Greg 'Ode' Odegaard
2026 Hall of Fame Inductee
Arlington, MN
Arlington, MN
Greg grew up in Arlington, where baseball was a central part of his life. In high school, he was an All-Conference selection in football, basketball and baseball at Arlington/Green Isle High School where he helped lead the baseball team to a third-place finish in the 1976 State Tournament as a junior catcher. Greg also played Legion baseball for Arlington from 1972 to 1977.
After graduation, Greg continued his baseball career at Mankato State University from 1978 to 1981 where he was primarily a hard-throwing right-handed pitcher and first baseman. He hit a key home run to send his team to the 1980 NCAA Division II College World Series, where MSU finished third. He also earned a win on the mound against Florida International during that tournament. In his senior year in 1981, Greg served as team captain and was named to the NIC All-Conference team.
Greg played amateur baseball for the Arlington A’s from 1975 to 1992 and was a member of championship teams in 1979, 1984 and 1985, earning tournament MVP honors in both 1984 and 1985. He and his son, Christopher, are recognized as the only father and son MVPs in state tournament history, an accomplishment which Greg is especially proud of. In all, he was selected to the All-Tournament team five times. Greg later played for the Glencoe Brewers from 1993 to 1998 and was a member of the 1998 State Championship team as well. He managed the A’s for seven seasons and coached youth and Legion baseball in Arlington/Green Isle for many years and still mentors young players whenever asked. Greg was inducted into the inaugural Arlington A’s Hall of Fame in 2000. In addition, Greg served 17 years as an umpire with Northwest Umpires, working both high school and amateur games.
Greg served as Treasurer on Arlington’s baseball board for twelve years. He also dedicated countless hours to maintaining Arlington’s baseball field, helping make it one of the premier fields in Minnesota. Greg served as a deacon at First Evangelical Lutheran Church in Glencoe for eight years, assists with fundraising for the Plato Blue Jays and contributed many volunteer hours during the construction of the Glencoe-Silver Lake athletic complex.
Greg attributes much of his success to his parents, Ray and Pearl; his wife, RaNaye; his sons, Christopher (Katie) and Matthew (Paige); his daughter, Courtney (Chris); and his eight grandchildren.
After graduation, Greg continued his baseball career at Mankato State University from 1978 to 1981 where he was primarily a hard-throwing right-handed pitcher and first baseman. He hit a key home run to send his team to the 1980 NCAA Division II College World Series, where MSU finished third. He also earned a win on the mound against Florida International during that tournament. In his senior year in 1981, Greg served as team captain and was named to the NIC All-Conference team.
Greg played amateur baseball for the Arlington A’s from 1975 to 1992 and was a member of championship teams in 1979, 1984 and 1985, earning tournament MVP honors in both 1984 and 1985. He and his son, Christopher, are recognized as the only father and son MVPs in state tournament history, an accomplishment which Greg is especially proud of. In all, he was selected to the All-Tournament team five times. Greg later played for the Glencoe Brewers from 1993 to 1998 and was a member of the 1998 State Championship team as well. He managed the A’s for seven seasons and coached youth and Legion baseball in Arlington/Green Isle for many years and still mentors young players whenever asked. Greg was inducted into the inaugural Arlington A’s Hall of Fame in 2000. In addition, Greg served 17 years as an umpire with Northwest Umpires, working both high school and amateur games.
Greg served as Treasurer on Arlington’s baseball board for twelve years. He also dedicated countless hours to maintaining Arlington’s baseball field, helping make it one of the premier fields in Minnesota. Greg served as a deacon at First Evangelical Lutheran Church in Glencoe for eight years, assists with fundraising for the Plato Blue Jays and contributed many volunteer hours during the construction of the Glencoe-Silver Lake athletic complex.
Greg attributes much of his success to his parents, Ray and Pearl; his wife, RaNaye; his sons, Christopher (Katie) and Matthew (Paige); his daughter, Courtney (Chris); and his eight grandchildren.