“Rippey is a baseball town” is a written description embedded on a large rock outside the center field fence. Baseball will once again be played in Rippey with a scheduled tournament May 14, 15, and 16. The first Rippey game was played in the 1880s and the team was called Hard Scrabble Boys. People walked or rode horseback or came in buggies for those Sunday afternoon games.
Some 140 years later, the South Dakota Jakalopes, the Crystal Cubs, and the St. Michael Angels from Minnesota are coming to play with the rebirthed Rippey Demons, beginning Friday evening, May 14, at 6 pm. Four games will be played Saturday, and concluding with two games on Sunday morning. This tournament is the fulfillment of many hours of labor to upgrade the field and the grounds, including the classic wooden grandstand.
With financial contributions coming from many individuals who played baseball in the 1940s-60s, along with the Greene County board of supervisors and the Greene County Community Foundation, the field and grounds are looking good. The safety track on the field has been widened, the wooden grandstand re-furbished to assure safe seating for fans, along with the donation of new bases and a homeplate.
The current ballfield was built in 1940 and called the Martin Field, as “Grandpa” Martin was the only Civil War veteran living in Greene County at that time. In 1949 lights were added through a broad community effort by selling $50.00 shares to 100 persons.
It was not until 1959 the electronic scoreboard was added to show not only the score, but the number of strikes and pitches being called by the umpire.
The field has been re-named to Walt Anderson Field to honor Walt, who was an avid baseball fan and general promoter of Rippey baseball. The field hosted the finals of the Iowa baseball tournament in 1953.
Rippey baseball commissioner Mel Murken, along with his helper Merle Jackson, have spent numerous hours scraping, and then repainting the dugouts and grandstand. Their labors have also extended to the playing field, assuring the infield is level and avoiding unexpected hops with the ball.
David Hick, who played for East Greene on this field in the ‘70s, has been instrumental in bringing this tournament to Rippey. A side economic benefit is the out-of-state players will be staying at the Cobblestone in Jefferson, and consuming food and beverages locally.
Kevin Hick and the Friends of Rippey will be serving pulled pork sandwiches and other concessions during the tournament, with all profits going to further improve the ball diamond and grounds.
“Come and listen for the crack of the bat, enjoy baseball concession food, and visit with others who love baseball,” a spokesperson said.
