Hub City Historian Working to Bring Baseball Back

By Lura Roti

Growing up, Brendyn Richards loved playing baseball in his family's hometown of Hub City.

"Playing on a church or community league team in Hub City - it was like a "Field of Dreams" type thing. Your left field is a corn or soybean field and if you really hit the ball, it would go flying into the field," Richards recalled what it was like playing on the field adjacent to Dalesburg Lutheran Church.

In fact, for nearly a century, baseball has been part of this rural community which is centrally located between Centerville, Beresford and Vermillion.

According to local lore and historical research, Hub City is credited to have hosted the first night baseball game played in South Dakota. It was played on the community's original baseball field, which was located where Richards' house now sits.

"The Negro League was on a barnstorming tour. They played a day game in Vermillion and came to Hub City and played a night game. It was made possible because the team brought their own field lights. My uncle, who is 93, remembers the game and how they set up the lights and then fired up the generators. My uncle remembers the generators being really loud."

Because his family is from the community, Richards' uncles also played Hub City baseball. When his kids were young, he coached his children and their friends church youth teams. But today, the Hub City baseball field is quiet, and Richards is working to change this.

"I have always thought we needed to revive the tradition and then when I participated in Rural POWER it inspired me to try and get this done," Richards explained.

Rural POWER is a year-long leadership development program sponsored by South Dakota Farmers Union and hosted by the Billie Sutton Leadership Institute.

Billie Sutton explained that during the year-long Rural POWER program, participants engage in educational leadership training opportunities emphasizing community building and serving your neighbors while learning from cooperative leaders committed to rural development. "It is our hope that Rural POWER participants will gain the knowledge and enthusiasm to re-imagine and re-energize rural South Dakota," Sutton said.

While participating in Rural POWER, Richards and his classmates were encouraged to work on a service project to enhance their rural community.

"Billie talked a lot about being servant leaders for our communities and community building," Richards said. "Just think how wonderful all our communities would be if we all did this."

Re-starting baseball in Hub City and documenting the history of Hub City baseball were Richards' projects. "I can see the baseball field from my house. And the other day I saw a dad and his kids practicing on the old field, and I just think how wonderful it will be when there are games there again," Richards said.

The book on Hub City baseball history is nearly complete. And although he has a donor willing to help cover the cost of electricity for field lights, because the baseball field is located on land owned by the church, Richards is waiting for their permission to move forward.

It's been slow going, but Richards has not given up hope.

"I think everybody has a responsibility to give back - and to make time to give back. I have a demanding job, and I find time, so I know others can as well," said Richards, who is the Director of Advocacy and Foundation for Community Health Centers in Iowa and Nebraska and makes time to serve on the Clay County Historical Preservation Commission,Warming Shelter Homeless Center, Sertoma Club, National Alliance to End Homelessness-Advisory Board and National Association of Community Health Centers-Healthcare for the Homeless Board.

2025 Rural POWER Class Announced

South Dakota Farmers Union has sponsored Rural POWER since its inception in 2021. The 2025 Rural POWER class was recently announced and members include Emelia Enquist, Revillo; Jaylynn Farlee, Eagle Butte; Gary Hudiburgh, Gary; Jessica Carlson, Tea; Jessica Larson, Mission; Kristine Reiner, Sioux Falls; and Tara Seibel, Mission.