Beyond the Diamond; The journey of Larry Gessler

Growing up in basketball country, Larry Gessler was no Larry Bird but was drawn to a different sport. Hailing from a small farming community nestled between Chesterton and Valparaiso in northwestern Indiana, Larry’s love for hardball began early, with his first organized experience at the age of 10, influenced heavily by his father. Young Larry stuck with the game.

His father once caught the eye of a major league scout; Larry still has the letter received from the Chicago White Sox. But the world had other plans, as Larry’s father ended up in Korea during the Korean War, rubbing elbows with big leaguers who served and held their own on military base sandlots. Returning home, he taught his son the finer points of pitching and catching in the backyard neighborhood, populated by grain silos and basketball hoops.

Reflecting on his own baseball journey is almost too much for Larry, as the memories are overwhelming and hard to pinpoint highlights from a baseball map full of memorable moments and deep personal involvement. “Memories have become like the line that James Earl Jones says in the movie ‘Field of Dreams’—‘the memories will be so thick, they'll have to brush them away from their faces.’”

How did you get started with the Federal League?

I had not even given any thought to staying involved for this long. But from 1987 to today, I have been part of a team in this league in one way or another for all but about two and a half seasons. I first became a Diamond in 1987. I was also a Prior Lake Pirate for one season and a member of the Minnetonka Saints for ten years. Outside of the Federal League, that list is long for me as well.

When did the Chaska Diamonds form?

The Chaska Diamonds formed in 1985, during the second season of the Federal League, which at that time was a 30-and-over league. Over the years, I’ve seen the league evolve and grow, fostering a community of passionate players.

You have the rare chance to view the game from an umpire, player, and manager; does one perspective help another?

Seeing the game from all angles allows one to appreciate it from different perspectives, which has given me, at least, a greater understanding and appreciation of the game.

How have you seen the Federal League change since you first joined?

The league started out as 30-and-over. The change to 35-and-over came in the 1990s—though I’m uncertain of the exact year. The biggest change, in my view, is likely player attitudes. In the early years, playing in a Federal League game was like a breath of fresh air compared to amateur games. There was still competition, but it was far more friendly. Yes, there were disputes, but not to the extent I’ve witnessed at the amateur level.

Some of today's younger players take the game a bit too seriously. Some seem to want to make changes that could compromise the integrity of the game. For example, the introduction of a timer at higher levels of competition. The game was designed much like life: none of us has a timer to follow. There is a beginning and an end, which is different for everyone. Baseball was designed quite similarly. Let’s not be so eager to change how the game is played; it’s been popular for a long time with little to no change.

What is it like playing baseball with your daughter and son-in-law?

That is a unique experience few people can check off their bucket list. Unfortunately, I haven't had the opportunity to play alongside my son-in-law, Brett, as I decided to quit playing during the COVID-19 season of 2020, which is when we first got to know each other. However, being on the field at different times with each of our two sons (Craig and Terry) and daughter Beth has been quite endearing and prideful.

How do you stay motivated during tough times or slumps?

Baseball is a game where being considered pretty good often means a success rate of just 25 to 30 percent. Everyone who plays learns from the 70 to 75 percent of failures. Where else are such odds allowed?

Being one of the oldest running franchises in the league, what does the future look like for the Chaska Diamonds?

That’s tough to determine for any team composed of people in the middle of their lives. Yearly roster changes are inevitable. I always hope for more local player involvement, as the Chaska area has much talent to offer. Family, work, and other interests often take priority, making it challenging to dedicate time to baseball.

What legacy or advice do you hope to leave behind in the baseball community?

I’ve never given much thought to leaving a legacy. However, if I’ve helped someone improve any part of their game along the way, that’s a very rewarding feeling. Enjoy the time you have playing the game you love.

Larry Gessler's contributions to the league and the sport have been widely recognized. He was elected to the Federal League Hall of Fame in 2011, a testament to his longstanding impact on the game. More recently, he was the recipient of the Chris Erickson Award in 2023, honoring his dedication and service to the league and its community. Larry Gessler's lifelong dedication to baseball exemplifies genuine passion. 

His perspective—shaped by decades of playing, managing, umpiring, and mentoring—underscores his deep love for the game and its community. As he puts it, "Enjoy each day I have, no matter what it is I’m doing. That’s what makes life and baseball so special."

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2025 Federal League Division Winners Summary

The North Division was claimed by the Minnoka Grays, who finished with a 16-2 record — marking their fifth straight division title. The defending 2023/2024 Class AAA Champions, had more of a challenging division this season — with many predicting their downfall — with new and improved Tonka Bay and Rockford. But Minnoka once again secured the title through their roster depth. "Everyone from top to bottom contributed to this divisional title," said manager Lars Larson. "Hopefully, that continues into the playoffs this weekend."

The West Division saw a tight race, ultimately won by the Minnetonka Saints, also at 16-2. The West Division race went down to the wire, featuring a fierce three-team battle between the Minnetonka Saints, Waconia Islanders, and St. Louis Park Snappers. Saints manager Joe Collier remarked, "I would say the turning point in our season was the comeback win against Waconia. That really jump-started us in a tough division."

The South Division was dominated by the Hastings Hurricanes, who finished with an impressive 17-1 record. Hastings won the division for the second consecutive year, edging out New Market and Lakeville. "I'm very proud of the guys again this season. Our core came back strong, and with a couple of key additions, we were able to shore up a few spots before the 2025 campaign," stated manager Nick Tuckner. "We used the regular season to prepare for our second chance at this thing. No gimmicks. Just baseball. Our experienced players will lead us in the postseason. We're thankful and excited to be back in the AAA bracket."

In the East Division, the East Metro Mammoth secured the top spot with a 15-3 record. The Mammoth has maintained its dominance in the East for a handful years, though Rosemount gave them a brief scare this season. Powered by big bats from Tom Corcoran, Nate Stark, and Casey Johnson, they provided enough runs for Matt Grill to do his thing — and once again, the formula worked. East Metro hopes to continue their success this weekend and recapture the Class AAA trophy they last won in 2023.

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BASEBALL WEEKLY 2025 MVP GOES TO TOM CORCORAN

Tom Corcoran has been an outstanding performer for the East Metro Mammoth this season and is my personal pick for the Federal League 2025 Baseball Weekly MVP. Corcoran led the league in Triples (7), Homeruns (4), Runs Batted In (31) and Total Bases (63). Over 16 games, he has posted an impressive batting average of .588, with 30 hits in 51 at-bats. His slugging percentage of 1.235 and OPS of 1.879 highlight his offensive dominance. 

The left handers performance has played a key role in helping the East Metro Mammoth secure their division title this season - along with other debatable MVPs in Nate Stark, Casey Johnson and Matt Grill the brown and yellow are going to be a tough out this weekend.

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AI PICKS THE CLASS WINNERS (deepai.org)

We use updated artificial intelligence technology of deepai.org to try and predict who will be the championship winners in two weeks. This is just for fun and entertainment purposes only, but keep Sarah Conners phone number close just in case. 

CLASS B

Chaska Diamonds 8
St Patrick Shamrocks 6

Joe Barrett and Ryan Johnson each have two hits and drive in two each for the Diamonds. Brett Jahnke started out solid for Chaska but St Patrick got to him in the fifth inning with doubles from Tyler Giersdorf and Dan Popple. Tyler Prank came in and shut down the Shamrocks while Byron Smith for Chaska singled to drive in two runs off St Patricks Kevin Hart and go ahead for good as Chaksa held on to win the B Championship.

CLASS A

Minnetonka Mustangs 6
St Paul JTs 4

After an early Minntonka lead, St. Paul fought back in the bottom of the 4th, with Nick Love hitting an RBI single, Minnetonka’s bullpen held strong in the 6th and 7th innings. Ed Wigfield and Troy Cook combine to shut down St. Paul’s offense. Minnetonka scored an insurance run in the top of the 7th, finalizing the score at 6-4. Matt Moriarty  — 3-for-4, 2 RBIs, and a run scored, providing critical offensive production for the Mustangs.

CLASS AA

Milltown Outlaws 7
South Metro Saints 5

Milltown's Nick Davis belts a two-run homer, putting them ahead 3-1. South Metro answers with a solo home run by Dan Cosgrove, narrowing the gap to 3-2. Milltown's Tony Rome hits his second double, scores on a single by Scott Paulson. Milltown now leads 7-5. South Metro puts runners on in the 8th and 9th but can't push them across, thanks to some solid Milltown relief pitching. Milltown's potent offense and clutch hitting overcomes South Metro's pitching and timely hits. Key performances from Tony Rome 3-for-4, 2 doubles, 2 RBIs, 1 run scored and Brent Cheney who went 2-for-4, 1 home run, 2 RBIs. Dan Cosgrove for the Outlaws went 2-for-4, 1 home run, 2 RBIs.

CLASS AAA

East Metro Mammoth 9
Minnetonka Saints 1

East Metros offensive firepower was fun to watch for bystanders as Minnetonka was running on fumes after playing out of the losers bracket. Casey Johnson homered in the 4th inning to knock Tommy Hansen out of the game for the Saints. Matt Grill was holding Minnetonka hitless until a hit from Steve Kleppen sparked a late rally driving in Jack Watson. Emery Hull answered with a double driving in Hans Heggerness and East Metro never looked back with their potent offense and clutch hitting, overcoming Minnetonka's deep pitching and exhausted defense.



Good luck to everyone in the post season. It's the best time of the year in the Federal League.