Ben Nelson has been elected to the Proctor Baseball Hall of Fame. Chosen by the 2023 Rails baseball team's seniors, he is the fifth of the one-a-year 21st-century players to gain induction.
He will be inducted during the 2024 Proctor Baseball banquet. Other 2024 inductees, from the Today's Game Era (1991-present), will be announced in October on the date of Game 1 of the 2023 World Series.
Nelson played varsity baseball as a pitcher and designated hitter for the Rails from 2010-2013. He is Proctor's all-time leader in fewest walks allowed per seven innings pitched (1.57). He ranks third all-time in wins (16), innings pitched (152.0), games started (23), and complete games (16). He also ranks sixth all-time in batting (.356).
He earned All-State recognition in 2013 and was also a Play Ball! Minnesota All-Star Series participant in 2013.
He was co-Duluth News Tribune All-Area Player of the Year with his teammate Jake Lewis in 2012, and named to the DNT's All-Area Team that year as well. Nelson was named to the All-Lake Superior Conference First Team in 2013 and All-LSC Second Team in 2012.
A member of the Rails 50 Career Hits Club, he is also one of 13 Rails pitchers with more than 100 career strikeouts.
Proctor Baseball Hall of Fame
Class of 2020
- Karl Condon, Early Baseball Era
- Ted Downs, Early Baseball Era
- Maurice "Spike" Gorham, Early Baseball Era
- Joe Lane, Golden Days Era
- Gerald "Peanuts" Peterson, Golden Days Era
- Jake Lewis, 21st Century Era
Class of 2021
- Dale Nikko, Modern Baseball Era
- Ryan McCarthy, 21st Century Era
Class of 2022
- Kyle Wojtysiak, Today's Game Era
- Jimmy Merling, 21st Century Era
Class of 2023
- Terry Egerdahl, Modern Baseball Era
- Rich Petersson, Modern Baseball Era
- Justin Scanlon, 21st Century Era
Class of 2024
- TBA, Today's Game Era
- Ben Nelson, 21st Century Era
Click here for the Proctor Baseball Hall of Fame webpage.