A Milestone in Ely Baseball
Tom Coombe, the longtime head coach of the Ely Legion baseball team, was recently enshrined in the American Legion Baseball Hall of Fame for Minnesota, capping a career that includes his 650th victory. The honor came after a 6‑0 win over Proctor on Saturday, a game that underscored the durability of a program that has thrived for more than three decades.
Coombe’s journey began in 1994, when he took the reins of a modest high school program and gradually transformed it into a perennial contender. Under his guidance the team has earned 14 state tournament berths, with memorable runs in 2001, 2004 and the back‑to‑back appearances of 2011‑2012. His record reflects not only personal longevity but also the steady pipeline of talent that flows from Ely’s summer baseball circuit.
Sustained Excellence and Community Investment
The coach has repeatedly highlighted the symbiotic relationship between the town’s high school and its summer leagues, noting that the community’s volunteers, parents and alumni form a supportive network that keeps the program vibrant. Recent upgrades to the baseball complex — including a new scoreboard, lighting and a $250,000 state grant — have reinforced Ely’s reputation as a premier venue for youth baseball in northern Minnesota.
Next January, longtime assistant Frank Ivancich will join Coombe in the Hall of Fame, an acknowledgment of the collaborative effort that defines the Ely baseball family. Together they have cultivated a culture where former players remain connected long after their high school days, contributing to a legacy that extends beyond the diamond.