SPIRE Credit Union recently donated $3,000 to Billy Peterson Field at the Dunning Sports Complex in Saint Paul, MN. Ten years ago, upon the field’s grand opening, Mayor Chris Coleman proclaimed May 22, 2010 Billy Peterson Day in Saint Paul, MN. Billy is a long-time SPIRE friend and member.
Billy has been coaching kids in Saint Paul for the past sixty years, including baseball Hall-of-Famers Paul Molitor and Dave Winfield. Billy has coached an average of 16 teams per year, which is an estimated 21,000 youth reached throughout his coaching career. He also provides training for coaches and umpires, clinics for kids, and has a long-term partnership with the Minnesota Twins’ Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities (RBI). The RBI youth outreach program strives to increase participation and interest in baseball and softball among underserved youth, encourage academic achievement, and teach the value of teamwork.
“I started coaching when I was 20 years old. I was almost as young as the kids I was coaching,” says Billy, “It was such a learning experience. When I get some of the old guys back that I used to coach – Paul Molitor, Dave Winfield, Steve Winfield – when we talk, it’s like we’re a bunch of brothers that grew up playing on the same team.”
Billy coaches with Midway Baseball, a program of the Dunning Boosters, that originally began as "Midway Little League" in 1990 with approximately 60 youth ages 10-12 years-old. Since then the program has grown to almost 350 participants annually, serving youth 7-15 years-old. In addition to giving kids the opportunity for youth to play baseball, and experience the challenges, discipline and thrills of participating in sports, the program offers friendships gained and the reward of being part of a team.
“Billy Peterson is a legendary and humble youth baseball coach,” said Dan Stoltz, SPIRE President/CEO, “We are honored to be part of Billy’s legacy by supporting Midway Baseball and the Billy Peterson Field for years to come.”
Billy Peterson, Saint Paul, Minnesota