Photo by Deb Gau Harry Weilage, Minnesota Baseball Association President Mark Forsman and Marshall Mayor Bob Byrnes shared memories of the late Fred Roufs at the start of Friday’s tribute game between the Marshall A’s and the Milroy Yankees at Legion Field.

MARSHALL — It would be hard to find someone who was a stronger supporter of amateur baseball than Fred Roufs.

Over the years, he did a lot — everything from being the P.A. voice at Legion Field to getting together a state tournament during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“He was one of a kind,” said Mike Nagel, who worked together with Roufs on the Minnesota Baseball Association Board. “You can’t replace him.”

Roufs died in January, at the age of 73. But he left a deep impression on people who knew and worked with him. Friends and family shared memories of Roufs at a Friday night program before a tribute game between the Marshall A’s and the Milroy Yankees. Marshall Mayor Bob Byrnes also dedicated the Legion Field press box to Roufs.

“Tonight is about someone who contributed, and someone who made a difference in a lot of different ways,” Byrnes said at the dedication.

Roufs played a key role as an ambassador for amateur baseball, both in Marshall and across Minnesota. Marshall Baseball Association president Kelly Loft said Roufs got involved in local baseball when he moved to Marshall in the 1970s. During his time in Marshall, Roufs helped take Legion Field from being a combination baseball and football field surrounded by a cinder track, to the ballpark it is today. He also helped bring state Legion and amateur baseball tournaments to Marshall in the 1980s.

“He always saw something here,” said Harry Weilage, Rouf’s friend and former director of Marshall Community Services. But while Roufs “always did great by Marshall,” he tended to make sure other people got credit, Weilage said. “He was always the first to compliment everyone else.”

Roufs served on the Minnesota Baseball Association Board for 26 years, Nagel said. His energy and passion served him well when he stepped into the role of MBA president last year.

“Fred was really fired up to be the president,” current MBA President Mark Forsman said Friday night. Roufs was “bound and determined” to continue the tradition of the state amateur baseball tournament, even as the COVID-19 pandemic added new challenges, Forsman said. When the city of New Ulm decided not to host the state tournament due to COVID concerns, Nagel said Roufs worked to get the tournament on track in a matter of weeks. The cities of Milroy, Springfield and Shakopee stepped up as tournament hosts.

Nagel and Weilage said Roufs’ knowledge of amateur baseball was deep.

“He had stats and data on every team,” said Mike Nagel, who worked together with Roufs on the Minnesota Baseball Association Board. “He had this satchel, that has more state tournament information than you could find on the internet.”

Organizers of Friday’s tribute said a nomination to put Roufs in the Minnesota Amateur Baseball Hall of Fame received more than 70 letters of support. Lots of stories about Roufs were also shared, and can be read on the Marshall A’s website, www.marshallasbaseball.com.

Weilage said the Fred Roufs Baseball and Wrestling Scholarship at Minnesota State University, Mankato is being established in Fred’s memory. More information on how to contribute to the endowment is available online at msumavericks.com/roufs.