Minnetonka's Gopher Legion Classic Celebrates 40 Years
MINNETONKA, Minn. (WCCO) -- Baseball season comes in many forms for many teams.
Forty years ago, they had an idea in Minnetonka to put together a legion tournament for local teams. Forty years later, it features 96 teams from all over the country. WCCO's Mike Max paid a visit.
On a beautiful day, they play baseball. This is the Gopher Classic Legion Tournament. They've been doing it since 1976, because of a gas shortage?
"Well in the 70s we had a gas crunch you'd line up for a couple hours to get a tank of gas so we had a tournament where people didn't have to go very far. We started with either eight or 12 teams," Jim Peck said.
Now there are 96 teams from across the country. Yes, Jim Peck has been there ever since day one, the colorful cornerstone of the Minnetonka/Excelsior Program.
"And baseball was his love, and he came up through the ranks. What we would call Babe Ruth, VFW baseball, and then moved on and decided we've got to have a legion program that represents our community," Minnetonka baseball coach Paul Twenge siad.
See this game and this tournament are synonymous with Peck.
"Endless hours every summer and in the winter too with all the fundraising he does to help kids have great experiences in their legion programs," St. John's University baseball coach Jerry Haugen said.
The game itself is the fuel, and the pride that has come from it create an energy.
"Love it, love it," Peck said. "At this age with the kids and the game itself, it's what I do."
It's been magical since the country turned 200 years old. Little did they know when they started it what it would become.
