Burnsville's Mr. Baseball Dies at Age 76

Richard Dale Vanderlaan (Burnsville's Mr. Baseball), of Burnsville, died peacefully at his home on Thursday, Sept. 12 at the age of 76. 

Vanderlaan was a charter member of the American Legion Post 1700. He founded Baseball Association 191 after starting American Legion baseball in Burnsville in 1982.

His dream was that the Burnsville American Legion baseball team (Cobras) would make it to the American Legion World Series before he died. His dream was fulfilled this year, and the Cobras opened the series with a shutout.

Vanderlaan was a very involved member of the community. His most recent service was on the Burnsville Community Foundation board and the Baseball Association 191 board.

His past service includes board member of Art and All That Jazz, member of the Burnsville Economic Growth Commission, and he was active for many years in the Burnsville Chamber of Commerce. He started the project to raise funds for the American Flags in the Heart of the City, according to his obituary on White Funeral Homes. 

Rich received many awards including the Star Fish award from Mayor Elizabeth Kautz; the International Rotary Paul Harris Fellow Award; Annual Blaze Friends of Baseball Award, inducted into the Burnsville High School Hall of Fame, and a baseball field at Alimagnet Park is named after him.

Services

Visitation is on Monday, Sept. 16 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at White Funeral Home in Burnsville, 12804 Nicollet Avenue.

The funeral is at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 17 at Faith Covenant Church in Burnsville, 12921 Nicollet Avenue.

The internment will be a private one.