Meet Jeff Appel. Co-founder of the Outlaws baseball team, who's major role is repeatedly pissing off Wertz begging for designs and calling Robb Larson every single day.
Wife – Amy
Kids – Little Haddie
cakes
Siblings- Brother, 5 years older
(Also an Outlaw). Sister, 1 year older.
Where did you grow
up? - Worthington MN
How old were you when you first began
playing baseball? I was chasing my
brother around trying to be like him probably since I could walk. I started playing organized baseball in the
local Worthington systems as soon as I was old enough to join. My Dad
Steve coached my entire little league teams as I grew up. He also coached several of the other guys on
this team. We won a few championships. J
What has been your favorite memory playing
baseball? I think my favorite memory
in baseball has to be with Wilmont in 2002 when we qualified for the State
Tournament for the first time in a 30 year span. It was an extra inning
game with us clinching at home in the bottom of the 10th inning. Hard to
replicate the feeling of swarming the field and jumping around like we had just
won the World Series. Also being able to play with my brother for so many
years.
Name the top 5 baseball stadiums you
have played in. I have to say Butts
Probst field. J That old ballpark may have and outfield
bumpier than Robb Larson’s behind, but it was home. You can just feel the history there. Also the long list of fields during state
tournament years, they were all nice. The
others would be the southern fields like Marshall, Windom and Jackson.
What is your most prized
possession? My most prized material possession....hmmmmm...Probably
my boat. Sometimes I like to go out to my garage and sit in it and act
like I’m fishing. Have I mentioned I
have an 11 month old daughter??? There
is nothing better than a few beers on a calm lake when the walleyes are
biting. (Which isn't very often...at least the fishing part and mostly
the fish biting part.)
What was your first purchase when you
graduated from college and started making money. (Legally) My first purchase was a 1997 Jeep Grand
Cherokee limited. I guess I should have checked into the purchase a bit
better as I found out later it was stolen for 4 years prior to me buying
it. My guess is that it spent most of those stolen years at the bottom of
a lake judging by how well the electrical systems worked. Needless to say
I paid 15,000 for it and traded it for 9 just a year later. Great
job! It looked nice though and it sure was comfy.
Besides baseball what other sports did
you play growing up? Were you any
good? I played football and baseball
in high school. I like to think I was a decent baseball player,
but wasn't a huge part of the football team. I played quarterback through 10th
grade and then skipped my JR. year. As a Sr. I played wide out and
free safety. Basically was only used as a crack back blocker on option
plays. Otherwise I did a lot of cheering from the sidelines. My other role was repeatedly being used as a
tackling dummy for the guys that were allowed to play. I was damn good at the spin the football game
though.
If you could trade places with one
person, who would you choose? If I
could trade places with one person it would probably be Kent Hrbek. His
life has been full of baseball including World Series wins and now travels
around fishing and hunting for a living.
That would be if I could go back and start at the beginning. Now he is really fat.
Movies, TV or books? Name some of your favorites from the category
you select. I really don't watch all
that much TV besides the Twins and the Vikings. I'm a huge fan of the
Military Channel much to Amy's displeasure. I also love the Office,
Modern Family and Family guy. The three outdoor channels are heavily used
at my house also. I read a lot of books
which are mostly military history.
Favorite food/beer. I know this is lame but I would have to
say my favorite food is pizza. I'm sure most 3rd graders would agree.
I love beer...any kind of beer. My college apartment in Mankato was
mostly furnished with Busch Light returnable cases. They are great until
the mold starts to stink. Then it's just time to trade them all in and
hopefully have enough for a keg. (Regular occurrence in 1999.) Wow…so long ago.
Can you sing? Can I sing? Yes. Can’t everyone? Is it
worth listening to? ...no. I always love the karaoke bar
times. Usually sit there and make fun of people until I have enough
liquid courage or I am bribed...then take the stage and suck. My career
performance has to be in Worthington when several of my buddies including
Nellie and Noble, thought it would be a good idea to try Young MC “Bust a move”.
Very funny but very bad…I mean really bad.
I also sang “Man I feel Like a Woman” in Park Rapids while there deer
hunting. I collected $40.00 for that one
and didn’t buy a drink the rest of the night.
Now days the only time I’m around it is usually at the VFW in Wgtn after
the Otter Memorial fishing tournament.
What was the worst thing you did as a
child? Worst thing as a
child...hmmmm...I really didn't get into all that much trouble. My
brother was employed at the local PD while I was raising hell so I suppose I
got some breaks on traffic tickets. I was once pulled over by a lake
patrol boat while driving my mom's car though. I think that is a state record
somehow.
What is your
prediction for the Outlaws in 2012? I
see a lot of good times in our future.
Low stress baseball with good people from the past and new people that
already have me laughing.
How
many cases of beer do you think the Outlaws will go through over the
summer? I’m guessing some beer distributer or bar would be
very wise to sponsor this team. It’s
going to get ugly. |