Building Communities: Fox 9 Interview at Joe Schleper Stadium
The Shakopee Indian’s Baseball Team beat the St. Patrick Irish last night—and Fox 9 was there to catch every moment! As part of the 2025 FOX 9 Town Ball Tour, the spotlight turned to Joe Schleper Baseball Stadium (aka “The Joe”) at Tahpah Park, where community pride, baseball tradition, and family legacy all came together.
One of the live segments featured three generations of the O’Brien family and their passion for Shakopee baseball—Greystone’s CEO Kevin, his son Colin (VP of Business Development), and grandson Kirby. Kevin coached Colin from 2nd grade through age 15, Colin played for the Shakopee Sabers High School team and Shakopee Indians town ball team, and now coaches Kirby—continuing a proud tradition of mentorship and hometown baseball.
Their connection to the stadium goes far beyond the game. Kevin helped build the original grandstand early in his career while working for Danny's Construction Company, Inc., founded by his uncle Kieran O’Brien. Danny’s generously donated the time and labor to help bring the stadium to life, including structural steel, precast plank, and seats from the old Met Stadium. That’s right – a piece of the old Met Stadium in Bloomington lives on in Shakopee! Eventually seats from the Metrodome replaced the seats from Met Stadium.
Years later, the City of Shakopee partnered with Greystone Construction—with Kevin at the helm—to complete major upgrades including the roof, dugouts, concession stand, and more. Greystone also installed new bleachers along the third-base line just in time for the stadium’s first state tournament.
The stadium is named in honor of Joe Schleper—a beloved coach, teacher, and former Detroit Tigers minor league player—whose decades of service shaped generations of Shakopee athletes.
Earlier in the evening, fans enjoyed a matchup between Senior Bloomington Post 550 and Shakopee Post 2 Senior Legion 18U, setting the stage for a full night of baseball and community pride.
Huge thanks to the entire FOX 9 crew for visiting Shakopee and showcasing the heart of town ball! Special shoutout to sports reporter Dawn Mitchell and FOX 9 Chief Meteorologist Ian Leonard for their outstanding coverage—and to Shakopee Baseball, Shakopee Youth Baseball Association, CAP Agency - Community Action Partnership of Scott Carver & Dakota Counties, the Honor Guard, and all the fans, volunteers, businesses, and community organizations who made the evening so memorable.
It was a hometown win, a legacy on the field, and a night to remember!
Catch more from the FOX 9 Town Ball Tour at fox9.com
