It was a day of baseball and history at Bruce Steinbecker Field last Friday.
Manitowoc Lincoln baseball hosted its first annual “Ships Baseball Alumni Day” prior to its game against the Plymouth Panthers.
Manitowoc Public Schools Athletic and Activities Director Stan Dietrich called it, “a way to honor those past athletes who’ve contributed to all the great memories and rich tradition and history of baseball in Manitowoc.”
Many made trips from around the country to participate, including 1987 graduate John Matson, who came all the way from Texas.
“One of my older brothers played for the first coach Frank Kranitz, I got to play for Gene Mann, and my nephew plays for the current coach, Bruce Steinbecker,” he explained. “Manitowoc Lincoln baseball is steeped in tradition, and I’m blessed just to be a part of it.”
Steinbecker is just the third in the 75-year history of Ship’s baseball.
He tells SeehaferNews.com that he learned early on to honor and respect those who paved the way for future generations.
“Gene Mann was always a big numbers man and stressed the importance of savoring every season and cherishing everything from team pictures to statistics,” he recalled. “One of the first things that was impressed upon me was to celebrate the alumni and care about everyone who put on that Ships uniform.”
One of those is soon-to-be 92-year-old Bob Lutz, who graduated and played shortstop for the Ships in 1954, and threw out the first pitch.
“We played across the street (at what’s now known as Ron Rubick Municipal Field),” he reminisced. “Bruce Steinbecker Field is truly an amazing facility for these kids to play on. I wish I could play on it just once.”
Lutz attends every home game, adding that he’s moved to tears when he comes to watch the Ships play.
The Ships rallied to defeat Plymouth 7-2 and try for their fifth win in six games this afternoon (May 4th) as they host Notre Dame Academy of Green Bay with first pitch scheduled for 4:30 p.m.
