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When trying to discern Wisconsin's best high school players of all time, few sports pose the challenge that baseball does.
As the United States approaches its 250th anniversary, USA TODAY Sports will celebrate the 250 greatest American sports figures of all time. Alongside that national recognition, the USA TODAY Network will spotlight the roots of the country’s sports culture: the high school athletes and sports figures who shaped communities and defined their states and regions.
Some players became local legends on the high school diamond but didn't translate that success to college or the pros. Some blossomed late, and their high school days offered only a hint of their eventual greatness. How do we compare or measure those things?
It's especially difficult to answer with baseball. More than a century of history includes legends like Al Simmons, Bob Uecker, Harvey Kuenn and Tony Kubek, many of whom got started in pro baseball before leaving a mark in high school, sometimes because high school baseball wasn't even a fully realized option for them.
Then, there's the matter of Major League Baseball's long gestation period through the minors before reaching peak potential. Many of the best high school players never filtered all the way up to the big leagues, and many who did bloomed on the professional trail; guys like Damian Miller, Jordan Zimmermann and Bob Wickman went to state colleges. Not only that, but over the past decade, we've seen a new de-emphasis of the high school game, with players like Waukesha's Jarred Kelenic (a top-10 MLB draft pick) choosing travel ball over high school.
Our aim with this project: Identifying trailblazers and trendsetters whose influence reaches beyond championships and statistics − and whose stories reflect a lasting impact on their state. With baseball, it's impossible to tell the story of Wisconsin through the lens of solely high school. So, this time around we have two lists: Players for whom high school ball was a notable part of the story, and players who emerged from Wisconsin high schools but largely made their name at a different level of the game.
Our process is imperfect. Let us know at the bottom who should be on this list.
The left-handed pitcher was dominant during his four years, netting three straight state titles. He pitched as a freshman in the 2003 state final and then helped the Knights in 2004 and '05. He didn't pitch in the state tournament in 2006, having been drafted in the third round by the Seattle Mariners. Injuries derailed his career before he could reach AAA.
Counsell won't be necessarily known for his high school success, but he blossomed thereafter, first at Notre Dame and then over 16 seasons in the big leagues, where he won two World Series titles and notably became NLCS MVP in 2001 with the Diamondbacks. He also played six of his MLB seasons with the Milwaukee Brewers before joining the front office of the organization where his father was an employee. In 2015, he became manager and oversaw the franchise's rise into a regular contender, becoming the all-time winningest manager in franchise history before accepting the Chicago Cubs job after the 2023 season.
Gantner might be the perfect representative of the Wisconsin baseball experience, a player who found success inside the state college baseball landscape and then became one of the most beloved Milwaukee Brewers of his era. The two-sport athlete in high school attended UW-Oshkosh, leading the Titans to two NAIA World Series appearances and doing enough to earn a spot on the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference all-time team. Selected in the 12th round by the home-state Brewers, Gantner scratched his way to the big leagues by 1976, holding down second base with his dependable glove from 1976-1992 for the Brewers and becoming one of the franchise's most-beloved players. Now on the Walk of Fame at American Family Field, Gantner played an essential role on the 1982 World Series runner-up, and his No. 17 hasn't been worn by another Brewers player since. So many players like him have risen up through the small schools in the state, including Jordan Zimmermann (Stevens Point), Bob Wickman (Whitewater) and Jarrod Washburn (Oshkosh).
Originally on track to playing two sports at UW-Oshkosh, the all-state slugger wound up committing to Arkansas instead, where he played three seasons before getting drafted by the Cubs in 1998. He was with the Toronto Blue Jays in 2002 when he won Rookie of the Year, slugging 24 homers for what would become his career high over 12 MLB seasons. He had the distinction of appearing in three consecutive World Series for three different teams, winning rings with Boston in 2007 and the Yankees in 2009 while finishing as runner-up with Tampa Bay in 2008.
A multi-sport athlete in high school, Kuenn went on to play baseball at the University of Wisconsin and signed with the Detroit Tigers as a free agent in 1952. He went on to win AL Rookie of the Year in 1953, landed the 1959 batting title and made 10 all-star teams, with a career batting average above .300. But what local fans probably remember most is his tenure as a Milwaukee Brewers coach and manager. His midseason promotion to manager in 1982 led to a turnaround that launched Harvey's Wallbangers all the way to the World Series. A bar owner in West Allis, Kuenn always remained closely tied to his Wisconsin roots.
Playing in a rural school district, Overby's pitching became the stuff of legend, and the left-hander didn't give up a run as a senior and finished with 11 no-hitters in his high school career. He signed with the Milwaukee Braves, and he struck out Hank Aaron, Eddie Mathews and Joe Adcock during an intra-squad game to further heighten his legend and draw comparisons to Warren Spahn. But shoulder injuries derailed his career, prompting him to return home and fashion a Hall of Fame coaching career at his alma mater.
The state player of the year candidate in 1988 led the Lasers to a state title, then attended a community college in Florida before playing at Tennessee. Drafted by the Kansas City Royals in the 11th round, the third baseman wound up playing 12 Major League seasons, racking up a career .284 batting average.
A four-sport standout in high school who went on to play both football and baseball at the University of Wisconsin, Reichardt was a fullback on the 1963 Rose Bowl team. And then he played baseball, leading the Big Ten in batting back-to-back seasons before becoming an All-American in 1964. Drafted by the Baltimore Colts of the NFL, he chose baseball when the California Angels offered him a record $200,000 signing bonus (higher than the average MLB salary at the time) that helped usher in the MLB draft in 1965. Reichardt played 11 years in the major leagues. He hit the first home run in Anaheim Stadium in 1966.
He was drafted out of high school by the Cincinnati Reds in 1979 but chose college ball, where he became a three-year starting shortstop at New Orleans, an All-American and the winner of the Golden Spikes Award given to the amateur baseball player of the year. The Toronto Blue Jays then drafted him No. 2 overall in 1982, but he went on to coach 38 seasons at Carthage College in Kenosha before his retirement after the 2025 season.
The state player of the year in 1985 was drafted in the second round out of high school by the New York Mets, but he chose to play at Creighton University instead. The Houston Astros then took him in the third round in 1988, three years before his big-league debut. The savvy defensive catcher won a gold medal with Team USA in the 1988 Seoul Olympics in addition to other international experience, played 11 MLB seasons and became manager of the Seattle Mariners from 2016-24. He also has front-office experience in MLB and currently serves as a coach on the San Diego Padres staff.
Before we acknowledge the other titans of Wisconsin high school baseball, there is one who deserves his own space: Bob Uecker.
The iconic voice of the Milwaukee Brewers attended Milwaukee Tech, though he didn't graduate and joined the Army at age 20. That didn't stop him from getting signed by the hometown Milwaukee Braves, launching a career that included six years of MLB baseball and a World Series ring with the St. Louis Cardinals.
But he'll forever be known for what came after, when he became the self-deprecating and deeply beloved announcer, who sat at the mic calling Brewers games for 54 years before his death in 2025.
Online Form - Best baseball players in Wisconsin high school history
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Best Wisconsin high school baseball players of all time
Continue reading...
As the United States approaches its 250th anniversary, USA TODAY Sports will celebrate the 250 greatest American sports figures of all time. Alongside that national recognition, the USA TODAY Network will spotlight the roots of the country’s sports culture: the high school athletes and sports figures who shaped communities and defined their states and regions.
Some players became local legends on the high school diamond but didn't translate that success to college or the pros. Some blossomed late, and their high school days offered only a hint of their eventual greatness. How do we compare or measure those things?
It's especially difficult to answer with baseball. More than a century of history includes legends like Al Simmons, Bob Uecker, Harvey Kuenn and Tony Kubek, many of whom got started in pro baseball before leaving a mark in high school, sometimes because high school baseball wasn't even a fully realized option for them.
Then, there's the matter of Major League Baseball's long gestation period through the minors before reaching peak potential. Many of the best high school players never filtered all the way up to the big leagues, and many who did bloomed on the professional trail; guys like Damian Miller, Jordan Zimmermann and Bob Wickman went to state colleges. Not only that, but over the past decade, we've seen a new de-emphasis of the high school game, with players like Waukesha's Jarred Kelenic (a top-10 MLB draft pick) choosing travel ball over high school.
Our aim with this project: Identifying trailblazers and trendsetters whose influence reaches beyond championships and statistics − and whose stories reflect a lasting impact on their state. With baseball, it's impossible to tell the story of Wisconsin through the lens of solely high school. So, this time around we have two lists: Players for whom high school ball was a notable part of the story, and players who emerged from Wisconsin high schools but largely made their name at a different level of the game.
Our process is imperfect. Let us know at the bottom who should be on this list.
Tony Butler, Oak Creek, 2006
The left-handed pitcher was dominant during his four years, netting three straight state titles. He pitched as a freshman in the 2003 state final and then helped the Knights in 2004 and '05. He didn't pitch in the state tournament in 2006, having been drafted in the third round by the Seattle Mariners. Injuries derailed his career before he could reach AAA.
Craig Counsell, Whitefish Bay, 1988
Counsell won't be necessarily known for his high school success, but he blossomed thereafter, first at Notre Dame and then over 16 seasons in the big leagues, where he won two World Series titles and notably became NLCS MVP in 2001 with the Diamondbacks. He also played six of his MLB seasons with the Milwaukee Brewers before joining the front office of the organization where his father was an employee. In 2015, he became manager and oversaw the franchise's rise into a regular contender, becoming the all-time winningest manager in franchise history before accepting the Chicago Cubs job after the 2023 season.
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Jim Gantner, Campbellsport, 1971
Gantner might be the perfect representative of the Wisconsin baseball experience, a player who found success inside the state college baseball landscape and then became one of the most beloved Milwaukee Brewers of his era. The two-sport athlete in high school attended UW-Oshkosh, leading the Titans to two NAIA World Series appearances and doing enough to earn a spot on the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference all-time team. Selected in the 12th round by the home-state Brewers, Gantner scratched his way to the big leagues by 1976, holding down second base with his dependable glove from 1976-1992 for the Brewers and becoming one of the franchise's most-beloved players. Now on the Walk of Fame at American Family Field, Gantner played an essential role on the 1982 World Series runner-up, and his No. 17 hasn't been worn by another Brewers player since. So many players like him have risen up through the small schools in the state, including Jordan Zimmermann (Stevens Point), Bob Wickman (Whitewater) and Jarrod Washburn (Oshkosh).
Eric Hinske, Menasha, 1995
Originally on track to playing two sports at UW-Oshkosh, the all-state slugger wound up committing to Arkansas instead, where he played three seasons before getting drafted by the Cubs in 1998. He was with the Toronto Blue Jays in 2002 when he won Rookie of the Year, slugging 24 homers for what would become his career high over 12 MLB seasons. He had the distinction of appearing in three consecutive World Series for three different teams, winning rings with Boston in 2007 and the Yankees in 2009 while finishing as runner-up with Tampa Bay in 2008.
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Harvey Kuenn, Milwaukee Lutheran, 1949
A multi-sport athlete in high school, Kuenn went on to play baseball at the University of Wisconsin and signed with the Detroit Tigers as a free agent in 1952. He went on to win AL Rookie of the Year in 1953, landed the 1959 batting title and made 10 all-star teams, with a career batting average above .300. But what local fans probably remember most is his tenure as a Milwaukee Brewers coach and manager. His midseason promotion to manager in 1982 led to a turnaround that launched Harvey's Wallbangers all the way to the World Series. A bar owner in West Allis, Kuenn always remained closely tied to his Wisconsin roots.
Dennis Overby, Chetek, 1959
Playing in a rural school district, Overby's pitching became the stuff of legend, and the left-hander didn't give up a run as a senior and finished with 11 no-hitters in his high school career. He signed with the Milwaukee Braves, and he struck out Hank Aaron, Eddie Mathews and Joe Adcock during an intra-squad game to further heighten his legend and draw comparisons to Warren Spahn. But shoulder injuries derailed his career, prompting him to return home and fashion a Hall of Fame coaching career at his alma mater.
Joe Randa, Kettle Moraine, 1988
The state player of the year candidate in 1988 led the Lasers to a state title, then attended a community college in Florida before playing at Tennessee. Drafted by the Kansas City Royals in the 11th round, the third baseman wound up playing 12 Major League seasons, racking up a career .284 batting average.
Rick Reichardt, Stevens Point, 1961
A four-sport standout in high school who went on to play both football and baseball at the University of Wisconsin, Reichardt was a fullback on the 1963 Rose Bowl team. And then he played baseball, leading the Big Ten in batting back-to-back seasons before becoming an All-American in 1964. Drafted by the Baltimore Colts of the NFL, he chose baseball when the California Angels offered him a record $200,000 signing bonus (higher than the average MLB salary at the time) that helped usher in the MLB draft in 1965. Reichardt played 11 years in the major leagues. He hit the first home run in Anaheim Stadium in 1966.
Augie Schmidt, Kenosha Bradford, 1979
He was drafted out of high school by the Cincinnati Reds in 1979 but chose college ball, where he became a three-year starting shortstop at New Orleans, an All-American and the winner of the Golden Spikes Award given to the amateur baseball player of the year. The Toronto Blue Jays then drafted him No. 2 overall in 1982, but he went on to coach 38 seasons at Carthage College in Kenosha before his retirement after the 2025 season.
Scott Servais, Westby, 1985
The state player of the year in 1985 was drafted in the second round out of high school by the New York Mets, but he chose to play at Creighton University instead. The Houston Astros then took him in the third round in 1988, three years before his big-league debut. The savvy defensive catcher won a gold medal with Team USA in the 1988 Seoul Olympics in addition to other international experience, played 11 MLB seasons and became manager of the Seattle Mariners from 2016-24. He also has front-office experience in MLB and currently serves as a coach on the San Diego Padres staff.
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Other names to consider
- Matt Erickson, Appleton West, 1994
- Don Heinkel, Racine Horlick, 1978
- Dave Hill, Milwaukee Juneau, 1955
- Dave Klipstein, Milwaukee Marshall, 1978
- Duane Kuiper, Racine Case, 1968
- Gavin Lux, Kenosha Indian Trail, 2016
- Tom Poquette, Eau Claire Memorial, 1970
- Dean Rennicke, Homestead, 1978
- Ryan Rohlinger, West Bend East, 2002
- Daulton Varsho, Marshfield, 2014
- Jarrod Washburn, Webster, 1992
- Bob Wickman, Oconto Falls, 1987
- Jordan Zimmerman, Auburndale, 2004
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Bob Uecker gets his own category
Before we acknowledge the other titans of Wisconsin high school baseball, there is one who deserves his own space: Bob Uecker.
The iconic voice of the Milwaukee Brewers attended Milwaukee Tech, though he didn't graduate and joined the Army at age 20. That didn't stop him from getting signed by the hometown Milwaukee Braves, launching a career that included six years of MLB baseball and a World Series ring with the St. Louis Cardinals.
But he'll forever be known for what came after, when he became the self-deprecating and deeply beloved announcer, who sat at the mic calling Brewers games for 54 years before his death in 2025.
The titans of Wisconsin baseball (without a significant high school component)
- Lave Cross, Milwaukee. He played 21 MLB seasons, from 1887 through 1907, posting a career average of .292 with 1,371 RBI.
- Happy Felsch, Milwaukee. The local legend put up big numbers for the minor-league Brewers before becoming a member of the Chicago White Sox from 1915-20, where he became one of the best hitters in the American League. He is forever tied to the Black Sox scandal of 1919.
- Burleigh Grimes, Emerald. The last of the legal spitball pitchers, the Hall of Famer compiled a 270-212 record during a 19-year career that ended in 1934. He was the winningest pitcher in baseball in the 1920s and won the 1931 World Series.
- Joe Hauser, Milwaukee. The first baseman had a distinguished minor-league career, becoming the first player to ever hit 60 or more home runs twice, which he achieved in 1930 and 1933.
- Addie Joss, Woodland. The Baseball Hall of Famer died shortly after his 31st birthday but was dominant for Cleveland from 1902-10, throwing a perfect game and posting a 1.89 ERA.
- Jarred Kelenic, Waukesha. Though he didn't play for the high school team at Waukesha West, Kelenic was taken with the sixth overall pick by the New York Mets in the 2018 draft; he's appeared in six different MLB seasons thus far.
- Ken Keltner, Milwaukee. He played from 1937-50, mostly with Cleveland, and batted .278. He's primarily known as the guy whose two outstanding defensive plays helped snap Joe DiMaggio's hitting streak.
- Tony Kubek, Milwaukee. He played nine seasons with the New York Yankees and started in six World Series with three all-star appearances before injuries derailed his career before he was 30. He went on to become a Ford C. Frick Award-winning broadcaster.
- Fred Merkle, Watertown. He played from 1907-20 with the New York Giants and played in five World Series, with a career average of .273. Unfortunately, he's often remembered for a legendary baserunning mistake at age 19 during the 1908 home stretch.
- Kid Nichols, Madison. Pitching from 1890-1906 with Boston, he racked up a Hall of Fame career with a 2.95 ERA, with 361 wins and an incomprehensible 12 seasons of 300 or more innings pitched.
- Andy Pafko, Boyceville. He played 17 seasons, from 1943-59, and was a five-time all-star, with a World Series appearance in 1957 as a member of the Milwaukee Braves.
- Al Simmons, Milwaukee. The Duke of Mitchell Street was regarded as one of the two greatest right-handed hitters in baseball – the other was Rogers Hornsby – in the years prior to World War II. Simmons played 20 seasons, from 1924 to '44, and batted .334. Connie Mack, who managed a record 53 big-league seasons, referred to Simmons as the greatest player he ever coached.
Online Form - Best baseball players in Wisconsin high school history
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Best Wisconsin high school baseball players of all time
Continue reading...
