Hilbert "Chick" Bohmbach

For most people that follow Red Wing Baseball nowdays, the name Chick Bohmbach is associated with his time taking care of the Red Wing Athletic Field during the 60's, 70's and early 80's. What alot of people don't know is that Chick was actually a very talented baseball player back in the 30's and 40's playing for such local teams as Trout Brook, Hay Creek, Old Style Lagers and that he was a member of Red Wing's first Minnesota State Amateur Baseball Championship Team sponsored by Schat's Insurance in 1935. He coached YMCA Youth Baseball teams for many years and was named "YMCA Man of the Year" in the late 60's for his involvement. Chick was one of the original members of the Red Wing Amatuer Baseball Board of Directors in 1971 and was a proud member of the Red Wing Baseball Grounds Crew both of which he served on until health issues forced him to stop. He continued to follow and take pride in Red Wing Baseball and the Athletic Field until his death in 1988.

Spence was always an interested and active party in all athletics for the community of Red Wing. He was active in the YMCA, High School athletics, an active participant in the Bergwall Arena project, the YMCA building expansions and the Red Wing Baseball Grandstand project along with many other community improvements.

When Red Wing town team baseball was being re-established before the 1971 season, Spence was approached for his assistance. He accepted the challenge and took over the leadership role in getting the necessary pieces in place. That involved getting a lawyer to construct the Association’s by-laws, recruiting individuals to serve as a Board of Directors, finding a person to manage the squad, and soliciting donations to finance the operations. In a relatively short amount of time, these were all accomplished and the Red Wing Aces began play in the summer of 1971. Though not a part of the Cannon Valley League that first year, the groundwork was laid for acceptance into the league in 1972 and continuation to current.

Spence’s passing was a tremendous loss for the entire community. His legacy lives on in many aspects of our life here in Red Wing.

Elvis, Madonna, Cher...one name tells you what to expect. Well back in the 70's and 80's when opposing teams heard the name "Fuzzy" they also knew what to expect. Don played baseball at all levels in Red Wing but it was as an Ace that he really made his presents be known. Rarely has there been a competitor to compare with the likes of Don Forsberg. For example - as the story goes there was the time the grounds crew showed up early one Sunday morning to fix the field and found Fuzzy sleeping in the dugout. When they asked him if he was OK he responded with...I'm fine, I just slept in the dugout to get pumped up for the game today. Then there was the time - Fuzzy was to pitch a big game against the Dundas Dukes in Red Wing and as the Dundas players filed into their dugout Fuzzy went over there, took off his shirt and started doing push-ups in front of them. His message to them was...this is what you are going to have to deal with today boys. Don (pitcher/outfielder) led the Red Wing Aces pitching staff during the 70's with 59 wins, 601 innings pitched and 662 strike outs. In 1977 he went an amazing 17 - 0 on the mound. He was a member of the 1974 State Champion Aces and as of 2008 is tied for most career wins by a Red Wing Aces pitcher.