Background Articles

It has taken a growing team to build the Legion All-Star program. AT times that team included three members of the Baseball Board: Director Randy Schaub, Adjutant for ZLife Jim Peck, and the communications director Tim Engstrom, all pof whom lent a hand over the lifespan of All-Stars.

Mike Perry and Bruce Barron are given most of the credit for founding the program, however. Mike and Bruce have over 80 years of combined experience in Legion baseball. Mike served 16 years as a district director and state baseball board member followed by 7 years as State Baseball Director (Mike preceded Randy). Mike took on the role of Junior D1 Director when he took over a troubled division that was, shall we say gently, “under managed’ by one board member. Mike built a great team of new leaders, standardized technologies, and laid the foundation for his successor – Jack Strong. Bruce Barron is a Legion Hall of Famer and a National Champion coach – one of just three living champion coaches. Perry tapped Barron and others to advance special projects when he was State Director followed by asking Barron to spearhead new ideas for Legion players and coaches. They share their joint passion for Legion baseball will a growing number of Legion coaches and volunteers that see great opportunities for Minnesota Legion baseball. They both believe that Legion can and should modernize to better thrive in a much-changed baseball landscape. You can like Mike. You can like Bruce. Or not. But you cannot question their lifetimes of commitment and their focus on kids and coaches first. They and the all-star crew took their joy in the success of others. 

Mike and Bruce are perhaps uniquely positioned to know the insides of the baseball apparatus. They know many of today’s board members. They know the constitution “bargain” that was struck between the Minnesota American Legion and the Legion Baseball Board that defines the current baseball system. The State Legion granted near full autonomy to a tiny group of non-elected board members that have lifetime appointments. Total power and control actually rests with just a half dozen people. The Minnesota American Legion essentially created a private board or a private club that determines everything and every experience. Legion baseball is literally dictated to 5,500 players, 1,200 Legion coaches, and 11,000 parents. What is the vision offered by any board member or a board officer? What are their capabilities and skills? Are they team players, or do they hoard the game for themselves? The Minnesota Legion system has always been problematic as current and past leaders, board members, and baseball observers referred to the system and to its people as “dysfunctional”. Indeed, the National American Legion Baseball Director labeled Minnesota as “the most backward state in the country”. 

But this year’s group takes the cake. The conduct and actions taken by this group of so-called leaders is just off the charts – off the hook. It isn’t just All-Stars. We will look at a bigger list.

The All-Star program was created in 2019 for the 2020 seaon. All Stars was established as an official function of the Minnesota Legion Baseball Board - an internal event like a state tournament . At inception, founder Mike Perry, a member of the baseball board as State Junior Director, had just served seven years as the State Baseball Director. Randy Schaub is Mike's successor. The two state directors had weekly "directors" talks at least until September 22, 2024, when Schaub quit all contact with Perry. No phone calls, No emails. Dead silence. What leader does that?   All-Stars was truly an 'inside job". The All-Star effort required hundreds upon hundreds of hours from many volunteers including Legion supporters and Legion coaches. What fun - new people, new ideas, and new energy.  No baseball board member had to help out or even attend, although they were encouraged and invited. One member on the board did offer advice and assistance. It was appreciated. Until that support reversed behind the scenes.

The New State Director  Says Let's Grow and Build - Try New Things

From the outset in 2019. the new State Director Randy Schaub welcomed the All-Star initiative to his new regime. He said he wanted to develop new initiatives and he wanted to grow Legion baseball. He recognized the growth of club baseball.  New opportunities - that was Randy Schaub back then.  All-Stars was just such an initiative. Randy had some other ideas as well. Randy and his vice-director Brandon Raymo promised full support. We promised to create a first-class program. And we delivered.

2023 All-Stars and the Baseball Board In Harmony

2023 had the All-Star effort and the Baseball Board seemingly moving forward  together in lock step. All-Stars was taking a big leap forward with turf fields, more games, two levels (Junior and Senior All-Stars), game jerseys and more.  The number of players jumped dramatically from the initial test in Year 1 leaping from 3 teams to 8 teams . Player numbers increased from 40 to 170.   With a much bigger projected 2023 budget, three fellows (Tim Engstrom, Randy Schaub, and Jim Peck) obtained additional sponsorship with their relationship with Scheels. Randy Schaub and Scheels personnel  participated in 2023 All-Star Opening Ceremonies. 

The new Junior Tournament was a first year success leading us to move it to turf along side of the senior tournament in Roseville. Crowds were surprisingly strong as they came from all over the state to watch Legion All-Stars. 

The development of All-Stars was expected to generate new ideas. It was expected to engage many more poplle inside and outside of Legion baseball. There would be issues, concerns, and opportunities that would need discussion. 

On August 10, 2023, Mr. Barron asked Randy Schaub (for the third time) to establish a formal board liaision or better yet a Development Subcommittee with board members assigned. Randy rolled his eyes, and stated that "You guys are my development committee."  That would leave  Randy to be  our sole point of contact for communications and planning.  Bad answer Randy. The program was growing and we knew better coordination was essential with your baseball board.

The 2023 event had good times and good feelings. With more and better and bigger yet to come. Or so we thought. The seeds of destruction were already sown as it turned out. We just didn't know it at the time.

 All-Stars Took It Another Step Forward - 

The 2024 All-Stars built off the success of the previous year.  Some highligbhts:

• 11 teams on the field - up from 8
• 16 games on the turf fields of Northwestern University and Bethel University 
• Side-by-side Junior and Senior tournaments
• Large Opening Ceremonies with a crowd that packed the stadium
• Broader collaborations and new sponsors that were excitred about Legion baseball
• The Minnesota Twins endorsed Legion All-Stars (for the first time ever) bringing 17 time All-Star Rod Carew to support the event
• Ten televised all-star games drew 4,000 views on our YouTube channel
• Many great Legion coaches came from across the state to help with the event, coach kids on the field, and lend their support in-person. - great support
• 70% of the all-stars (both Junior ans Senior) came from outstate. What an opportunity to play in front of college coaches
• 35 college coaches (a record for any Legion event) attended to coach on the field, speak on a panel, and scout from the stands
• Nearly 100 communities sent in nominations for players - a record
• 84 communities had players selected to all-star teams
• Attendance was the strongest ever with local fans, families, and supporters from across the state coming to support and celebrate Legion baseball
• There were more that two nominees for every all-star spot as interest was exploding - hence our interest in developing an "over flow" event to accomodate more Lewgion players and families
• Many people volunteered to play active roles in the 2025 All-Star program
• People felt renewed excitement for Legion baseball witjh many wanting to do more than just  a one weekend event

Feom the outset. the development of All-Stars was expected to generate other ideas, welcome or not. It was expected to engage many more people inside and outside of Legion baseball. There would be issues, concerns, and opportunities that would need discussion.  Good stuff for Legion Baseball! Indeed, many people were reinvigorated about Legion baseball. There is nothing bad about positive energy.

But negativity seemed to grow behind the scenes - behind the baseball board scene that is.  No one would openly talk about it. But we could see apparent hostility, vanishing communications, and vanishing suppport from the director and his baseball board. The better All-Stars performed, the more the shot-callers on the baseball board aligned in opposition. Insiders in particular pointed  to what we now cal;l "The Substate Grudge of 2023" where a vocal supporter of All-Stars apparently did a 180 degree turn.

Did All Star success scare the Legion Director and his baseball board? 

We called it "Under Cutting". It started in 2023. See the "Under Cutting" chapter below for more info.