Rapid City Post 22 baseball has become one of the premier programs in all of American Legion baseball, and much of that credit falls on the shoulders of legendary head coach Dave Ploof.

   Entering his 47th year manning the Hardhats, Ploof has coached over 3,000 games. His teams have won 76 percent of its games, 33 state championships, and a 1993 National Championship.

   Ploof began his coaching career in 1965 after finishing up his professional playing career in Minnesota and Arizona. His impact was felt immediately.

   Post 22 won a state championship in his first year, and has never had a losing record under Ploof. His teams won state titles in each of his first two years, before setting off on a remarkable feat beginning in 1970.

   It had been three years since Post 22 had won a state title. Nobody's been able to say that since. In 1970, Ploof's teams began an unthinkable 18-year run as state champions, winning every crown through 1987. The feat is unmatched nationwide.

   Through it all, no doubt 1993 was the biggest success story of the Post 22 program.  Losing just five games all year, the Hardhats ran roughshod throughout the postseason, winning the American Legion World Series in Roseburg, Ore. It's the only time the national championship has been claimed by a South Dakota team.

   That 1993 season was one of eight World Series appearances for Ploof's teams. Post 22 also reached the final eight in 1977, 1979, 1984, 1995, 1996, 2002 and 2005.

   The success of Post 22 has earned Ploof and the program a number of regional and national honors.

   In 1982, Ploof was recognized by the South Dakota Legion Athletic Commissions for his outstanding record and contributions to American Legion Baseball in the state.

   Later that same year, the Major League Baseball Commissioner's Office honored Post 22 with the Commissioner's Award, which goes to the finest American Legion program in the nation.

   In 1985, Ploof was chosen as one of the coaches for the USA Junior Olympic Team.

   A two-time South Dakota Amateur Baseball Coach of the Year by the United States Baseball Federation, Ploof's coaching successes go beyond the baseball diamond.

   After a long tenure as varsity wrestling coach at Rapid City Central High School, the Cobblers won three state titles under Ploof (1977, 1978 and 1984).

   Recently, Ploof has earned even more honors.

   In 2004, he was inducted into the Austin (Minn.) High School Hall of Fame. A year later, he received the Hero's Award from the Rapid City Convention and Visitor's Bureau. Then, the South Dakota Sports Hall of Fame inducted Ploof into its hallowed halls in 2006.

   He was a high school basketball and baseball standout in Austin, then went on to a successful baseball career at Minnesota State, Mankato, before moving onto professional baseball.

   Ploof and his wife, Patty, reside in Rapid City.

PLOOF YEAR-BY-YEAR