Lakes gives award to Brookfield's Majeskie

Bill Majeskie is as much a part of Brookfield Land O' Lakes baseball as anyone to have ever been involved.

As a player - he played the infield and pitched - Majeskie was a three-time all-star and a two-time MVP (1967-68). In fact, he led the league in hitting that latter year, batting .345.

In 1979, he was inducted into the Land O' Lakes Hall of Fame as a player. And last month, Majeskie picked up another honor - the prestigious Ray Klink President's Award - for his contributions off the field to Brookfield and Land O' Lakes baseball. Klink was the league's first president.

Majeskie, who stands about 5-feet, 5 inches and has forearms that would make popeye green with envy, is one of the most modest, low-key human beings you can meet. Even today, at 78 years old, you will find him and his son, Mike, working the concession stands and retrieving foul balls at Brookfield Bulldogs games on Saturdays and Sundays.

After being so involved with the Land O' Lakes for 58 years - he has been on the board since 1975 - Majeskie was taken aback to learn he won the President's Award.

"I was surprised and very honored to even be considered for it," the soft-spoken Majeskie said. "I felt there were a lot of people who did more for the organization than I did. I was deeply honored."

Majeskie, whose father helped build Brookfield's McCoy Field in 1922, first played in the Lakes in 1954 when he was on military leave and he continued his career through 1959. He then returned to play from 1963-72, then managed the Lakers (now Bulldogs) in 1970-72.

"Time goes by so fast, you just don't realize it," Majeskie said. "I always enjoyed the game of baseball. And there were a lot of us - like Wally (O'Malley) - we wanted to give back and keep it alive here in Brookfield. I guess that's why I did it."

O'Malley was a legendary figure in Brookfield, who died a few years ago. You couldn't think of Land O' Lakes baseball without thinking of O'Malley. When the flamboyant O'Malley died, he left a vacancy that would be hard to fill.

But that's where Majeskie came in.

A longtime member of the board, he took over many of O'Malley's fundraising duties.

"When Wally passed away - he was the backbone of that team off the field - Dad wanted to shoulder all that on his own " said Mike Majeskie, 50, one of Bill's eight children. "As time went on, he realized it was too much to do.

"But he was so close to Wally; that was a tough thing on Dad. There was no way he wanted to let Wally down. So he pushed forward."

After the Bulldogs organization took over the Lakers, the initial backers retired and the duties of not only running the team, but doing a majority of the fundraising fell on manager Jason Booth. The job was just too big to handle, so Booth stepped down to focus on managing.

That's when Bill and Mike, joined forces.

"(Mike) took over what Wally was doing," Bill said. "He handles the fundraising. He made the concession stands part of our funds. That's what's keeping this baseball team alive.

"Without him, I know I couldn't do it. He's very organized. He's a good business man."

Mike just throws the compliment back at his father.

"People don't really realize how much time and effort he puts in," Mike said. "He loves it and still continues to do it. Everybody knows him. Every (Land O' Lakes) city, every division, knows him. Whether from the Brookfield Lakers or the Brookfield Bulldogs, people know who he is.

"He was so excited for all of us when we won the grand championship last year.

"I can't say enough about his dedication. He made sure to maintain the integrity of the team on and off the field. He is just an incredibly humble guy."

THE MAJESKIE CLAN

Married: Joann (deceased), Jean

Children: Kelly (54), Kori (52), Kirk (51), Mike (50), Kim (49), Kris (47), Billy (42)