MidcoSN

For Lee Goldammer, a baseball has never been far away. Goldammer began playing competitively in his hometown of Canova, South Dakota at an early age. And, by the time he graduated from high school in 1959, he was one of the top pitchers in the state. Professional clubs showed interest, but Goldammer's commitment to family forced his budding baseball career down a different path. "Dad needed help on the farm...It wasn't much of a decision, I stayed home and farmed," Goldammer said. He began suiting up for the "town team" at age 18, beginning one of the most storied careers in South Dakota Amateur Baseball history. In 35 seasons, the man affectionately known as "Goldy" would play on six state championship teams, win over 300 games and strike out more than 4,200 batters. He retired in 1986, only to return to the mound three years later. And now, at the age of 71, he's still throwing... "I've had both hips replaced, a back surgery, a knee scoped, yet the arm is like, it just don't hurt. I can just do it forever, so it's a gift I've been given," Goldammer said. Ironically, Goldammer is now using that gift to help hitters. He's been throwing batting practice for the Augustana College baseball team since 2006. "I called up Dan Richards, who was the coach at the time, to see if there was some way I could help, just do something," Goldammer explained. "So I came out and started throwing, and I guess that's the way it started." Goldy's participation has increased over the years. He's now tossing several times a week. And that arm...Vikings coach Tim Huber says it's just as lively as ever. "There's a ton of stories, since I've been here even, about how long he's thrown, how many pitches. He'll just go until you're done with BP, basically, is how he usually helps," Huber said. "I throw pretty good out here. I don't just lob it in there. I'm throwing it in there, not full speed...and they know it's going to be a strike, too...I say, 'You be ready to swing, it's going to be a strike.'" Goldammer knows he won't be able to say that forever, which is why he's enjoying every minute of the experience. "I don't think I should be throwing yet at this age, but as long as I'm able I'm going to keep on a going," Goldammer said. When the relationship began, no one could have predicted how deep Goldy's impact on the program would be. "I wanted to give back something to baseball. What level, I didn't know...Then I started here and the dugouts were bad, they talked about re-doing dugouts and stuff...and then I mentioned something that maybe I could help Augie in some way," Goldammer said. Goldammer wrestled with that decision for several years, before coming up with a unique way to pay it forward. "I didn't really have cash to give them, but I had some land...it was the family farm, really. The only way I could do it was with land and that's what I did," Goldammer said. Augustana sold the land, and will use the money to help fund a major renovation project at Ronken Field. A turf infield, the first of its kind in South Dakota and the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference, is set to be installed this summer. New dugouts, a backstop, grandstand, and press box will also be completed by the fall of 2012. Goldy's gift won't cover it all, but it's certainly ensured a long-lasting legacy. "My family has been a big part of baseball, they've been my number one fan all of my life, so I really done it in their honor, in memory of my parents and the whole family...It's part of them, too (gets emotional)...I'm glad I did it. I know my parents would be proud and I know my family is proud," Goldammer said. "We couldn't have done it without him stepping up to the plate and being that first guy to get us kick-started," Huber said. "One of these days the good Lord up there is going to say, 'Hey, you're going to pitch batting practice up here next week, we need you up here.' I thought, gosh, I want to see something when I'm here. That's why I really did it. I want to see it when I'm alive, after that everybody else can benefit," Goldammer said.