Dale Decker
2022 Hall of Fame Inductee
Maple Lake, MN
Maple Lake, MN
Dale played his first organized baseball for Howard Lake’s legion team as an eighth grader. He played his high school baseball for Howard Lake-Waverly earning all-conference honors all four years, graduating in 1975. Dale went on to play at the University of Minnesota-Morris from 1976-1979 and was an NSIC all-conference selection his sophomore, junior and senior years.
Dale’s 24-year amateur baseball career with the Maple Lake Lakers began in 1975. By 1977, Maple Lake had built a state tournament team and became dominant in the Wright Star League for many years. Dale played first base and third base, but was primarily a pitcher. As a hard-throwing right-hander, Dale compiled a 58-9 career regular season record with a 2.69 ERA. As a hitter, Dale had a .376 career batting average, with 65 home runs and 350 RBIs.
Dale participated in 18 state amateur tournaments as a player, 14 with Maple Lake and four as a draftee. After his playing career, Dale managed the Lakers from 2008-2010 and led them to a third-place finish in the Class B State Amateur Tournament in 2008. Dale also co-chaired state amateur tournaments hosted by Maple Lake in 2013 and 2019.
Dale is a member of the Maple Lake Lion’s Club, is an usher at St. Timothy’s Catholic Church, is a substitute teacher at Maple Lake Schools, officiates youth football and basketball, and umpires games for Maple Lake’s legion, VFW, high school and youth teams. Dale taught for 35 years at Howard Lake-Waverly High School and was Athletic Director for 24 years. He also coached varsity football, basketball and baseball at various times and coached youth baseball teams in Maple Lake for six years. Dale was elected to the North Star League Hall of Fame in 2008 and the Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted Hall of Fame in 2018.
Throughout the years, Dale was supported by his wife, Vicki, and their four children: Brandi, Cody, Riley and Brooke. Baseball is still a big part of their lives, with son Riley playing and managing the Lakers, while Dale sells tickets, works concessions and orders supplies for the Laker concession stand.
Dale’s 24-year amateur baseball career with the Maple Lake Lakers began in 1975. By 1977, Maple Lake had built a state tournament team and became dominant in the Wright Star League for many years. Dale played first base and third base, but was primarily a pitcher. As a hard-throwing right-hander, Dale compiled a 58-9 career regular season record with a 2.69 ERA. As a hitter, Dale had a .376 career batting average, with 65 home runs and 350 RBIs.
Dale participated in 18 state amateur tournaments as a player, 14 with Maple Lake and four as a draftee. After his playing career, Dale managed the Lakers from 2008-2010 and led them to a third-place finish in the Class B State Amateur Tournament in 2008. Dale also co-chaired state amateur tournaments hosted by Maple Lake in 2013 and 2019.
Dale is a member of the Maple Lake Lion’s Club, is an usher at St. Timothy’s Catholic Church, is a substitute teacher at Maple Lake Schools, officiates youth football and basketball, and umpires games for Maple Lake’s legion, VFW, high school and youth teams. Dale taught for 35 years at Howard Lake-Waverly High School and was Athletic Director for 24 years. He also coached varsity football, basketball and baseball at various times and coached youth baseball teams in Maple Lake for six years. Dale was elected to the North Star League Hall of Fame in 2008 and the Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted Hall of Fame in 2018.
Throughout the years, Dale was supported by his wife, Vicki, and their four children: Brandi, Cody, Riley and Brooke. Baseball is still a big part of their lives, with son Riley playing and managing the Lakers, while Dale sells tickets, works concessions and orders supplies for the Laker concession stand.