Charlie Hennen
2025 Glenn Carlson Distinguished Service Honoree
St. Martin, MN
St. Martin, MN
Charlie was born in 1952 and grew up on a farm north of St. Martin and developed a love for baseball at an early age. He played Little League baseball in the Little Dipper League when he was younger and later played legion baseball for St. Martin in the Big Dipper League before playing football and baseball at Paynesville High School.
Years later after Charlie returned to St. Martin, he and a friend started a new team in the Little Dipper League when the number of kids in the area had risen. He managed that team for 33 years from 1977-2009. Charlie was President of the Little Dipper League from 1984-2009, and during this time, he managed the legion team in St. Martin for several years. He also umpired youth and amateur baseball in the area for many years, often as a volunteer. He organized three Old-Timers games in 1986, 1991 and 2008 and has been a mainstay at the ballpark for well over 40 years where he can be found either working in the concession stand or selling tickets at the gate nearly every game night.
Charlie is a member of Lake Henry American Legion Post #612 who sponsors both the Little Dipper and Big Dipper Leagues. Since 1982, when a storm destroyed much of St. Martin’s baseball diamond, he has been the chairman of the annual St. Martin Baseball Breakfast that raises money to make repairs on the St. Martin baseball field and concession stand. From its humble beginnings, this breakfast now serves over 1,700 people each year. When wet grounds were a consistent problem at St. Martin’s diamond in the early 1980s, Charlie was one of the main cogs to get the field tiled in 1984 by soliciting donations from his neighbors and friends.
Charlie is a great supporter of baseball of all ages. As a member of the Stearns County Historical Association, he is a researcher for St. Martin and Lake Henry baseball history and the go-to person when questions arise. At his home, he has a mini baseball museum that houses baseball memorabilia, historical newspaper articles, pictures and old jerseys extending back to the 1940s.
In 1975, Charlie married his wife, Mary, and together they have six children—Craig (Taryn), Carlton (Sheri), Clayton (Amy), Calvin (Katrina), Maria (Adam Bertram) and Chas along with 15 grandchildren.
Years later after Charlie returned to St. Martin, he and a friend started a new team in the Little Dipper League when the number of kids in the area had risen. He managed that team for 33 years from 1977-2009. Charlie was President of the Little Dipper League from 1984-2009, and during this time, he managed the legion team in St. Martin for several years. He also umpired youth and amateur baseball in the area for many years, often as a volunteer. He organized three Old-Timers games in 1986, 1991 and 2008 and has been a mainstay at the ballpark for well over 40 years where he can be found either working in the concession stand or selling tickets at the gate nearly every game night.
Charlie is a member of Lake Henry American Legion Post #612 who sponsors both the Little Dipper and Big Dipper Leagues. Since 1982, when a storm destroyed much of St. Martin’s baseball diamond, he has been the chairman of the annual St. Martin Baseball Breakfast that raises money to make repairs on the St. Martin baseball field and concession stand. From its humble beginnings, this breakfast now serves over 1,700 people each year. When wet grounds were a consistent problem at St. Martin’s diamond in the early 1980s, Charlie was one of the main cogs to get the field tiled in 1984 by soliciting donations from his neighbors and friends.
Charlie is a great supporter of baseball of all ages. As a member of the Stearns County Historical Association, he is a researcher for St. Martin and Lake Henry baseball history and the go-to person when questions arise. At his home, he has a mini baseball museum that houses baseball memorabilia, historical newspaper articles, pictures and old jerseys extending back to the 1940s.
In 1975, Charlie married his wife, Mary, and together they have six children—Craig (Taryn), Carlton (Sheri), Clayton (Amy), Calvin (Katrina), Maria (Adam Bertram) and Chas along with 15 grandchildren.