Dean Brinkman
2023 Hall of Fame Inductee
Sleepy Eye, MN
Sleepy Eye, MN
Dean Brinkman approached the game of baseball like life—with the passion and exuberance of a kid. Beginning with backyard sports with friends to VFW, legion and high school baseball at Sleepy Eye St. Mary’s, Dean was a leader on and off the field and was an essential part in those teams qualifying for multiple state tournaments. Following high school, Dean played one season at Boone Community College in Iowa where he hit an impressive .404 and helped the Bears qualify for the Junior College World Series in 1982. In 1983, Dean transferred to St. Cloud State University and played infield for two seasons before pursuing his Doctor of Chiropractic.
In 1981, Dean began his 20-plus year amateur baseball career where he was known as a power hitting pitcher/shortstop with a lifetime batting average above .300 and over 150 home runs. He played in eight state amateur tournaments for the Sleepy Eye Indians and multiple
years as a draftee, being selected to the All-Tournament team in 1986 and 1995. A highlight of his amateur career was at age 19, when Dean hit a grand slam, a three-run home run, a double and a single, knocking in a whopping 10 runs. He continued to play competitive baseball until his mid-50s. When not playing the game, Dean helped young softball and baseball players develop skills through coaching, supervising open gym and throwing hours of batting practice. He was a driving force behind several ballpark fundraising endeavors, including implementing sponsored signage boards at the ballpark. He also helped coordinate the 100-year anniversary celebration of Babe Ruth’s barnstorming game played at Sleepy Eye Ballpark in 1922.
For over 30 years, Dr. Dean provided care, healing, and friendship to his patients at Sleepy Eye Chiropractic. He was a member of the Lion’s Club, President of the Sleepy Eye Medical Center Foundation, and President of the Sleepy Eye Baseball Boosters.
Dean had four priorities in life--faith, family, caring for others and baseball. He truly personified the philosophy of, “We don’t stop playing when we grow old; we grow old when we stop playing.”
Dean was born to Dr. Don and Donna Brinkman in 1963 and married Sandy (Polesky) Brinkman in 1991. They have three children: Alex, Deonna, and Carter.
Dean crossed home plate to heaven in September 2022.
In 1981, Dean began his 20-plus year amateur baseball career where he was known as a power hitting pitcher/shortstop with a lifetime batting average above .300 and over 150 home runs. He played in eight state amateur tournaments for the Sleepy Eye Indians and multiple
years as a draftee, being selected to the All-Tournament team in 1986 and 1995. A highlight of his amateur career was at age 19, when Dean hit a grand slam, a three-run home run, a double and a single, knocking in a whopping 10 runs. He continued to play competitive baseball until his mid-50s. When not playing the game, Dean helped young softball and baseball players develop skills through coaching, supervising open gym and throwing hours of batting practice. He was a driving force behind several ballpark fundraising endeavors, including implementing sponsored signage boards at the ballpark. He also helped coordinate the 100-year anniversary celebration of Babe Ruth’s barnstorming game played at Sleepy Eye Ballpark in 1922.
For over 30 years, Dr. Dean provided care, healing, and friendship to his patients at Sleepy Eye Chiropractic. He was a member of the Lion’s Club, President of the Sleepy Eye Medical Center Foundation, and President of the Sleepy Eye Baseball Boosters.
Dean had four priorities in life--faith, family, caring for others and baseball. He truly personified the philosophy of, “We don’t stop playing when we grow old; we grow old when we stop playing.”
Dean was born to Dr. Don and Donna Brinkman in 1963 and married Sandy (Polesky) Brinkman in 1991. They have three children: Alex, Deonna, and Carter.
Dean crossed home plate to heaven in September 2022.