Black Sox GM inducted into Legion HOF

PLOVER - Ron Sankey enjoyed a love affair with baseball as a young boy growing up on a family farm just east of Plover. Daily chores on the dairy farm, however, prevented him from being able to play the sport in high school.

Sankey has made up for those years without baseball ever since. He was one of four original founders of the Plover Post 543 American Legion baseball program in 1985.

For 32 years Sankey has served as the general manager of the Black Sox, running the daily operations of the program and raising funds, and played a vital role in turning the program into one of the most successful in the state on and off the field.

For his many years of service and dedication to Legion baseball Sankey was honored with induction in the Wisconsin American Legion Baseball Association Hall of Fame at a banquet in Milwaukee earlier this month.

"It's a great honor to be inducted into the Hall of Fame," said Sankey, who became only the 18th member of the Hall. "It's probably one of the highest honors of my life. I've loved baseball all my life. It's been a lot of volunteer hours for sure, but like I tell people, I wouldn't do it if I didn't enjoy it.

"We just wanted to give more boys an opportunity to play Legion baseball (in this area)."

He was the lone member of the 2016 Class, although longtime Wausau Post 10 coach Tom Magnusson was supposed to join him for induction this year. He was out of the country on vacation, however, and his enshrinement has been pushed to next year.

Sankey, 74, has served on the state American Legion Baseball Board since 2000, serving as the associate Region 2 director from the 2000-04 and as the Region 2 director since 2006.

Since the Plover program was established, Sankey has basically managed all of the off-field operations for the Black Sox, including the concession stand, while organizing numerous fundraisers, serving as the official scorer at home games and operating the press box at Memorial Field.

"It's nice to see him recognized for that stuff by the state," said his son Wayne Sankey, who has coached the Black Sox the past 16 seasons. "It would be hard to find somebody else who has done what he has done for 32 years."

During Ron's tenure, Plover has won a pair of Wisconsin AAA state championships, nine regional titles and 12 Wisconsin Valley Legion League championships, with two national regional runner-up finishes.

All four of his sons have played for the Black Sox. Bob played on the first team in 1985 and Jim was part of the first Valley title team in 1988. Wayne concluded his playing career in 1994 and Steve was on the team that earned the first trip to the AAA state tournament in 1996.

"Our family does have a love affair with Legion baseball and we obviously loved it because our dad loved it," Wayne said. "We certainly haven't fallen far from the tree."

Ron has put in countless hours not only at the ballpark over the past 32 years, but off the field.

However, perhaps the toughest task of all for Sankey during his time with the Black Sox came at the Hall of Fame banquet when he was being required to give a speech.

"I'm not much of a speaker," he admitted. "I prepared it all myself and people told me I did a good job."

The induction into the Hall of Fame is part of what should prove to be one of the most memorable years in his life.

In addition to being recognized for his years of service to Legion baseball, Sankey will celebrate his 50th wedding anniversary with the former Rose Jelinski. To top off the special year, Sankey will take part in the Honor Flight program — founded to recognize World War II, Korean War  and Vietnam veterans by flying them all-expense-paid to Washington D.C. for a day of honor, remembrance and celebration — in September. He was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1964 and served in Vietnam from 1965 to 1966.

"It's hard to believe all these wonderful things are going to happen in one year," he said. "The Hall of Fame is probably one of the highlights of my baseball doings."

Scott A. Williams can be reached at 715-345-2282, or by email at ssswilliam@stevenspoint.gannett.com. Find him on Twitter as @SPJScottWill