2022 MSBL World Series Hall of Fame Inductee: Fred Krause, Detroit MSBL
By Steve LaMontia, Director of Communications
Any Hall of Fame inductee, regardless of the sport, has been considered because of their passion, ability, and their body of work. This inductee more than qualifies in all three areas. Though a late bloomer into the ‘hardball’ world, 74-year-old Fred Krause from the Detroit MSBL took the baseball reins in 2000 and ran full bore, never looking back.
Because of Fred’s success story in embracing Arizona and the MSBL World Series, along with his Detroit MSBL roots, MSBL Founder and President Steve Sigler has inducted Fred into the 2022 class of the MSBL World Series Hall of Fame.
“I am humbled by the honor of being inducted into the MSBL World Series Hall of Fame. I would especially like to thank Steve and Brian Sigler from the MSBL National Office and Mike Juliano and the Detroit MSBL organization for making baseball programs available for senior baseball players like myself.”
Fred began his baseball career after retiring from GM, playing the last 23 years in the Detroit MSBL. He boasts a .531 lifetime batting average and has won the batting title in four age groups over the years in the Motor City. In 2009 Fred hit .513 in the 45+ division, and .657 in the 55s. In 2017 he hit .738 in the 65+ division and in 2022 hit .763 in the 70+ division. In Detroit, he has played on nine Division Championship teams over the last 23 years. To say that Fred possesses the credentials to be considered for any Hall of Fame is an understatement. He was inducted into the Detroit MSBL Hall of Fame in 2017.
Getting back on track with Fred’s World Series credentials, he made his first appearance in Arizona in 2000 and has only missed once, because of injury. Fred doesn’t just go to Arizona for the burritos and sunsets. He goes to compete, and his track record justifies the effort.
The outfielder by trade spent his first ten years at the World Series with various teams from Detroit and then started playing with the MBI group, which is primarily made up of Detroit and Philadelphia players. Here is Fred’s World Series impressive table of contents:
Detroit 50’s (2006-55+, 2007-55+), The Volkers (2016-65+, 2018-70+, 2021-73+, 2022-73+), Team Cambria (2019-73+), and MBI (2019-70+, 2022-70+, 2023-73+)
“I have been fortunate to win ten rings over the years, with all but one coming from the top National division. I’m very proud of that.”
Fred has also competed in the Las Vegas Kickoff Classic since 2007, primarily with the Philadelphia Phillies. He has three more rings from there to round out his ‘baker’s dozen’ of jewelry.
Fred was kind enough to supply a listing of some of his special moments and some of the special people who have assisted him in reaching this point in his baseball career. I felt it best to leave his comments as he submitted them.
“I have had some great MSBL World Series memories over the years. Three games stand out as the best -First was the 73+ National Division tournament game in 2019 when playing with Team Cambria, we overcame a 7-run deficit in the bottom of the ninth inning to win the Championship game against Sacramento.
The second was a battle against perennial champ San Diego Berry’s in the 2018 National Division. Our Volkers 70+ team beat them that year in the bottom of the 13th inning in the Championship game.
The streak of exciting games continued this last season, as our MBI team defeated tough pitcher John Arnold and his Minnesota teammates, 3-2 in the National Division 73+ Championship game. Great memories!!
My baseball career has been a long and interesting journey…. from the ball field behind my house on Covert Rd. growing up, to lots of little league teams in Flint, Michigan, to playing baseball at Flint Kearsley High School, to many years of softball, and finally playing senior baseball for the last 25 years with good friends in Detroit and around the country.
I have had the honor of playing on several national championship teams from Detroit, Philadelphia, Minnesota, and Indiana. Thank you to the great MSBL World Series managers that I have had over the years, especially Mike Hendrie for managing our outstanding Detroit World Series teams, Billy Jacobs and Pat Fynes for coaching our Volkers and MBI powerhouse teams, and Paul Smith and Pat Thompson for the efforts in leading us to Championships with Team Cambria. A special shout out also to Bob Hanon, Steve Kosuda, and Larry Paladino for coaching our Detroit regular season MSBL teams over the years.
I would especially like to thank long-time teammates Dr. Jeff Blatt, Gary Sovey, Sal Calcagno, Ted Thompson, Eddie Klieman, and Gene Baratta for the friendships we have developed on and off the field.
A special thank you to all the friends from my neighborhood that played sandlot ball with me for endless hours as kids on the field behind my house including Dick Mason, Tim Agle, John Maule, and Gary Parker. I had the best childhood memories a kid could ever ask for! Also, thank you to my high school coach Bobby Lawrence for teaching me the baseball fundamentals that have stayed with me for the last 55 years!
A very special thank you to all of the other friends that I have crossed paths with, on and off the field, over the years – what a ride it has been!”
