Go ahead, ask him about a question about La Crosse American Legion baseball over the past 33 years. About a team, a player, a championship, and he will likely pop off with the answer in a matter of seconds.

The right answer, too.

Jeff Brown, Tribune sports editor

And if you want to go back farther, as in the entire 75-year history of La Crosse Legion baseball, he’s a good bet to know that information, too. Jim Coonan, you see, could be called the heart and soul of the La Crosse Legion. Sure, there are many, many others over the years, including “Coonie’s” managing partner the past 13 years, Andy Christensen.

But it would be hard to beat Coonan’s passion for the La Crosse Legion. Maybe that’s why he’s spending endless hours — again with the help of a number of others — not only in preparation for the upcoming season, but for a special season.

This summer marks the first time since 1939 that La Crosse has hosted a State Legion tournament. Yes, when the first pitch is thrown on Saturday, Aug. 2, it will end a 68-year drought of state-tournament less Legion ball in the city.

La Crosse, 10-time Class AAA state champs (the most of any AAA program in the state), will get a chance to go for No. 11 on its home diamond.

The eight-team tournament runs from

Aug. 2-8, and will be played mainly at Copeland Park (2 games on Aug. 2 are on Viterbo’s field). Copeland Park has been transformed from a dirt infield park and rec softball diamond into a showcase baseball facility, thanks to a number of folks, including the Northwoods League’s La Crosse Loggers.

“They (State Legion officials) have wanted us to host it, but we didn’t have the facility to do it,” Coonan said of the tournament, which will bring 140 players alone into the city. “It will be a great way to show off the city of La Crosse and the beautiful area we have.”

Coonan, ever the baseball ambassador, could work for the tourism bureau, too. He loves the area, and has ever since he moved here from Milwaukee in 1973.

He has coached baseball at all three city high schools — one year as head coach at Logan (1981), nine years at Aquinas, including five as head coach from 1988-1992, and at Central from 1995-99. In the late 1970s, he spent three years coaching with legendary Max Molock at St. Mary’s University in Winona, Minn., then spent nine years as an assistant with Bill Terry and Pat Trokan at UW-La Crosse.

“I learned a lot from all of them, especially Max and Bill Terry,” Coonan said. “They were some great baseball minds. They are people that are so dedicated to the game.”

Coonan, too, is dedicated to the game. And he’s especially dedicated to the La Crosse Legion (he was head coach from 1976-94). That’s why he, Christensen, and a number of others, mostly volunteers, put on 18 fish fry dinners at the Legion Club Hall to raise money. Money that allows high school-age players to play summer baseball. Legion baseball.

That’s why Coonan, and others involved in the program, need your help. In addition to the $12,000 to $15,000 that it costs to fund the La Crosse Legion team for a season, money — and help — is needed to plan and run the State Tournament.

“The (fish) dinners are the main fundraiser,” Coonan said. “They (dinners) also help out the other city baseball programs at Central, Logan and Aquinas. We even did one to help out the YWCA swim team.

“For the Legion, we also receive some help from the Corrine Zielke Baseball Fund and donations from other people.”

Each year, it takes a little more work and a little more time to put it all together, and with the State Tournament on top of this, the workload has been increased exponentially. Coonan and Christensen are leading the charge, but need some help from former players and those close to the program.

Specifically, they could use some help, or information, photos, newspapers clippings, etc., from teams that played from 1933-1962. If anyone has a team photo from the 1947 state championship season, you would make Coonan’s and Christensen’s day. Rosters from the 1936, 1937, 1938, 1940, 1945, 1946, 1948, 1949 and 1950 teams would be helpful, too.

If you have any of these things, simply stop by the Legion Hall and drop them off, or give Coonan a call at (608) 788-6863, or Christensen at (608) 788-2367, or at www.wi2008stateaaa@yahoo.com. Any help, Coonan says, will be appreciated.

And if you start chatting about La Crosse Legion baseball, it’s a good bet Coonan will throw some names from the past at you, and dig in his memory bank to answer any questions you might have.

Jeff Brown can be reached at (608) 791-8403, or at jbrown@lacrossetribune.com

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