Wednesday, July 16
By Michael Austin
It’s a story about love. It’s a story about respect. But most of all, it’s a story about baseball.
In a state that inspired the movie ‘Field of Dreams,’ Mel Murken is a baseball immortal. After 34 years of coaching Iowa high school baseball, 32 of which came at Ankeny High, Murken owns an incredible 596-414 record. But this season will be his last.
“It’s time to get out,” says a content Murken, 59, who started his career at East Greene High in Grand Junction. “But I do love it just as much as my first day on the field. I’m going to hate to give it up, but there comes a point when you have to make a decision.”
For Murken, who led Ankeny to a state title in 1992 and finished runner-up in 1987, ’93 and ’99, the decision wasn’t easy. He says he contemplated stepping down after last season, but he still had the drive and wanted to put in 35 years of service. Ankeny’s season kicked off this week, as all Iowa high schools play their baseball in the summer. According to Ankeny High athletic director Ric Powell, the state association adopted the summer season because baseball was diluting the talent pool for other spring sports teams.
Murken says he will spend most of his newfound free time with his wife of 24 years, Vicki. Although she’s glad she will no longer have to share her husband with the Hawks, Vicki says she has Mel to thank for making her into a baseball aficionado.
“I’m a big sports fan and I know a lot more about baseball now that I ever did,” says Vicki, who honeymooned with Mel at the 1976 College World Series. “I love sitting out in the sun and watching the games.”
Throughout his 34-year coaching career, Murken has earned the reputation of being a strong disciplinarian. He requires his players to dress properly, have a clean haircut and, above everything else, show class in both victory and defeat. According to his players, it’s what makes Murken such a great coach.
“We all respect him,” says Ankeny senior Chris Arringdale. “He knows what he’s doing. It’s good to have some discipline on this team.”
Murken points to how the game has changed over the past 30-plus years as one of the reasons he’ll be stepping down. According to the coach, running a high school baseball team now requires one to work up to 11 hours a day to do the job right.
“Well, I have to deal with the press,” says a chuckling Murken, who is a sure bet to reach the 600-win plateau by early June. “And we’re trying to get these kids into colleges. It really is a full-time job.”
By the end of this season, that full-time job will be over. And although he will no longer be sitting on Ankeny’s bench, baseball will continue to be a major part of his life. Murken’s former players will continue to come back to tell him what a great coach he was. He’ll continue to take some of his fellow coaches to St. Louis for a weekend to watch his favorite team, the Cardinals, play. And he’ll continue his life-long love affair with the game.
“I’ll miss watching these kids come and develop year in and year out,” adds Murken. “But baseball is a part of me. If I can find another job in baseball somewhere, I’ll be happy.”
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