Luther Dorr
2022 Hall of Fame Inductee
Princeton, MN
Princeton, MN
Luther’s love of baseball began at age seven while listening to the 1949 World Series on the radio at home in Tracy, Minnesota. After his family moved to rural Princeton a few years later, he began hanging around the town team at nearby Santiago. At age 13, he played his first organized baseball for Santiago. That was the beginning of a 48-year career in amateur baseball where Luther played in six different decades.
Luther played high school baseball at Bethany Lutheran High School in Mankato while playing legion ball in Princeton. He played one year at Bethany Lutheran College where he was their top pitcher and hit seven home runs. Luther then enlisted in the U.S. Army and was stationed at Fort Riley, Kansas. In 1964, he was sent to Camp McCoy in Wisconsin and played town team baseball with nearby Sparta while continuing to play for Santiago, making trips home on the weekend to pitch. He once pitched a complete game for Santiago on a Sunday afternoon and then threw in relief that night for Sparta on his return trip to Camp McCoy.
In 1970, after 14 seasons with Santiago, Luther joined the Princeton Panthers and played another 34 seasons, retiring at age 60 in 2003. At one point during his career, Princeton went to eight straight state amateur tournaments, finishing second in 2000. He was also drafted as a pitcher four times. Known as a power pitcher, Luther struck out many hitters throughout his career, while also amassing great numbers as a hitter. He was featured in the Star Tribune as the Pitcher of the Week on three occasions. Luther was fortunate to play with his son for 21 years and they homered in the same inning twice, once when Luther was 50.
After being discharged from the Army in 1965, Luther began his career as a writer and later editor of the Princeton newspaper, covering sports in the area for the last 54 years. He also participated in radio broadcasts of the high school and legion teams in Princeton.
Luther is currently the District 10 Legion Baseball Commissioner. He has also been active with the East Central Minnesota Editorial Board, United Fund, Jaycees, Our Saviors Lutheran Church Board and served two years as Commander of American Legion Post 216. Luther also manages the finances for the local baseball field and legion program.
Luther is the father of Brian and Tanya and has five grandchildren.
Luther played high school baseball at Bethany Lutheran High School in Mankato while playing legion ball in Princeton. He played one year at Bethany Lutheran College where he was their top pitcher and hit seven home runs. Luther then enlisted in the U.S. Army and was stationed at Fort Riley, Kansas. In 1964, he was sent to Camp McCoy in Wisconsin and played town team baseball with nearby Sparta while continuing to play for Santiago, making trips home on the weekend to pitch. He once pitched a complete game for Santiago on a Sunday afternoon and then threw in relief that night for Sparta on his return trip to Camp McCoy.
In 1970, after 14 seasons with Santiago, Luther joined the Princeton Panthers and played another 34 seasons, retiring at age 60 in 2003. At one point during his career, Princeton went to eight straight state amateur tournaments, finishing second in 2000. He was also drafted as a pitcher four times. Known as a power pitcher, Luther struck out many hitters throughout his career, while also amassing great numbers as a hitter. He was featured in the Star Tribune as the Pitcher of the Week on three occasions. Luther was fortunate to play with his son for 21 years and they homered in the same inning twice, once when Luther was 50.
After being discharged from the Army in 1965, Luther began his career as a writer and later editor of the Princeton newspaper, covering sports in the area for the last 54 years. He also participated in radio broadcasts of the high school and legion teams in Princeton.
Luther is currently the District 10 Legion Baseball Commissioner. He has also been active with the East Central Minnesota Editorial Board, United Fund, Jaycees, Our Saviors Lutheran Church Board and served two years as Commander of American Legion Post 216. Luther also manages the finances for the local baseball field and legion program.
Luther is the father of Brian and Tanya and has five grandchildren.
