On Saturday, Jan. 31, the Concordia University Texas Athletics Department will induct three individuals into its Hall of Fame. Former baseball coach Jack Faszholz will be enshrined with two-sport standouts Lee Kennedy and Pam Skinner.
In the next three days, we will introduce our honorees prior to the celebration. For more information on the CTX Athletics Hall of Fame banquet, or to purchase tickets, visit
concordia.edu/halloffame.
Jack Faszholz spent 12 seasons (1979-90) as the head coach of the Concordia baseball program. During his tenure, Faszholz guided the Stags to 235 victories, and the program won 20 or more games in six of his dozen seasons.
Faszholz coached one of the top hitters in program history – Scott Bradley, who still holds program records for home runs (43), RBI (181) and total bases (347). Additionally, the former skipper also mentored some of the top workhorses on the mound. Mike Dube (1981-82, '84-85), Keith Otto (1988-91), Craig Pepper (1983-86) and Mike Tate (1983-86) all rank among the top 10 in innings pitched.
Prior to his coaching career, the St. Louis native earned the nickname "Preacher" as a pitcher in the professional ranks. The right-hander played at the professional level for 12 seasons, mostly in the minor leagues. He spent a majority of his service in the St. Louis Cardinals organization, including seven years with the Triple-A Rochester Red Wings. He won 80 games on the mound and was elected to the Red Wings' Hall of Fame in 1990.
Faszholz went to spring training with the Cardinals in 1953 and pitched four games during the regular season, including one start against the New York Giants.
Faszholz retired from baseball with 128 victories on the mound. He then was ordained a Lutheran minister in 1958. He also taught at the high school level in St. Louis before coming to Concordia. When he arrived on campus, Faszholz served as a religion and kinesiology professor in addition to his baseball coaching duties. He also spent three years as the institution's athletics director.
Following his retirement from education and coaching, Concordia named the baseball on the old downtown campus after him. It became Keller-Faszholz Field in 2000, as the school also honored former head coach James Keller, who passed away after battling amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) a year earlier.
Faszholz, and his wife of 63 years, Annette, live in Belle, Missouri. The couple are members of Mount Calvary Lutheran Church.
