Al Drexler, a Searles native who has spent more than five decades immersed in the town’s baseball culture, was taken by surprise when he was named to the Minnesota Amateur Baseball Hall of Fame during a special announcement at a recent Searles Grizzlies game.
A Community Legend Honored
His involvement began in 1974 as a player and continued through 1985, after which he devoted two decades to coaching younger athletes. Under his guidance the Searles Baseball Association upgraded the ballpark with a grass infield, a new scoreboard and modern dugouts, laying the groundwork for generations of local players.
The Hall of Fame Banquet will take place on Saturday, September 18, at the River’s Edge Convention Center in St. Cloud. Adult tickets are priced at $50, while children’s tickets cost $10, and purchases must be completed by September 1 to secure attendance.
To accommodate fans from Searles, the association will run a dedicated bus that departs from St. John’s Church at 12:30 PM and returns after the evening’s ceremonies, allowing attendees to travel comfortably to and from the event.
The selection committee that oversaw the induction included Casey Lux, Drexler’s wife Kathy, and his sons Jeremy and Danny, reflecting the deep family ties that have long connected the community to the sport.
Beyond the field, the Searles Baseball Association’s mission, as outlined in its bylaws, is to serve youth in the community and promote free play and equipment access. The banquet program will feature a Happy Hour from 3 to 5 PM, a meal at 5:30 PM, and the formal ceremony at 6:30 PM, celebrating not only Drexler’s contributions but the collective spirit of the town’s baseball heritage.