Last Week's Meeting 8/6/2025

Posted by Paul LaRoche on Aug 06, 2025

Charlie Lechtenburg

  • Program:  Charlie Lechtenburg – Faribault Lakers Baseball Coach
    • Charlie has been on the Lakers baseball team since 2007 as a player and coach
    • He has also been the Faribault Falcons varsity baseball coach for 13 years
    • He has 3 children and he is a teacher at MSAB
    • Spent a majority of his time telling Rotarians the history of the Lakers team and historic Bell Field.
    • Faribault Baseball history – there has been a baseball team in Faribault since 1900.  The Fleck’s team was one of the first teams.  After 10 years more teams were established. 
    • In 1925, the Faribault Flames and Faribault Lakers were formed.
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    • In 1963, the Faribault Lakers were revived after several years of not having a team.
    • The Lakers used to be a semi-professional team playing in the Southern MN league.  Players received regular salaries with specific salary payroll limits.  The league went from 1922-1960 with over 30 communities having teams.
    • After 1960, Southern MN league became Southern Minny and Faribault competed in that until 2010.
    • The Lakers have won league championships in 2017 and 2023.
    • The Lakers have also made it to the state tournament in 1926, 1930, 1931 A 3rd, 1970, 1978, 1988, 1990, 2014 C 3rd, 2015, 2017, 2018, and 2023.
    • The Lakers have also hosted the state tournament twice, in 1978 and 2022.  In 2022, there was 20,000 attendees to Bell Field over the 3-weekend tournament.
    • Coach Lechtenburg had the state tournament programs from the 1978 and 2022 with today.
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    • The Lakers presently have players from Faribault, Owatonna, and Farmington ranging in ages from 16-38.
    • The Lakers are the first town ball team to play at Target Field thanks to previous player and coach Chris Reuvers.
    • Bell Field History – it was first opened in 1949 and named after Hadley Bell.
    • Bell Field is now one of the nicest fields in the state of MN.
    • In July 2021 Bell Field hosted the Fox 9 Townball Tour.
    • Bell Field Renovations:  In recent years there has been additions to ADA compliance, a new scoreboard, new surfaces, new bathrooms, and added seating.
    • Talked about some of the players that have played for the Lakers in the past, including some whom have experience playing professionally.
    • Charlie took time to answer many questions and provide comments to several Rotarians about local baseball history at today’s meeting.