Hall of Fame Induction
Brad Tucker of Rapid City and Paul Karst of Peever will be inducted into the South Dakota Baseball Umpires Association Hall of Fame in 2026, a recognition that reflects decades of dedication to the sport.
Event Details
The ceremony will take place as part of the South Dakota State Amateur Baseball Tournament in Mitchell, where the two men will be celebrated alongside other honorees.
Brad Tucker’s Journey
Tucker’s journey began on a ranch near Wood, where he graduated from Wood High School in 1976 before earning a degree from Dakota Wesleyan University in Mitchell in 1981.
Coaching and Administrative Career
After stints coaching football at Wood and New Underwood from 1982 to 1996, Tucker moved to Rapid City, where he became a multi‑sport official and spent 32 years in education, including 26 years as a principal, before retiring.
Paul Karst’s Baseball Legacy
Karst’s involvement with baseball stretches back to his service in the U.S. military in Vietnam and Okinawa between 1965 and 1967, where he both played and umpired the game.
International Experience and Honors
Following his overseas duty he continued his baseball career, umpiring for Northern State University in Aberdeen from 1967 to 1976 while also playing, coaching and mentoring in Groton. He also guided the Ferney amateur team from 1974 to 1976 and coached the Groton American Legion Baseball squad from 1976 to 2000, later serving as a commissioner for South Dakota American Legion Baseball, and earned induction into the South Dakota Amateur Baseball Hall of Fame in 1999.
Celebration and Community Impact
Both men will be celebrated at the Hall of Fame banquet in Flandreau, an event that underscores the lasting impact of their service to the sport and the broader baseball community.