News : A thank you to Marvin Lindsey

The sign at Marvin Lindsey field honors Lindsey's countless hours building the baseball facility.

Vinton baseball players watch as Dave Boisen presents a gift to Marvin Lindsey in honor of his work

The new large barn-shaped concession stand is taking shape at Marvin Lindsey Field

The sign behind home plate reads "Marvin Lindsey Field: Built for your children.

But the sign does not tell the story of how one man is responsible for the restoration and creation of a trio of baseball fields that now brings scores of teams from all over Iowa, and even neighboring states, to Vinton.

"It's taken 40 of us to do the work Marvin did," said Dave Boisen, one of the coaches and parent-leaders of the Vinton baseball organization that plays baseball on the fields Lindsey built in 1991.

There have been many changes in the facility in the past few years. New dugouts replaced those damaged by wind. The wooden fence around the outfield of the regulation-size field where players age 13 and older compete has been replaced by a chain link fence.

And the small concession stand/restroom building that Lindsey built is now being replaced by a much larger barn-style building.

And while there is a new group of volunteers doing much of the work, all of them are grateful for how Lindsey began the project in 1991.

Many recall seeing Lindsey working alone as he set the 4-by-4 posts for the fence, and even handled the large plywood panels on his own. Lindsey built, expanded and maintained the facilities for many years, and often served as groundskeeper.

When asked what inspired him to begin the work, Lindsey said he was retired and wanted to build a place for area youth to play baseball. He did not play the game much himself when he was young.

"I was not very good," he said.

The presentation by Boisen during the weekend tournament action was very brief. Boisen met Lindsey at the pitcher's mound of the youth-size field, surrounded by several Vinton baseball players. He presented a gift card to Lindsey, and told the boys that Marvin is the reason they have such great facilities to play on.

This past weekend, more than 30 teams gathered from all over Iowa as well as neighboring states for a tournament. Another tournament with that number of teams has been scheduled for later this summer.