The Museum of the South Dakota State Historical Society at the Cultural Heritage Center in Pierre is hosting a program about the former Basin League of baseball teams from South Dakota on Saturday, June 20, at 2 p.m.
Reid Riner and the Minnilusa Historical Association will present “Hit ‘Em Where They Ain’t: A Brief History of the Basin League,” in conjunction with the new exhibit “Play Ball! The National Pastime in South Dakota” at the Cultural Heritage Center. Riner is the executive director of the Minnilusa Historical Association and operates the Pioneer Museum at the Journey Museum in Rapid City.
There is no fee to attend the program but there will be an admission fee to visit the baseball exhibit and museum galleries.
Winner was one of the cities that hosted a Basin League team with Jim Palmer playing ball here in Winner. The last coach of the Basin League team was Harry Wise of Colorado.
From 1953 to 1973, 11 cities in South Dakota hosted baseball teams from the Basin League. An amateur league, most players were college stars, although all teams had some journeymen Major League players. Future stars that played in the league included Bob Gibson, Jim Palmer, Frank Howard and Don Sutton.
“We are especially excited to bring Reid Riner to the Cultural Heritage Center to talk about the Basin League,” said Jay Smith, museum director. “The Basin League played a major role in the history of baseball in South Dakota, and many of our patrons may remember attending Basin League games as youth.”
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