Mark Davis
2023 Hall of Fame Inductee
St. Peter, MN
St. Peter, MN
Mark Davis, a lifelong baseball enthusiast, has nurtured his love for the game for over eight decades. He started playing little league baseball in St. Peter in the late 1940s and played the game at every level growing up. In high school, he was an accomplished running back in football, played basketball and also baseball where he was the left fielder for St. Peter’s third place team in the 1957 Minnesota State High School Baseball Tournament. He went on to play a year of football at Gustavus Adolphus College before transferring to Mankato State and graduating with degrees in Business, Political Science and Economics in 1963.
Mark began his 26-year amateur baseball career with St. Peter in the River Valley League at the age of 17. After a three-year stint with Mankato in the Southern Minny League during his college years, he went back home to play for St. Peter until his retirement in 1983. During his career, he played all positions except catcher, but was primarily a center fielder. He hit well above .300 for his career and participated in state amateur tournaments in 1972 and 1973. Mark continues to play in Minnesota Twins Fantasy Camps and Roy Hobbs Baseball.
As a prominent figure in the U.S. dairy industry, Mark has garnered numerous awards for his outstanding achievements in both business and philanthropy. Mark and his company, Davisco Foods International, have made substantial contributions to various organizations such as Junior Achievement and Mankato State’s Business Department. In addition to awarding many college academic scholarships, his family donates to a wide range of programs and fields benefiting young players, high schools, colleges, and town ball organizations, particularly in the St. Peter area. This dedication and generosity of his family's philanthropic support has spanned over 40 years. Mark has also been on numerous boards in both the business world and in his community and has been honored in four Halls of Fame.
Mark’s wife, Mary, is an avid baseball aficionado in her own right and has been at his side through it all. They were married in 1962, and have spent many nights at the ballpark with all the Davis children, Mitch (Laurie), Marty (Anne), Matt (Kristi), Julie (Tom Rydeen) and Jon (Jenny) along with his 18 grandchildren and three great grandchildren.
Mark began his 26-year amateur baseball career with St. Peter in the River Valley League at the age of 17. After a three-year stint with Mankato in the Southern Minny League during his college years, he went back home to play for St. Peter until his retirement in 1983. During his career, he played all positions except catcher, but was primarily a center fielder. He hit well above .300 for his career and participated in state amateur tournaments in 1972 and 1973. Mark continues to play in Minnesota Twins Fantasy Camps and Roy Hobbs Baseball.
As a prominent figure in the U.S. dairy industry, Mark has garnered numerous awards for his outstanding achievements in both business and philanthropy. Mark and his company, Davisco Foods International, have made substantial contributions to various organizations such as Junior Achievement and Mankato State’s Business Department. In addition to awarding many college academic scholarships, his family donates to a wide range of programs and fields benefiting young players, high schools, colleges, and town ball organizations, particularly in the St. Peter area. This dedication and generosity of his family's philanthropic support has spanned over 40 years. Mark has also been on numerous boards in both the business world and in his community and has been honored in four Halls of Fame.
Mark’s wife, Mary, is an avid baseball aficionado in her own right and has been at his side through it all. They were married in 1962, and have spent many nights at the ballpark with all the Davis children, Mitch (Laurie), Marty (Anne), Matt (Kristi), Julie (Tom Rydeen) and Jon (Jenny) along with his 18 grandchildren and three great grandchildren.