South Dakota Baseball Hall of Fame
Lake Norden, South Dakota

2011 Inductees

The 2011 induction class into the South Dakota Amateur Baseball Hall of Fame includes five men who made their mark on the game in a variety of areas. The new inductees are Brad Oswald of Flandreau, Ed Risse of Martin, Bill Ernster of Parkston, Jim Heirigs of Sioux Falls and Dennis Simon of Brandon.  The group will be honored during the State Amateur Baseball Tournament Aug. 3-14 in Mitchell and also during the induction banquet scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 24 at the Pony Creek Steakhouse in Parkston.  The banquet will begin with a social hour at 5 p.m., followed by dinner at 6 p.m. and the ceremony. 

More details on the banquet will be finalized later. For information on tickets, contact Ernster at 605-928-7270.


Here is a capsule look at each of the new Hall of Famers:

Brad Oswald
Oswald’s baseball talent was evident from an early age. He was a key member of the 1968 Canova teener team won the State B championship and advanced to the championship game of a national regional tournament before losing to eventual national champion West Allis, Wis.  He played two years of American Legion baseball in Canova and batted third as a pickup player for the Canova amateur team that won the State Amateur title.  That was the start of a 16-year amateur career in which Oswald slugged an estimated 220 home runs.
During his career, which included stints with amateur teams in Flandreau and Dell Rapids, Oswald played in the state tournament every year but one.  His best season came in 1976 when he slugged 26 home runs for Canova. Evidence of his powerful bat came in a 1982 game with Flandreau when he was walked intentionally seven times.  Oswald retired from the game to coach his two sons’ Teener and Legion teams, which he did for 10 years.

Ed Risse
Risse is the third member of his family — joining brothers Chuck (1995) and Dave (2006) — to be inducted into the S.D. Amateur Baseball Hall of Fame. The oldest of the notable Risse brothers who helped the Martin Merchants enjoy a string of amateur baseball success from the late 1950s to the early 1970s, Ed made his mark as a centerfielder during an amateur baseball career that spanned 25 years.  Risse participated in 15 state tournaments — including 12 in a row. Ten of those were with the Martin team. He consistently posted season batting averages between .350 and .450.  A Korean War veteran who was awarded the Bronze Star for saving one of his fellow serviceman’s life, Ed’s love of baseball started at a young age and continued well after his playing career. He coached teams at various levels and has continued to serve as a mentor and supporter to his grandsons, granddaughters, nephews, nieces, grand nephews and grand nieces — attending their games and always giving advice and words of encouragement.

Bill Ernster
Ernster’s involvement in South Dakota amateur baseball has spanned nearly five decades and continues to this day with his duties as the District 5 commissioner, a position he has held since 1991.  Before that, Ernster enjoyed a 20-year career as a player, coach, manager and groundskeeper. From 1983 to 1987, he managed both the Parkston amateur and Legion baseball teams — a busy schedule that often included games at least four days of the week.  As a player, he was a member of two state championship teams — Salem in 1964 and Parkston in 1968. He was a catcher-right fielder on the 1968 Parkston team that completed a storybook tournament by winning the state championship on its home field.  He earned all-tournament honors as a catcher in 1969 when Parkston advanced to the semifinals before losing 1-0 to Rapid City Macy’s. He played in many other state tournaments with Parkston and as a pickup player with teams from Mt. Vernon and Mitchell.  In 1983, Ernster was presented a Distinguished Service Award from the Parkston City Council for his number hours of dedication to the city’s baseball field. He was also inducted into the S.D. Baseball Umpires Hall of Fame in 1994.

Jim Heirigs
Heirigs’ 27-year amateur baseball career began at 16 in Irene and also included stints with teams from Freeman, Yankton and Renner before he retired from the game in 1983.  His talent is evidenced by the success his teams enjoyed in state amateur tournaments — compiling a 43-16 record in tournament play. He was a first baseman, outfielder and pitcher throughout his career, earning all-tournament honors a number of times.  Eight of Heirigs’ teams advanced to state championship games, winning four championships and placed second four times.
His first state championship came in 1965 as a pickup player for Salem. He also played for state championship teams from Yankton (1969) and Renner (1980 and 1983).  Heirigs also played for South Dakota teams that played in the Men’s Senior Baseball World Series from 1994 to 2001, winning their division in 1994 and 1995.

Dennis Simon
Like Oswald, Simon is one of the most notable sluggers in South Dakota amateur baseball history — smacking 317 home runs during a 25-year career as an outfielder, infielder and pitcher with the Larchwood (Iowa) team.  He was far from an all-or-nothing slugger, compiling a .372 career batting average with more than 500 walks and 800 runs batted in.  Simon was the state-tournament batting champion in 2001 at the age of 44, posting a .538 average on the way to all-tourney honors. He also had a five-hit game in the state tournament.  He has remained involved in the game as a youth coach for two decades — serving as Sioux Falls Washington High School’s head coach from 2000 to 2004 and Brandon Valley High School’s head coach from 2005 to 2010.


Roger Merriam
Sports Editor
Public Opinion

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