The 2023 Hall of Fame Class
Randy Brady - Randy’s career in the MIBL started in the mid-2000s with the Des Moines Miners, who won many league & tournament titles in the 18+ Division. Eventually, Randy found his way to the 25+ Oaks, 35+ Bulldogs & also the 18+ Aces. More championships followed with those teams, with Randy’s powerful bat leading the way. In fact, when hoping to join a 25+ team, John Linden saw/heard him take one round of batting practice & asked him what number he wanted. On a swing that sent the ball to the fence, a completely torn meniscus slowed him down. The next year, he returned to hit a ball into a strong cross-wind for a home run & eventually hung up the cleats after 32 years in the game. Randy is extremely grateful for all the friendships made while playing in the MIBL.
Ken Delaney - Ken's career started with the Des Moines Explorers, who quickly became the 18+ powerhouse, Des Moines Vikings & finished with the Des Moines Pirates in the 35+ league. Ken was one of the league's top pitchers for his entire career & heavily relied on his backstop, Dave Wagner, who is also being inducted with this class. He credits the players around him contributing a lot to his success. This is evidenced by the number of teammates that have already been inducted. However, Ken was a force all his own. He went 10 years without losing a league game, struck out 21 in a game while throwing a one-hitter (the leadoff hitter!) & even led his team one year in home runs with six. Who says pitchers can't hit?! He also threw a 20-K, perfect game & once went through a season never striking out less than 10 batters in a game. Ken is also very proud to have taken the field with his oldest brother, Jeff and his younger brother, Mick.
Scott Etzel - Scott came to the MSBL in 1996 joining the Des Moines Tigers after playing 12 years in the Des Moines Semi-pro Baseball League under his dad, mainly with Midwest Toy. Scott took over at shortstop & was most notable for his strong arm, speed & strong hitting. He was a key member at the top of the lineup of all the Des Moines Tigers success of the late 90s & early 2000s. Scott has also made many trips to Regional & National tournaments. Scott played for the 30+ Demons for a season and after a 10-year absence, joined the 48+ Reds & now continues to commute from his new home in Clear Lake to play with them. In his younger days, Scott was an aggressive & intense player. Defensively, his range & strong arm took away base hits & kept baserunners in check. Offensively, he hit with a high on base percentage while utilizing his speed. He continues to do all of that as Father Time tries to catch him. The relationships he has created through playing in this league are of utmost importance to him.
Gary Frank - Affiliated with the league since its inception, Gary hit the streets with flyers promoting the league in the early days. As one of the starting pitchers of the 28+ MudHens/Tigers, Gary helped establish that team as a perennial powerhouse in the 1990s and early 2000s. A handful of wins in Phoenix also set the groundwork for many future trips to the annual fall tournaments. Gary was a part of the 2014 Fall Classic (Florida) 35+ championship Bruins team as well as the 2017 & 2018 World Series (Phoenix) 25+ championship Bruins teams. Gary’s intangibles contribute to many of his team’s accomplishments to this day. In fact, a tough at-bat in Phoenix in 2022 helped spark an important rally that contributed to a one-run victory for the 45+ Bruins. Gary especially cherishes the friendships the league has helped create as well as the wonderful on-field memories, one of which includes playing at Doubleday Field in Cooperstown with his son, Jason. He’s been witness to many of the feats that have led to so many others, teammates and opponents, being inducted into the MIBL Hall of Fame.
Curt Gomes - Curt has been with the MIBL for nearly 20 years as a player, manager & board member, including a stint as 18+ President. He has played with and/or helped manage the 18+ Astros, 25+ Tigers, 30+ Dragons & 40+ Reds. Curt has also traveled to various regional & national tournaments with great success. Curt has been a successful left-handed pitcher over the years, while also covering ground in the outfield at a high level. As a hitter, Curt can be found hitting the gaps for clutch hits more often than not. Curt is a top ambassador for our league, jumping in to manage expansion teams to get more players involved. He has brought a strong business acumen to our current Board of Directors.
Ford Goodman - When asking any of our Hall of Fame inductees or other players that have been around since the start of our league who was most important to the development of the MIBL, the same name kept coming up. That being Ford Goodman. Ford rediscovered baseball in Kansas City in the early 90s, and even after moving to Des Moines, commuted back and forth to KC in order to catch for his team there. His experience playing in the Phoenix World Series also helped our league put together its very first teams that headed for the desert in the fall. Together with Tim Kirgan, Ford helped launch the MIBL in 1994. Ford had his ACL repaired by Dr. Scott Meyer after injuring it in his 2nd World Series in Phoenix. That encounter with Dr. Meyer set the groundwork for establishing the successful Giants teams of the 90s and early 2000s. As a tech executive, Ford made a professional decision to move back to his roots near San Francisco, CA. Missing the great camaraderie of the MIBL eventually led to hanging up the cleats in exchange for hockey skates and umpiring gear.
Derek Huxford - Hux joined the Des Moines Vikings in 2006 & played on all of the league & tournament winning teams through 2010, including many trips to the national tournaments in Phoenix. After moving to Maryland in 2010 to work as a federal air marshal, Hux returned to Des Moines to work as a Des Moines Police Officer in 2013. Since then, he has played with the 18+ Aces, 25+ Oaks & traveled with the Bruins back to Phoenix. Hux was part of the first 25+ Championship team in 2017 & was named tournament MVP. Hux enjoyed the friendships that were made, some of which were forged during times when he would play up to seven games during a week, traveling to Carroll, IA, Phoenix, Minnesota, Nebraska & Oklahoma. Hux also played regularly with his brother in the Iowa Valley League, Eastern Iowa Hawkeye League & Prairie League. He also played college ball at the University of South Dakota. Hux was always a force to be reckoned with on the mound, on the infield or at the plate. His team’s success was usually fueled by his contributions.
Damian Imhoff - Damian was instrumental with helping the league establish a presence on the eastern side of the metro area. Damian played with the Grinnell Indians in the 18+ division from 1998-2005, managing the team from 2001-2005. He introduced many players to the league & also managed the Grinnell field & umpires for those years. After a few lean years, Damian helped turn that team into strong competitors. In fact, after a 1-14 season in 2001, he led the Indians to a 12-4 record in 2002, losing a 12-inning championship game in the tournament. In 2005, he led the 18+ league in HRs & RBIs. He also played with the Oaks for about four years, made a couple trips to Phoenix, played with the 18+ Astros & then the 25+ Newton Reds from 2007-2015. He also played a few seasons with the 35+ Yankees & 40+ Reds. Damian was fundamentally sound anywhere on the field, while providing a balance of power & speed at the plate. Damian could bunt for a hit with the best of them & always provided a sense of humor in the dugout.
Matt Langford - Matt joined the league in the early 2000s with the 18+ Black Sox. During Matt’s 20 years in the league, Matt managed & played for the 18+ Mets & also played for the 18+ Aces & Astros. He also played for the 30+ Yankees, 30+ Bulldogs & 40+ Grays.
Matt played for team championship titles in the 18+, 35+ & 40+ leagues where he was a perennial leader in ERA, strike outs & team wins. Matt had several double-digit strikeout games each season including a 20-K performance in the 18+ division. Highlighting Matt’s pitching career is 3 no-hitters including one perfect game. Even though Matt was typically known as fierce pitcher, he had a 2-HR performance as a 37-year old batter in the 18+ division, bringing left-handed pop to a batting order. Reflecting on his MIBL experience, Matt highlights the comradery with his teammates, competing versus talented opponents, & winning big games. He credits working hard in season & in the off season, & always giving everything he had to fight for every win in every game. Matt is proud of starting the Mets & growing the league by bringing in new players.
Jose Lara - Jose started playing in the early 2000s with the Diamondbacks, before he helped launch the Des Moines Koras. He played through 2010 when he began coaching his kids on a regular basis which led to all of them going on to play college softball or baseball. Along with help from his dad as Koras manager, he was a major influence on introducing many Hispanic players in the area to our league. This allowed many of his friends to continue playing the game they loved. Playing in front of his children is one thing that Jose is most proud of. In fact, there were many times after a game that the garbage cans would be full of diapers. It was a family affair with the Koras and was always great for our administrators to see. Jose made many trips to Phoenix & other regional tournaments with the Bruins. His solid defense and powerful bat were always a huge addition to any lineup.
Dr. Scott Meyer - Affiliated with the league since its inception, Dr. Meyer credits joining the league with being one of the best decisions he’s ever made. Many players in the league that are unfortunate enough to end up with an injury, likely have spent time in the doctor’s office with Dr. Meyer or one of his colleagues. In fact, one of his early patients was Ford Goodman. When Ford mentioned that he was part of a group trying to start a league in Des Moines, Dr. Meyer decided to get back on the field. He was part of the 28+ Giants from the start, managing the team to its perfect 18-0 record in 1998, even beating the 18+ champions in a one-game showdown. As part of the board of directors, he had a big part in the launch of our league website, which was a big accomplishment at that time (yes, the early days of the internet!). Dr. Meyer attended many fall tournaments up through 2000. After breaking a pinky from a hard comebacker while pitching, and having it cost him six weeks of being able to perform surgery, he made a wise, but difficult decision to hang up the cleats. Dr. Meyer still stays involved as part of our Hall of Fame committee, providing important input on the players from the league’s early days.
Terry Rivera - Terry started his MIBL career in 2004 with the 18+ Dodgers, hitting for the cycle in his very first game. He also played for the 25+ Red Sox, 35+ Yankees, 35+ Cubs, 30+ Reds & 40+ Reds. His teams always competed for & won many titles. As a pitcher, he had a big role in the success of his teams. Terry took the mound with a lively fastball & above average complimentary pitches. When Terry was on the mound, the opponent knew they had to bring their A-game to have a chance that day. As a hitter, Terry was typically plugged into the upper half of the lineup & always delivered a solid average & gap to gap hitting. He enjoyed his time in the dugout competing with & against many talented players.
David Wagner - "Wags" played in the league for 13 years. From 2000 - 2008, he hit cleanup & caught for the 18+ Vikings teams that won six regular season & four tournament titles. He then managed the 35+ Pirates from 2009-2012 who also won a league and tourney title. In total, his teams won 82% of their games (167-35-2). Wags also traveled to many regional & national tournaments with all kinds of success. Wags is being inducted with a battery mate, Ken Delaney. The two of them shared many memorable moments on the field & Ken attributes a lot of his success to his backstops. Wags caught many of Ken's games where he tallied many strikeouts & no-hitters. Wags cherished his time in the league, never taking for granted the fact that he got to play the game 13 years longer than he ever imagined.
Jon Williams - Jon has been affiliated with the MIBL since 2004, with numerous teams including the Miners, Brown Sox, Twins, Bulldogs, Dragons, & multiple Reds teams. He has also been a force with our traveling teams such as the Bruins, Grays & the Father/Son Reds. The league is a special place as it allows him to continue playing the game he loves, forging new friendships along the way, all while demonstrating to his children what it means to be part of a team & how to pursue a passion. Jon has contributed to many league & tournament championships across multiple divisions. As one of the league’s top catchers, he enjoys helping to manage each game as he sees the entire field in front of him. Jon is versatile enough to contribute all over the diamond & is a plus defender wherever he plays. His presence in the middle of the lineup has always brought a high batting average with above average power.
Tyler Williams - Ty has been in the league for 20 years, joining right out of high school. He has played with many teams including the Newton Brewers, Grinnell Indians, DM Astros, Woodpeckers, Yankees & all divisions of the Newton Reds. Ty joins his dad, Bobby, as the first Father-Son members of the MIBL Hall of Fame. Ty used the league as a way to stay sharp during college, but once those days passed, he continued playing due to the love of the game, the comradery & the fact he could take the field with his father, brother & even his son.
Ty would typically be plugged into the 3-spot in the order, making his left-handed bat very valuable to any team. He hits to all fields consistently with power bringing the threat of an extra-base hit each time he steps in the box. Ty loves to volunteer his time to help coach the next generation of players.
The 2020 Hall of Fame Class
Chad Cantrall - Chad was the table-setter for the very successful 18+ Vikings teams of the late '90s and 2000s. He concluded his career with the 35+ Pirates. Chad not only got most games started on a positive note from the leadoff spot, he typically ran down anything that was hit from gap to gap in the outfield. One of the top centerfielders, leadoff hitters & base stealers in our league's history.
Brad Eveland - Brad has been a key member of the league for nearly all of our existence. Another member of the successful Des Moines Giants teams of the mid-90s to early 2000s, Brad also played a key role in forming what was, at the time, our 38+ Division in 2002 (which has since evolved into our 30+/42+/48+ Divisions with Brad's assistance as well). Brad has been instrumental in our relationships with Indianola High School, Indianola Little League & Simpson College. Brad was also a member of the National Champion Father/Son Iowa Cubs in 2007.
Jason McPherson - Not only has Jason been a key member of all three Bruins National Championships (2014, 2017, 2018), he continues to accumulate trophies as a member of the Iowa Oaks (18+), Des Moines Bulldogs (30+) & Des Moines Grays (42+). One of the top left-handed pitchers to take the hill in Central Iowa, Jason, who just moved into the Des Moines area within the last couple years, for many years made the trip over from Cedar Rapids to play nearly every Sunday.
Bob Newman - Bob was one of the original Des Moines Yankees, highly regarded as a 5-tool player during the 1990s. Those that played during that time have stated that Bob was always one of the best players on the field. Bob also won three World Series rings in Phoenix with a team out of Kansas City.
Rob Novak - Rob was a key member of the Des Moines Giants team in the mid-90s to early 2000s, playing a major part of two of the team's undefeated seasons. Rob also traveled with the Bruins to regional and national tournaments. One of the best catchers the league has seen, Rob firmly held down a middle of the order spot in the lineup, hitting for both power and average.
Our most recent National Tournament Champion team was also inducted:
Des Moines Bruins 25+ - The 2018 25+ Cactus Division Champion, Des Moines Bruins, will take their place in the MIBL Hall of Fame. The team repeated as champions at the MSBL World Series in Phoenix in October of 2018.
The 2018 Hall of Fame Class
Rick Fleener - having previously played at UNI & for semi-pro teams in Grinnell & Cedar Rapids, Rick was a staple of a strong Giants rotation in the success of that team in the late 1990s to early 2000s. Rick has enjoyed playing on Father-Son teams with his son Erick (members of the 2007 Iowa Cubs national champions) and has also played in the league with his brother, Dave.
Jason Ickowitz - made his mark hitting anywhere from 2nd to 5th in the order on some of the best teams our league has seen, whether that was the 18+ Vikings, 35+ Pirates or other travel teams. Part of more than a dozen championships, Jason was arguably the best defensive first basemen of his time. Ick could pick! Jason enters the HOF as a top player, outstanding assistant coach & the perfect guy to chat with if you ever made it to 1st base!
Mike Ray - the league’s top 18+ manager of all-time, Mike led his Vikings teams to a .780 regular season winning percentage with eight division titles, six tourney titles & five other runner-up finishes. Mike always hit at the top of the order, setting the table with base hits & stolen bases. He spent his career in the middle infield, mostly at shortstop where he was a wizard defensively. Mike’s level of all-around success in this league will be hard to be matched.
Clay Rickert - a strong hitter, baserunner & defensive catcher throughout his career. If you hear the term “tough as nails”, Clay immediately comes to mind. Clay has managed very competitive teams throughout his 15+ year tenure, leading the 35+ Yankees to three straight division titles. Clay has also served many roles on our Board & continues to be an asset to our league on & off the field.
Chris Tidwell - “Tid” often unleashed a cannon for an arm, throwing strikes to gun out runners from anywhere in the outfield. If one ever got away, the cars in the parking lot were in trouble. A powerful, middle of the order hitter, if you didn’t have someone in a lawn chair up in the trees, you could forget about finding the baseball. “Tid” continues to provide his services & humor as an umpire for our league. Known to many as one of the best teammates you could have.
Jerry Wright - Jerry excelled at every position for the Giants, a perennial powerhouse in the 30+ league in the 1990s & early 2000s. Known as a 5-tool player, Jerry filled important roles in the key positions of pitcher, shortstop, centerfield & catcher while hitting third in a powerful lineup. Jerry also won a MSBL national championship in Arizona playing with a Kansas City team, which helped generate the impetus for the MIBL to send teams to Arizona every fall.
Our League's three National Tournament Champion teams were also inducted:
2007 Iowa Cubs Father/Son World Series Champions - Tempe, AZ – our league’s first national tournament champions, led by co-managers, Brad Eveland & Jerry Perkins, the team went a perfect 7-0, defeating a team from San Diego in the championship, 5-3.
2014 Des Moines Bruins 35+ Central Division Fall Classic Champions - Clearwater, FL – led by general manager, Brian Schueller & field manager, Joe Smith, many on this team had finished as a runner-up several times prior. The team went 6-1, defeating a team from Delaware in the championship, 5-2.
2017 Des Moines Bruins 25+ Cactus Division World Series Champions - Mesa, AZ – led by manager, John Linden & Coach, Joe Smith, the team went a perfect 7-0 defeating a team from Albuquerque, NM in the championship, 11-2.
The 2017 Inaugural Hall of Fame Class
Bill Hyland – a founding member of the MIBL, Bill was part of the New York Yankees farm system in the late 1940s. Hyland’s advancement as a shortstop was blocked by Hall-of-Famer, Phil Rizzuto.
Joe Reser – (Oct. 2, 1962 - December 16, 2016) an active member of our league since its inception as a player, manager & administrator. Reser was a regular attendee & contributor at the annual fall World Series in Phoenix.
Warren Anderson – “5’er” continues as one of our league’s top left-handed pitchers. Anderson has been a player, manager & administrator since our league’s inception.
Mike Bell – one of our league’s most respected umpires, Bell has worked games with a smile on his face for more than 15 years.
David Case – a middle-of-the-order, left-handed power hitter, Case continues to bring a high level of play to each & every game where you will typically find him covering centerfield.
Phil DeVan – a middle-of-the-order, right handed power hitter, DeVan continues to fight off the off-speed pitch in order to hammer a fastball. He has been a player, manager & administrator since our league’s inception. Phil is a member of the national organization’s (MSBL) World Series Hall-of-Fame.
Keith DeWitt – a scrappy hitter & baserunner, DeWitt has been a player, manager & administrator since our league’s inception. He served many years as Treasurer ensuring a balanced budget throughout.
Tim Harvey – one of our league’s more dominant right-handed pitchers, Harvey was handed the ball in many of the biggest games, whether as a Tiger, Bulldog or Bruin & could be counted for a big hit in the middle of the order as well.
Tim Kirgan – one of our league’s top defensive catchers since inception, Kirgan was our league’s first Commissioner, holding that role from 1994-2004. The foundation of our league is due in large part to Kirgan & those he surrounded himself with early on. A member of the MSBL Hall-of-Fame, Kirgan continues to be sought after for his catching abilities at the national level.
John Linden – Linden has been our league’s Commissioner since 2008. Managing & playing in all age divisions, now with his son, Tanner, Linden has been an integral part of over 45 league & tournament titles. A member of the MSBL Hall-of-Fame, as well as a 2016 MSBL Lifetime Achievement Award recipient, Linden has led many of the Bruins traveling teams to successful tournaments across the region & nation.
Scott Littell – Littell has been a top left-handed pitcher since the late ‘90s in each division in which he has participated. He has been an important piece & winning pitcher of many championship teams/games.
Curt Lyons – your prototypical two-hitter, Lyons has a knack for getting on base with solid line drives or well-placed bunts, then successfully stealing a base or two. Has been called one of the top centerfielders in league history by many of his peers.
Robin McQuerry – an umpire since 1996, McQuerry is likely our league’s longest tenured umpire, officiating over 30 championship games. As umpire-in-chief for numerous years, McQuerry was instrumental in ensuring every scheduled game had umpires.
Brian Olson – a member of our league since the mid ‘90s, Olson was a middle-of-order feared hitter while he also managed much of the Des Moines Giants success. He has participated in many World Series in Phoenix, typically at the hot corner (3B).
Brian Schueller – “Schu” became an important part of our league’s administrative side shortly after joining the league in 1997, holding the Commissioner post from 2004-2008. He continues today as VP & Webmaster. On the field, Schueller has played every position over the years, but his success on the mound at national tournaments might be his most surprising statistic with what is believed to be a 13-2 overall record & one big save in an All-Star Game.
Joe Smith – look up five-tool player in the MIBL dictionary & a picture of Smith will appear. Speed & power at the top of the order has helped ignite every team he has played for. Has starred defensively in the middle of the diamond, especially at shortstop. A hard-throwing right-hander on the mound, he can shut a team down as a starter or reliever.
Ron Watson – has won over 200 games over all age divisions as a right-handed pitcher since joining our league in 2000. His knack for “hitting his spots” led to two wins in Florida during the Bruins 2014 title run.
Bobby Williams – “B-Dub” has been a league member & administrator for nearly 20 years. A line-drive hitter at the top of the order and a defensive wizard at second base & shortstop, B-Dub has passed his love for the game on to his two sons who he continues to play with today. He has been the force behind our league’s presence in Newton, IA.
Our League's Six Undefeated Teams were also inducted:
1998 Des Moines Giants, 17-0 – our league’s first undefeated team (30+ division), a perfect regular season& year-end tournament champion, led by manager, Scott Meyer.
2003 Des Moines Vikings, 18-0 – our 18+ division’s first undefeated team, led by manager, Mike Ray.
2003 Des Moines Giants, 17-0 – our league’s first undefeated team at the 28+ level, led by manager, Brian Olson.
2006 Iowa Oaks, 16-0 – led by manager, John Linden, the 28+ Oaks scored 184 runs & allowed only 47 in 13 regular season games. They scored 30 runs in the tournament championship.
2007 Des Moines Bulldogs, 17-0 – our league’s first undefeated team at the 38+ division level, led by manager, David Less.
2016 Des Moines Cubs, 17-0 – our league’s first undefeated team at the 35+ division level, led by manager, Josh Stewart
