The American Legion, Department of Montana, Floyd W. Magnuson, Post 30, Inc.

 

HOW WE STARTED

 

Early in 1993, William (Bill) Auger, his wife Shellie, Bob Retterath, his wife Linda, Merv Gunderson, Dr. David McLaughlin and Eddie Medina decided to construct a baseball field in the City of Belgrade, Montana.  During the winter of 1993 they founded Belgrade Baseball, Inc. for that purpose.  The field and team would give Senior League baseball players a place to move up to after they finished their Little League efforts.  The team would attract players in the fifteen to eighteen year range as there was no other place for them to continue playing baseball in Belgrade.

The project was started with a $100,000.00 loan from the Eddie Medina Trust Fund.  Eddie Medina is a paraplegic after being injured in a motor cycle accident and is an avid sports fan. The board held fundraisers which contributed another $200,000.00 to purchase the land and start the baseball complex design and construction.

Bill Auger headed the building project and built the field in the fall of 1993 with the assistance of various Belgrade residents as well as local construction workers who donated their time, effort and materials.  Montana Power Company set the poles for the lighting system and provided some of the electrical materials at reduced costs or as outright donations. The charter for Belgrade Baseball Inc. came to pass in February 1994 and was to be called The Belgrade Bandit’s.  The project was completed and ready for play on the opening day of the 1994 American Legion baseball season. 

After one year of operation, under the auspices of Belgrade Baseball, Inc., the Belgrade Bandits were notified by the National Headquarters of The American Legion in Indianapolis, that any team not specifically associated with an American Legion Post could not participate in American Legion baseball and could not use the name “American Legion.”

After serious consideration of this directive, Bill Auger was left with two choices; form a new American Legion Post; or, disband the Belgrade Baseball Inc. Belgrade Bandit’s.  Post 30 of The American Legion was permanently chartered on April 17, 1995, just in time to start the 1995 American Legion baseball season officially under The American Legion sponsorship.  Bill Auger, at the direction of The American Legion, Department of Montana, held the position of both Post Commander and Post Adjutant for the year 1995 and Post Adjutant for the year 1996.

Post 30 has done many things in support of the Belgrade Bandit’s baseball since its charter in 1995.  For instance, during the first four years of existence Post 30 sold Christmas trees and fireworks to support the Belgrade Bandit’s as well as to pay for the lights at the field for night games and regional tournaments.  The Post also hired and paid the salaries of coaches, game officials, and trainers for the Belgrade Bandit’s.  Post 30 members manned the ball field, sold tickets, ran the concession stand and did whatever else was necessary to maintain the facility.  Post 30 also purchased a bus and provided a driver to take the coaches and the team to “away” games to other Montana cities.

In 1999, Belgrade Baseball, Inc. and the Belgrade Bandit’s were sold to the United States Department of Agriculture, to be operated by a group of Belgrade businessmen and parents of the players.  Post 30 retained ownership of the fireworks sale trailer and will continue to send the necessary sponsorship fees to the Department of Montana, which will allow the team to participate in The American Legion baseball.  The name of the baseball field can never be changed and will always remain the Eddie Medina American Legion Ball Field as part of the sales agreement. The original board members of Belgrade Baseball, Inc. were all issued lifetime passes to the complex as a permanent thank you for their work.

Location of the Post Home

 

The American Legion, Floyd W. Magnuson, Post 30, Inc, Belgrade, Montana Post 30 home is currently at Club 30, 31 West Main Street in Belgrade, Montana. The meetings are held at the National Guard Readiness Center on Airport Road in Belgrade, Montana.  Prior to this location, the Post assembled at The Belgrade Lounge and Karaoke Bar, 32 East Main Street, Belgrade Montana, this was owned by one of the founders of the Post, William (Bill) Auger.  The Post has regularly scheduled meetings at 1900 hours on the second Thursday of the month.