El Dorado Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum

05/16/2026

Tonight the field that was originally McDonald Field was dedicated as Fowler Field as a tribute to HOF member Kenny Fowler. Kenny started helping Jim McDonald when he was only 8 years old and worked for him for many years once he was old enough.

Park and Recreation Director Kevin Wishart shared his memories of Kenny and introduced HOF member Sam Leben to give the dedication speech. Members of the Fowler family gathered around the pitcher’s mound.

Following the unveiling, Kenny’s grandchildren took turns throwing out first pitches. The very first one was a strike on the inside corner.

04/18/2026

We are getting close to reaching our fundraising goal to build an addition to house Mac's Hoopie and the restoration of the car is really progressing as well. If you are interested in donating, here is the information.

02/12/2026

Here is the obituary for Hall of Famer Dave Beckner. The private family funeral is in Mississippi this Friday. A public celebration of life is tentatively set for Saturday, June 13th from 2:00-4:00 at Walter's Pumpkin Patch. There is a memorial to El Dorado Baseball Hall of Fame, PO Box 413, El Dorado, KS 67042.

View David Arthur Beckner's obituary, send flowers, find service dates, and sign the guestbook.

01/18/2026

Pictured are the expected starting players for El Dorado High School prior to the 1969 season. (L-R): Mike Glendening (OF-C), Tom Higgins (OF), Jeff Swilley (1B), Dave Beckner (SS-P), Gary McEachern (OF), Steve Place (2B), Joe Palmer (C), Herman Lovette (P), Bart Long (3B), Mike Jones (P).

01/18/2026

I am sad to report the passing today of Hall of Famer Dave Beckner. Dave was an outstanding hitter, shortstop and pitcher for EHS and El Dorado American Legion. Dave graduated from EHS in 1969 and played for Post 81 in 1969 and 1970.

Dave was an excellent all-around athlete and leader and was the starting quarterback at EHS for all 3 years of high school in the very tough Ark Valley League even though he was only 14 as a sophomore.

Dave started at QB for the Butler Grizzlies in 1971, although Head Coach Ivan Schottel ran in the plays with the QBs meaning he split time with Kapaun QB Jim Krsnich. Despite only playing a little over half the snaps, Dave finished 3rd in the Jayhawk Conference in passing yards. The first two, were 1 and 2 in the NJCAA.

RIP to a great athlete, friend and person.

10/21/2025

The last living Hall of Fame umpire, Jim Moreland has passed away at the age of 91. Jim umpired hundreds of high school and American Legion games with fellow HOF member, Oral Taylor. The family has estabished a memorial to the El Dorado Baseball Hall of Fame. If you wish to make a tax deductible donation in Jim's memory, please mail it to El Dorado Baseball Hall of Fame, PO Box 413, El Dorado, KS 67042.

View James Henry Moreland's obituary, send flowers and sign the guestbook.

10/13/2025

The 1985 team was not one of the most successful but played a very difficult schedule. Woodward went all the way to the American Legion World Series and finished with a record of 86-12. They said we gave them some of their best competition in the regular season. Shawnee 327 was Shawnee Mission South (winners of the State HS Tournament the week before). Kansas City Shawnee was Shawnee Mission East who was also in the State Tournament. Topeka 400 was a perennial top team in Kansas as was Hays. Hastings was one of the top teams in Nebraska and the Hays Tournament included teams like Cherry Creek and Pueblo Colorado.

10/13/2025

I meant to post this during the summer. Here is the Post 81 team picture from 40 years ago. Pictured are Top Row (L to R):
Head Coach Joe Palmer, Jeff Little, Paul Ralston, Chuck Hamm, Eric Way, Bob McCoy, Tom Haskell, Bob Macy, Asst. Coach Sam Leben.
Middle (L to R): Jamie Van Dever, Marshall Hull, Justin Lucas, Preston Bailey, Mike Ward, David Striegel, Scott Jimison.
Front: Batboy Dan Leben
Not pictured: Mike Sparks, Scott Taylor and Batboy Mike Palmer.

Little, Van Dever and Hull were from Bluestem and Jimison, Sparks and Taylor from Ark City. Taylor is the son of former Ark City Coach Rex Taylor and went on to pitch for KU and then was drafted and compiled a career Minor League record of 93-70 and started 3 games for the Texas Rangers in 1995 compiling a 1-2 record. That made him the only former Post 81 player to ever make it to the Majors.

08/12/2025

55 years ago (1970) Pittsburg upset Wellington to win the Kansas American Legion State Championship. The same week, Joplin won the Missouri State Championship.

On a June road trip, El Dorado Post 81 defeated both eventual State Champions. On Sunday against Pittsburg, Dave Beckner ran his record to 4-1 only allowing 2 singles while striking out 6 and walking 6 and only 1 earned run. Beckner recently recalled that he didn't have his best stuff that day. It was still good enough to 2 hit the State Champs. Dave Hall led the hitting attack for the weekend with 4 hits.

08/10/2025

El Dorado hosted the 1969 5th District American Legion Tournament which drew large crowds. The 300 on opening night might have been the smallest. Between ticket sales and program ads (mostly sold by Sam Leben), the team made enough money to buy new uniforms for 1970. The old uniforms had been worn since 1964.

There might have been some hometown bias in picking the All-Tournament Team with 4 players from the 3rd place team and only 2 from the eventual State Champions.

One player for El Dorado who was an obvious choice was shortstop Dave Beckner who won the tournament batting championship with a .500 average.

Another, catcher Joe Palmer was selected to play in the Kansas East-West All-Star Series. Palmer was one of the best defensive catchers ever for El Dorado American Legion.

08/10/2025

This year's Kansas State Champion, Pittburg lost to the host team, Washington, MO 7-5 and were eliminated by Pontotoc, MS 13-2 in the Mid-South National Regional Tournament. Columbia, TN and Bossier City, LA will meet in the championship game.