Fargo American Legion
www.tristateveterans.com/fargolegion

2009 World Series Benefit
February 6, 2006

AMERICAN LEGION BASEBALL KICKS OFF DRIVE TO 2009 WORLD SERIES
WITH SUCCESSFUL BANQUET; FIVE INDUCTED INTO HALL OF FAME

Fargo American Legion Post #2 began its drive toward the 2009 American Legion World Series in early February at the Ramada Plaza Suites Crystal Ballroom with the first annual Red River Diamond Classic Baseball Banquet The banquet featured former major league pitching star BERT BLYLEVEN as the main speaker and included the induction of the inaugural class of the Fargo American Legion Baseball Hall of Fame.

This was the beginning of our drive toward the World Series and the first of four yearly events leading to the tournament kickoff banquet in August of 2009 that starts the five-day World Series run in Fargo, said banquet chairman George Ellis. And, in conjunction with our first Hall of Fame induction ceremonies, we could not be more pleased and excited about what was a first-class affair.

The Hall of Fame class included former major league home run king ROGER MARIS, current major league pitcher RICK HELLING, retired long-time Fargo American Legion coach JERRY HARTER, long-time American Legion baseball chairman and team manager JOE PARMER, and instrumental American Legion committee-man BOB SMITH.

Governor John Hoeven opened the banquet with a stirring welcome and was followed by Master of Ceremonies Dana Mogck of WDAY Television and induction narrator Dan Hammer (formerly of KVLY Television). Pat Maris accepted for Roger Maris via a taped video message to nearly 400 attendees and son John Smith of Kentucky accepted for his father, Bob Smith. Both passed away in 1985. Parmer, Helling (currently pitching with the Milwaukee Brewers and a 12-year major league veteran), and Harter (the 29-year head coach of the Fargo program who guided the team to three World Series appearances) all accepted their awards in person. Blyleven, the former 22-year Major League pitcher who was 5th in the Hall of Fame balloting for Cooperstown, regaled the audience with a terrific message and great stories.

In addition to the dinner, Hall of Fame induction and the message by Bert Blyleven, attendees received the first of five collectible commemorative coins (one to be issued for each of the five banquets) and 32 celebrity guests including area coaches and former New York Yankee teammate John Blanchard sat as hosts at various tables. More than $8,000 was raised for the Legion baseball program and the 2009 World Series.

JOE PARMER--No one can challenge the claim that Joe Parmer is Mr. Baseball in Fargo, ND...Parmer has been involved in Fargo American Legion baseball since 1954 and for more than 50 years has been the one strong constant in the success of this highly-acclaimed program...He acted as chair of the Post #2 baseball program from 1954 until the early 2000s and was the team manager from 1964 until the turn of the century...He has been the co-chairman for three previous World Series that were held in Fargo (1983, 1992, and 1995) and chairman for numerous Eastern Division and State Tournaments held in Fargo over the past 50 years...He drove the team bus in the early years, acted as the public address announcer, and served as the chief fundraiser for the program for much of the 50 years...Parmer was inducted into the North Dakota American Legion Baseball Hall of Fame in 1983...He was appointed the manager of Fargos Hector International Airport in 1953 after serving as the assistant manager since 1947 and was named the first executive director of the Fargo Municipal Airport Authority in 1970...Parmer is retired and he and his wife Carol live in Fargo...They have four children including current Fargo Legion baseball board member Steve Parmer.

BOB SMITH--One of the key members in the life of American Legion baseball in both Fargo and North Dakota for nearly two decades...He was an organizer in the development of Jack Williams Stadium, the current home to Fargo American Legion baseball...He was active from 1965 to 1980 on the Post #2 Baseball Committee and kept the scorebook and statistics for many years for the Fargo team...He was an official scorer at two American Legion World Series, in Ely, Minnesota in 1980 and Fargo in 1983...Smith helped form the North Dakota American Legion Baseball Hall of Fame and was inducted into that groups elite membership in 1983...He was instrumental in a number of other projects including the formation of the Maple-Sheyenne League, the Fargo American Legion Baseball Alumni Association, the Maris Drive and Memorial at Lindenwood Park, and the Roger Maris Museum at West Acres Shopping Center...As Commander of Post #2, he led the development of the memorial fountain and flagpoles at Lindenwood Park...Bob passed away in 1985 and is survived by three sons and a daughter.

Information supplied by George Ellis