The Beecher High School Athletic Hall of Fame Commission is pleased to announce Dale Johnson as a member of the 2022 Hall of Fame Class. Dale, a 1999 Beecher graduate, was considered by his high school baseball coach, Kenn Krizan, a complete baseball player both offensively and defensively. Dale starred as a four-year varsity starter as a catcher behind the plate for the Bobcats.

Dale was named first-team all River Valley Conference his sophomore year in 1997. In 1998, Dale was a big part of a historic season in Beecher baseball history. In 1998 the Bobcats won 26 games and won the program’s first ever regional title. During this season Dale hit .435, with 45 RBIs, and 20 doubles. He was named 2nd team All-RVC.

Dale’s senior year in 1999 was one to remember as he set a Beecher single season home run record by blasting 15 balls over the fence. He hit an astounding .605 while collecting 48 RBIs in just 27 games played. He was named first team All-RVC, first team Kankakee Daily-Journal All-Area, and first team All-Chicagoland by the Chicago Sun Times.

After graduating from Beecher, Dale continued his baseball career playing at Holy Cross in Massachusetts. While playing for the Crusaders, Dale was named first team All-Patriot League in 2001 and 2002. In 2001, he led the team with a .396 batting average and was second in the team in RBI (35) and slugging percentage (.545). Dale finished his Holy Cross career behind the plate as the career leader in runners caught stealing with 33. In 2002 Dale played in the prestigious Cape Cod League where he earned the George Lane Sportsmanship award while playing for the Harwich Mariners.

Post Beecher career highlights:
Two time First Team All-Patriot League catcher (2001-2002);

• Baseball America two time Pre-Season All-Patriot League catcher;

• Nominated to the Johnny Bench Award Watch List (one of the top 40 collegiate catchers in the nation);

• Set or tied all major defensive records for a catcher in the 100+ year history of the school (most caught base stealers in career; most caught base stealers in a season; tied highest fielding percentage season (1.000));

• Selected to, and played for, the 2002 Harwich Mariners of the Cape Cod Baseball League, where he caught future Major League pitchers Shaun Marcum, Jeff Niemann, Josh Newman and Brad Ziegler;

• Won Harwich Mariners Sportsmanship Award (2002);

• 2001 Holy Cross Baseball Ray Doben’s Award (Most Improved Player) after hitting .396 for the season;

• Finished career with .315 batting average.