from St. Paul and Minneapolis, Duluth, Winona, and Mankato wanted in.<\/p>\n

Marley Lloyd managed Mankato from 1976 to 1990. Without Rubbelke\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s foray into this foreign tournament, the ISC might never have spawned in Minnesota, he said.<\/p>\n

NO ISC WITHOUT RUBBELKE
\n\u00e2\u20ac\u0153No question, there never would have been an ISC in Minnesota at that time,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d he said. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Jim\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s the reason the ISC started here and in Wisconsin, Iowa, Sioux Falls and Fargo. We didn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t think it (ISC) amounted to much until we went, but found out it was harder (than ASA) because it had the foreign pitchers.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Mankato clubs, such as Happy Chef, made 14 consecutive World Tournament appearances. And Lloyd credits Rubbelke for raising the bar, dangling the carrot a little higher for his Mankato clubs.<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153He made us play up to his level,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d said Lloyd. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153That took us from the minor leagues to the major leagues of softball.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d
\nRising up to meet the St. Paul juggernaut created intense and sometimes bitter battles between the two clubs. And Rubbelke was the one to zero in on, said Lloyd.<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153You had to know what you were doing or he would tear you up,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d said Lloyd. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153He was a fierce competitor always looking for the edge.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

And often unconventional.<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153When you thought he would bunt, he hit away. When you thought he would hit away, he would bunt,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d said Lloyd. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153You had to be at the top of your game when you played him.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

TITANIC BATTLES
\nThat St. Paul \u00e2\u20ac\u201c Mankato rivalry produced epic battles that Lloyd remembers fondly today. Lloyd recalls the time and place where Mankato finally toppled Rubbelke. And reached the \u00e2\u20ac\u0153major leagues.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153It was in the (ASA) regionals in 1974 in Grand Forks and they beat us (Mankato Circle Inn) 2-1 in the first game,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d said Lloyd. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153 We came back and beat them 1-0 and 4-3. It was the first time they didn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t go to the (ASA) nationals. That pushed us up to their level. I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m not sure they liked that, \u00e2\u20ac\u009d said Lloyd with a chuckle.<\/p>\n

Even with stiff threats from in-state rivals, Rubbelke-led teams remained top dog. And during those great years, DeWall anchored the pitching staff.<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Scandia, Mankato, Austin were good competition,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d said DeWall. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153They were good teams, but we always won. We had a little more pride in keeping our tradition going. We had a bunch of good players that just liked to play.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d
\nAmongst a slew of players from the 1950s to the final 1990 season, a few stood above the rest.<\/p>\n

For Rubbelke, pitchers DeWall and Dutch Elbers were tough to beat. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Al had the good drop, pretty good raise,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d said Rubbelke. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Dutch had that good change up, great control. When we had the two of them going, we could compete nationally from 1962 and on.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

In the Whitaker Buick years (1962-1973) John Sheehan caught. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153John was a teacher. He took pride in calling a game,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d said DeWall. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153He was one of the top three or four catchers in the country.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

MANY OUTSTANDING PLAYERS
\nOther greats included Jack Chlebeck, Bob Whaley, Mike Payton, Eddie Mathias, Doc O\u00e2\u20ac\u2122Connor, Gerry Duffey, Don Terwedo, Dan and Jerry O\u00e2\u20ac\u2122Connor, Herb Brooks, Jerry Schaber and Terry Muck.<\/p>\n

Joining DeWall and Elbers, were pitchers Bob Trapp Jr. and Randy Walker, said Tom Rubbelke.<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Dan O\u00e2\u20ac\u2122Connor, no doubt he was the best. He was great,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d said DeWall. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153He wanted to win.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d
\nAfter Arctic Cat sponsored the team 1974 -1975, All American Bar and Earl Montpetit took over in 1976. That spurred an incredible 10-year run that also produced great names in the annals of Minnesota fastpitch.<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Around the field we had a bunch of great athletes,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d said Tom Rubbelke. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Tim Egan at first; Jim McDonald at second; Danny O\u00e2\u20ac\u2122Connor at third and Jerry O\u00e2\u20ac\u2122Connor at shortstop. In the outfield we had Dennis Denning in center, Greg Alford in left, and Randy Henry in right.<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153We used Gerry Duffey as DH and Steve Schmid caught with Jerry Sobaski backing (him) up.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

That line up claimed the 1976 ISC World Tournament title, with DeWall and Jerry O\u00e2\u20ac\u2122Connor selected as the Most Valuable Pitcher and Most Valuable Player. DeWall finished with a 5-1 record, while O\u00e2\u20ac\u2122Connor clipped the world\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s best pitching for a .444 batting average and seven RBI.<\/p>\n

But the ISC championship, the individual awards, the accolades wouldn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t have been possible without Rubbelke\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s leadership.<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153We came ready to play for Jim,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d said Jerry O\u00e2\u20ac\u2122Connor. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153We were dedicated to him, reluctant to let him down. He put Minnesota on the softball map.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

(click banner for original news story) Another from fastpitch’s most prolific writer, Bob Otto. I remember this one well, with the ISC World Tournament coming to my hometown of Long Beach, California, in 1976. I was a young man of 21, rooting for the Long Beach Nitehawks…. Written by Bob Otto on March 25th, 2010 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.fastpitchwest.com\/morningbrief\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3936"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.fastpitchwest.com\/morningbrief\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.fastpitchwest.com\/morningbrief\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.fastpitchwest.com\/morningbrief\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.fastpitchwest.com\/morningbrief\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=3936"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"http:\/\/www.fastpitchwest.com\/morningbrief\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3936\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.fastpitchwest.com\/morningbrief\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=3936"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.fastpitchwest.com\/morningbrief\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=3936"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.fastpitchwest.com\/morningbrief\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=3936"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}