Denis Menke

Denis John Menke (July 21, 1940 – December 1, 2020) was an American professional baseball infielder and coach who played all or parts of 13 major league seasons from 1962 to 1974. Born in Bancroft, Iowa, and raised on a 480-acre farm in the northern part of the state, Menke attended St. John's High School in Bancroft, where he pitched for the school's team. He signed with the Milwaukee Braves in 1958 for $175,000.

Menke spent his early years in the Braves' minor league system from 1958 to 1961, playing shortstop. In 1958 and 1959 he split time between Class-D and Class-B ball, and in 1960 he played a full season for the Class-B Yakima Braves of the Northwest League, batting .336 with 28 home runs, 114 runs scored, 103 runs batted in, and 88 bases on balls.

He reached the majors in 1962 and played for the Milwaukee and Atlanta Braves from 1962 to 1967, the Houston Astros from 1968 to 1971 and again in 1974, and the Cincinnati Reds in 1972 and 1973, all in the National League. He was elected to the National League All-Star team in 1969 and 1970. In October 1965, his hometown of Bancroft held a Denis Menke Day in his honor.