SOUDAN- The late Lon (Lonnie) Lamppa was honored here on June 21, as his number 6 jersey was officially “retired” at the American Legion Memorial Field in Soudan. Lamppa, who died last July at the age of 73, was a longtime coach for both the Tower-Soudan High School as well as summer baseball teams. He also coached basketball.
“Nobody knew more about baseball than Lonnie,” said Greg Dostert. Lon was a graduate of the Embarrass High School. He played football in college at Bemidji State, and then went to the University of Minnesota for a graduate degree in physical therapy. He was a physical therapist with the Minnesota Vikings after graduating, but then decided to move back home. He spent the rest of his career working at the Ely-Bloomenson Community Hospital, and most of his free time coaching youth and high school sports.
“My dad loved baseball and being at the ballpark,” said Lon’s oldest son Justin. “He loved spending time with kids. He coached me and my brothers. So many coaches and teachers have been inspired by him.”
Lamppa started coaching Little League, and eventually moved up to coach Babe Ruth when his youngest son, Davis, was too old for Little League.
Lon and Ann Lamppa had three sons. All three went on to be coaches and teachers. Justin coaches and is an athletic director at Minnesota North-Itasca, Josh coaches and is the activities and community education director for Rock Ridge High School, and Davis coaches and works at Minnesota North-Mesabi.
“Lon liked to say baseball is like church,” said Dostert. “Many attend but few understand.” That was one of many, what his friends and student athletes liked to call “Lonnie-isms.”
Lonnie was considered an important mentor to many of the children he coached. He guided students to be the best they could be, as well as coaching them on skills important not just on the athletic field.
Several former student athletes turned out for the ceremony. Former Golden Eagles athlete Steve Svatos, now a teacher himself, spoke about the time he injured his knee, and Lonnie helped get him back and forth to Ely for his physical therapy appointments.
Baseball was always an important part of the Lamppa family, and that tradition is continuing.
“This year I have seven grandkids playing baseball,” said Ann Lamppa. “Last summer I had nine.” The drop in numbers is due to three of the Lamppa grandkids attending basketball camps this summer, instead of playing baseball. And besides baseball and basketball, some of the Lamppa grandkids are playing hockey, keeping Ann busy trying to attend as many games as possible. The youngest Lamppa grandchildren aren’t ready for t-ball yet, but in the next few summers, those numbers will be growing.
Lamppa is the second ballplayer honored at the field. The first was BEST (Babbitt-Embarrass-Soudan-Tower) ballplayer Josh Mathson, who holds several state records in high school baseball. Mathson died in an automobile accident in 2015. Dostert says they hope to continue the tradition of honoring those important to the game of baseball in Tower-Soudan.