La Crosse’s Ties to Major League Baseball
Criteria for this list include having been born, grew up, or attended college in La Crosse County and played in at least one regular season game.
Leon Mark "Biddy" Dolan
Born: 07/09/1881, Onalaska, Wisconsin
Position: First Baseman
Team: Indianapolis Hoosiers (1914)
Died: 07/15/1950, Indianapolis, Indiana
Paul Robert “Bob” Fitzke
Born: 07/30/1900, La Crosse
Education: University of Wyoming, University of Idaho
Position: Pitcher. Team: Cleveland Indians (1924)
Died: 06/30/1950, Sacramento, California
Charles “Chuck” Hockenberry
Born: 12/15/1950, La Crosse
Position: Pitcher
Team: California Angels (1975)
Anthony “Tony” Ghelfi
Born: 08/23/1961, La Crosse
Education: Iowa Western Junior College
Position: Pitcher
Team: Philadelphia Phillies (1983)
Damian Miller
Born: 10/13/1969, La Crosse
Education: Viterbo University
Position: Catcher. Teams: Minnesota Twins (1997), Arizona Diamondbacks (1998–2002), Chicago Cubs (2003), Oakland Athletics (2004), Milwaukee Brewers (2005–2007)
Vincent “Vinny” Rottino
Born: 04/07/1980, Racine, Wisconsin
Education: UW-La Crosse
Position: Catcher, First baseman, Third Baseman, Outfielder
Teams: Milwaukee Brewers (2006–2008), Florida Marlins (2011), New York Mets (2012), Cleveland Indians (2012)
Edward “Koney” “Candy Kid” Konetchy
Born: 9/3/1885, La Crosse
Position: First Baseman
Teams: St. Louis Cardinals (1907–1913), Pittsburgh Pirates (1914), Pittsburgh Rebels of the Federal League (1915), Boston Braves (1916–1918), Brooklyn Robins (1919–1921), and Philadelphia Phillies (1921)
Died: 5/27/1947, Fort Worth, Texas
Francis “Frank” Skaff
Born: 9/30/1910, La Crosse
Education: Villanova University
Position: First Baseman
Teams: Brooklyn Dodgers (1935), Philadelphia Athletics (1943)
Died: 04/12/1988, Towson, Maryland
Thomas “Klaw” Klawitter
Born: 06/24/1958, La Crosse
Education: UW-La Crosse
Position: Pitcher
Team: Minnesota Twins (1985)
George Williams
Born: 04/22/1969, La Crosse
Position: Catcher
Teams: Oakland Athletics (1995-1997), San Diego Padres (2000)
Jarrod Washburn
Born: 08/13/1974, La Crosse
Education: UW-Oshkosh
Position: Pitcher. Teams: Anaheim Angels / Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (1998–2005), Seattle Mariners (2006–2009), Detroit Tigers (2009)
Taylor Kohlwey
Born: 07/20/1994, Holmen
Education: UW-La Crosse
Position: Outfielder
Team: San Diego Padres (2023)
Wilbert “Webb” Schultz
Born: 01/31/1898, Wautoma, Wisconsin
Education: La Crosse Normal School
Position: Catcher. Team: Chicago White Sox (1924)
Died: 07/26/1986, Delavan, Wisconsin
Craig Kusick
Born: 09/30/1948, Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Education: Wisconsin State College, La Crosse
Position: First Baseman, Designated Hitter
Teams: Minnesota Twins (1973-1979), Toronto Bluejays (1979)
Died: 09/27/2006, St. Paul, Minnesota
Jerry Augustine
Born:07/24/1952, Kewaunee, Wisconsin
Education: UW-La Crosse
Position: Pitcher
Team: Milwaukee Brewers (1975-1984)
Scott “Scooter” Servais
Born: 06/04/1967, La Crosse
Education: Creighton University
Position: Catcher
Teams: Houston Astros (1991–1995), Chicago Cubs (1995–1998), San Francisco Giants (1999), Colorado Rockies (2000), San Francisco Giants (2000), Houston Astros (2001)
Jeffrey “Jeff” Schmidt
Born: 02/21/1971, Northfield, Minnesota
Education: Central High School, University of Minnesota
Position: Pitcher
Team: California Angels (1996)
Caleb Boushley
Born: 10/01/1993, Hortonville, Wisconsin
Education: UW-La Crosse
Position: Pitcher
Teams: Milwaukee Brewers (2023), Minnesota Twins (2024)
