Darrell Vosejpka
2022 Hall of Fame Inductee
Lonsdale, MN
Lonsdale, MN
Darrell’s love for baseball began at a young age, playing with his four younger brothers and neighborhood friends on the farm outside Lonsdale, Minnesota. He played youth baseball in Montgomery and when he was 12 years old, he won the state pitch, hit, and throw competition which qualified him for nationals in Detroit. At 14, Darrell began his amateur baseball career with Lonsdale as a right fielder. During his high school career at Montgomery-Lonsdale, Darrell was a three-time all-conference selection as a pitcher/third baseman and played legion ball for Montgomery. After graduating in 1976, Darrell was drafted by the Kansas City Royals in the seventh round. That summer, Darrell played 62 games in Sarasota, Florida as a first baseman and designated hitter.
Darrell returned to Lonsdale after his year in the minors and played amateur ball in Lonsdale for 26 years. He was known as both a power pitcher and power hitter throughout his career and made 21 state tournament appearances, four as a draftee. In 1992, Darrell also played one season for Dundas and helped them advance to the Class B State Tournament.
As much as Darrell made his mark as a player, perhaps he made just as big a mark through coaching. Darrell has coached the Lonsdale-New Market-Veseli (LNMV) Catholic School baseball team, multiple teams within the Lonsdale Little League Program, the DRS Town & Country League and managed the Lonsdale Aces for 11 years. Darrell continues as an assistant coach for the Aces, where he can be found coaching third base. In 2012, Lonsdale retired his #17.
Darrell has been an active participant on the Lonsdale Baseball Board since 1992. Over the years, he was instrumental in building a new grandstand, obtaining new lights and a new scoreboard in addition to other field renovations. Darrell has also done his share of field maintenance over the years and teams with his wife, Sharon, who manages the concession stand.
Off the field, Darrell is a member of the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Lonsdale. There he serves as an usher, has served on the parish council and is a current member of the cemetery board. In past years, Darrell was active in the local food distribution center and served on the LNMV Catholic School Sports Association, raising money for a new gymnasium/senior citizen center where he and Sharon also spent many hours painting, sodding and doing other maintenance work.
Sharon has been at Darrell’s side throughout his baseball career and together they have raised three children, Derek (Kristi) Vosejpka, Brad (Megan) Vosejpka, and Julie (Phil) Tisdel, and have 10 grandchildren.
Darrell returned to Lonsdale after his year in the minors and played amateur ball in Lonsdale for 26 years. He was known as both a power pitcher and power hitter throughout his career and made 21 state tournament appearances, four as a draftee. In 1992, Darrell also played one season for Dundas and helped them advance to the Class B State Tournament.
As much as Darrell made his mark as a player, perhaps he made just as big a mark through coaching. Darrell has coached the Lonsdale-New Market-Veseli (LNMV) Catholic School baseball team, multiple teams within the Lonsdale Little League Program, the DRS Town & Country League and managed the Lonsdale Aces for 11 years. Darrell continues as an assistant coach for the Aces, where he can be found coaching third base. In 2012, Lonsdale retired his #17.
Darrell has been an active participant on the Lonsdale Baseball Board since 1992. Over the years, he was instrumental in building a new grandstand, obtaining new lights and a new scoreboard in addition to other field renovations. Darrell has also done his share of field maintenance over the years and teams with his wife, Sharon, who manages the concession stand.
Off the field, Darrell is a member of the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Lonsdale. There he serves as an usher, has served on the parish council and is a current member of the cemetery board. In past years, Darrell was active in the local food distribution center and served on the LNMV Catholic School Sports Association, raising money for a new gymnasium/senior citizen center where he and Sharon also spent many hours painting, sodding and doing other maintenance work.
Sharon has been at Darrell’s side throughout his baseball career and together they have raised three children, Derek (Kristi) Vosejpka, Brad (Megan) Vosejpka, and Julie (Phil) Tisdel, and have 10 grandchildren.
