IL1 Indianapolis Indians

Tribe President to be Inducted into IHSBCA Hall of Fame

Published on November 12, 2008 under International League (IL1)
Indianapolis Indians News Release


INDIANAPOLIS -- Indianapolis Indians President & Chairman of the Board Max Schumacher, along with four other individuals influential to the Indiana baseball world, will be inducted into the Indiana High School Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame in a ceremony to be held on Friday, January 23, 2009.

The annual banquet, sponsored by the IHSBCA and Jostens, will take place at the Sheraton Hotel at 8787 Keystone Crossing in Indianapolis. The ceremony will include the induction of Schumacher along with Brian Dudley, Mike Frame, John Oliver and former Major League pitcher Andy Benes.

Schumacher, who enters his 53rd season with the Tribe in 2009, was selected by the veterans baseball group as an inductee because of his "over 50 years as a fixture in the professional baseball structure in the Indianapolis area."

Schumacher was born in Indianapolis on Oct. 21, 1932 and graduated from Shortridge High School in 1950. He earned a bachelor's degree in journalism from Butler University in 1954, where he was also a four-year member of the varsity baseball team.

In 2003, Schumacher was a recipient of Butler University's Robert Todd Duncan Alumni Achievement Award and was inducted into Butler's Athletic Hall of Fame in 2005.

"Max was an outstanding player at Shortridge High School, and has maintained his passion for high school baseball," Indians Vice President & General Manager Cal Burleson says. "The leadership he has given the Indianapolis Indians has always included a tremendous respect for the game, no matter the level of play. He has been proud to continue the tradition of providing Victory Field as the venue for the Indiana High School Baseball finals, and we look forward to that continuing for many years into the future."

The Indians have received numerous awards during Schumacher's association with the club. In 2005, At The Yard magazine recognized the franchise as its Minor League Team of the Year. In 2000, Baseball America honored the Tribe as its Triple-A team of the decade for the 1990s. In 1999, the same publication recognized Victory Field as the "Best Minor League Ballpark in America," a facility that Schumacher envisioned for years. The award was later confirmed by Sports Illustrated and MinorLeagueNews.com in 2001.

In 2002, Mayor Bart Peterson re-named the street leading into Victory Field "Schumacher Way." In 1997, Minor League Baseball honored Schumacher as the "King of Baseball" for his long-time dedication and service to the game.

Following the 1996 campaign and opening of Victory Field, Schumacher earned American Association Executive of the Year honors and the franchise garnered the Bob Freitas Award as the top Triple-A club.

In 1988, Schumacher received the John H. Johnson President's Award as the individual most closely associated with a Minor League Baseball team that "exemplifies the standards of a complete baseball franchise." In 1980, he was named a "Sagamore of the Wabash" by Governor Otis R. Bowen.

Victory Field put the spotlight on an individual who has been a successful businessman in professional baseball since he signed on as Indians ticket manager in 1957. The Tribe has turned a profit for 36 consecutive years under Schumacher's watch heading into 2009.

In May 2006, Schumacher also helped Indianapolis land the 2009 Baseball Winter Meetings. Indy will become the northern-most Minor League city to host the meetings since Columbus, Ohio, did the honors in 1966.

Since the outset of his career, Schumacher has given his time to many civic organizations. He's a past president of the Indianapolis Downtown Kiwanis Club, Boys & Girls Clubs of Indianapolis and American Business Club. In addition, he previously served as chairman of Junior Baseball of Indianapolis.

In April 2008, Schumacher received the Thomas W. Moses Good Scout Award. He was selected because of his strong community service, social responsibility, and for having a true "scout spirit."

Schumacher is married to the former Judith Whybrew, a retired professor from Marian College. The couple has three sons, Bruce, Brian & Mark, and one daughter, Karen. Bruce and Mark are members of the Tribe's full-time staff, while Brian works at Victory Field on game days.

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