Berberich to be inducted into Minnesota Amateur Baseball Hall of Fame

This past Sunday, it was announced that Lon Berberich will join the Class of 2024 in the Minnesota Amateur Baseball Hall of Fame.

Born in Sleepy Eye, MN, and growing up in Leavenworth, a tiny community not far from Sleepy Eye, it was natural that Berberich took to baseball. He started in organized baseball as a batboy for Leavenworth Cardinals/Orioles in 1962.

His first coaching job was with the Leavenworth Bi County Midgets team (9–13-year old’s) in 1971 and during that time he was also playing in the Minnesota Amateur baseball Program. While playing for Leavenworth, his team was the ranked No. 1 in Class B amateur baseball.

Berberich graduated from Sleepy Eye Public High School in 1975 and played for Hall of Fame Coach Don Boelter, who was assisted by Marv Berg. He played at the collegiate level at the University of Minnesota, Morris while earning his bachelor’s degree in political science. Later, he earned a masters in regional studies from Minnesota State University, Mankato. He was working as a management intern in New Ulm before he accepted the job as Henderson city administrator in 1983.

In 1983 Lon moved to Henderson, Minnesota and became the city administrator of the small town for the next 40 years. Lon wasn’t directly involved in baseball for awhile, but he observed games and felt as though he had something to offer and decided to get back in game. In 1987 he joined the coaching staff of Bruce Hollom’s high school baseball team in Henderson. Then with the Le Sueur and Henderson merger in 1990, he remained on Hollom’s staff with the Giants and subsequently with his successor Rick Bruns.

Lon’s contributions to local baseball do not end with high school. From 1994-2002 he was the manager of the young town team in Le Sueur. Before Lon’s nine years as manager, the Braves had not had much success on the field, when he left the program, the team had three consecutive appearances from 1996-1998 in the Class C State Amateur Tournament and had become a very respected team in Class C.

Since 1992 Lon has been the main man behind the scenes with the Le Sueur Henderson American Legion team and served two stints as the team’s Head Coach. Since he has been involved with LS-H Legion Baseball, the club has gone to state eight times and won two DII State titles (winning one as the head coach in 2018) as well as placing third in 2016 also with him being the head coach.

Le Sueur also has hosted State Legion Tournament in 2005, 2009, and 2016 and the Central Plains in 2010 and 2015, all with him doing behind the scenes work to help the tournament run smoothly. When Henderson was ready to start a town team again after almost 70 years of not having one, it was Lon who was the cog behind getting the Tigers set up and was a part of the Tigers squad that went to state in 2017.

During the past 40 years living and coaching in Henderson and Le Sueur, Lon has also found time to build countless connections throughout the Minnesota Baseball Community. Lon has served as a league or regional officer in the Minnesota Amateur Baseball Association since 1983. Also serving as a District rep for Junior Legion Baseball.

In total, 30 Teams Lon has either played for, coached or managed have gone one to the state tournament in their respected level. In the community of Henderson Lon has also been a long-time Henderson Lions Club member and the St. Joseph’s parish council until the church closed in 2023.

In 2022, Lon was awarded the 2022 Minnesota American Legion Baseball Coach of the Year award. In 2023 the Minnesota High School Baseball Coaches Association awarded Lon the Angelo Giuliani Award that recognizes someone who has promoted high school baseball.

Lon has always been able to blend old-school baseball wisdom with the new age technology. It is the classic look that this generation of ball players and fans have come to know about Lon with his glasses at the end of his nose glancing at his phone then yelling to someone out on the field about what might have happened the last time a batter was up or shouting out his endless knowledge of baseball.

The impact that Lon has had on the game of baseball is something that will not be forgotten by the thousands of teammates, players, fellow coaches, or league officials that Lon has worked with his entire life. His legacy will forever be what he has given to this great game.