LHS Alum Being Inducted into St. Louis Amateur Baseball Hall of Fame

Lindbergh High School class of 1973 graduate Marty Kunkler will be one of 17 athletes inducted into the St. Louis Amateur Baseball Hall of Fame on April 18, according to a news release from the Lindbergh School District. 

Kunkler is the third Lindbergh Flyer to receive this honor, following in the footsteps of former Coach Charlie Gateley and 1973 teammate Bill Franz.

Kunkler was No. 18, pitcher for the Flyers, and in 1973 he became the only St. Louis player ever to be named Globe-Democrat High School Baseball Player of the Year, American Legion Player of the Year, first team high school All-American and Elks Club Amateur Baseball Player of the Year at the same time. He was also named to All-Conference and All-Metro teams, and was a 20th round draft choice for the Los Angeles Dodgers.

"I couldn't have played for a better, more prepared coach than Coach Gateley,” Kunkler said in the release. “The entire Lindbergh community, from teachers and coaches, to fellow students played a very supportive role in keeping me on track to my dream."

Kunkler went on to be named All-American and All-Big 8 for the University of Oklahoma Sooners, where he earned his undergraduate and graduate degrees. He also played in the College World Series.

While in college, Kunkler moved up to fourth round draft choice for Los Angeles, and from 1976-78 he played professional baseball for the Dodgers organization.

Kunkler is also a member of the Lindbergh High School Athletic Hall of Fame and the SW Kiwanis Pros Hall of Fame.