James Kubes, Jr.
2022 Hall of Fame Inductee
Lonsdale, MN
Lonsdale, MN
Jim’s love for baseball began at age five, shagging fly balls during his dad’s amateur team practices in Lonsdale. At age seven, Jim played his first youth game with 12- and 13-year-olds and by 16 was playing on the Lonsdale amateur team.
Jim was a dominant pitcher for his high school and legion baseball teams in New Prague. He threw a combined three no-hitters in 1961, helping bring his high school team the conference championship and leading his legion team to the state tournament.
After graduating high school, Jim had the option to sign with the Dodgers, Tigers or Twins. After choosing the Twins, he played with two of their farm teams, even pitching to Tony Oliva in a spring training game in 1962. An arm injury halted his major league dreams after only five games and he returned home to Lonsdale.
Jim played for Lonsdale from 1959 to 1979, where he was primarily a pitcher and catcher. He made a name for himself on the mound, compiling an astounding record of 110 wins and 15 losses. Jim hit over 180 home runs in his career and won nine DRS League batting titles. He was player-manager from 1970 to 1979, helping bring Lonsdale consecutive third-place finishes at the state tournament in 1978 and 1979. In all, he participated in ten state amateur tournaments, including one as a draftee. In honor of Jim’s stellar career, his jersey (#8) was retired on May 20, 2018.
In 1981, Jim helped organize a Legion team in Lonsdale and managed that team for seven years.
Jim started a concrete business in 1975 and employed many in the community. He donated time, money and concrete material for the construction of the concession stand, bathrooms and dugouts at the Lonsdale baseball park in addition to doing many of the little things that are often overlooked.
Jim is a US Navy veteran and served on the Lonsdale Fire Department for 22 years, fifteen years as a pump operator and twelve years as an EMT. Jim also served on the Immaculate Conception Church board in Lonsdale and was festival chairman for many years.
Jim married Marlene Lambrecht in 1963 and they were blessed with three children, Jacqueline (Brett), James (Lori), and Steven (Sheila). After losing Marlene to cancer, Jim married Judy Pesta in 1996 and welcomed her daughter Jackie (Jon) into the family. Jim has seven grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
Jim was a dominant pitcher for his high school and legion baseball teams in New Prague. He threw a combined three no-hitters in 1961, helping bring his high school team the conference championship and leading his legion team to the state tournament.
After graduating high school, Jim had the option to sign with the Dodgers, Tigers or Twins. After choosing the Twins, he played with two of their farm teams, even pitching to Tony Oliva in a spring training game in 1962. An arm injury halted his major league dreams after only five games and he returned home to Lonsdale.
Jim played for Lonsdale from 1959 to 1979, where he was primarily a pitcher and catcher. He made a name for himself on the mound, compiling an astounding record of 110 wins and 15 losses. Jim hit over 180 home runs in his career and won nine DRS League batting titles. He was player-manager from 1970 to 1979, helping bring Lonsdale consecutive third-place finishes at the state tournament in 1978 and 1979. In all, he participated in ten state amateur tournaments, including one as a draftee. In honor of Jim’s stellar career, his jersey (#8) was retired on May 20, 2018.
In 1981, Jim helped organize a Legion team in Lonsdale and managed that team for seven years.
Jim started a concrete business in 1975 and employed many in the community. He donated time, money and concrete material for the construction of the concession stand, bathrooms and dugouts at the Lonsdale baseball park in addition to doing many of the little things that are often overlooked.
Jim is a US Navy veteran and served on the Lonsdale Fire Department for 22 years, fifteen years as a pump operator and twelve years as an EMT. Jim also served on the Immaculate Conception Church board in Lonsdale and was festival chairman for many years.
Jim married Marlene Lambrecht in 1963 and they were blessed with three children, Jacqueline (Brett), James (Lori), and Steven (Sheila). After losing Marlene to cancer, Jim married Judy Pesta in 1996 and welcomed her daughter Jackie (Jon) into the family. Jim has seven grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
